Lake Manyara National Park at a glance
Lake Manyara National Park sits at the foot of the Great Rift Valley escarpment in northern Tanzania. The park area is 648.7 km², and a large part of it is the lake itself, which rises and falls with the water level. Between the steep slope and the shore you find groundwater forest, acacia woodland, flooded grassland, wetlands and hot springs. That mix of habitats means a single game drive can cross very different scenery.
Visitors come for the game drives, the tree-climbing lions, the treetop walkway, hippos in the pools, baboons in the forest and the birds on the shallow water. Many people treat Lake Manyara as a half-day or full-day stop on the road between Arusha and the Ngorongoro highlands. This guide helps you choose a safari, understand the fees and prepare for the road. Prices are shown with the year they apply to, and they change.
Our picks: Lake Manyara tours
For a first visit, the one-day safari with park fees included is the simplest start, and the day trip with a Mto wa Mbu village visit adds a cultural stop. If you also want Tarangire or the crater, the multi-day trips combine the parks, in tents or in lodges.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide and Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
3-day safari: Tarangire, Ngorongoro and Lake Manyara
- Park fees and entries
- Lodge nights, full board
- Pop-up roof jeep
Three parks, each with a private game drive, with nights in lodges instead of tents.
Check availability →
5-day camping safari: Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro
- Park fees and transport
- Camping equipment
- All meals and water
Five days built around Lake Manyara and the crater, with airport transfers and a driver-guide. Activities are part of the price.
Check availability →
2-day safari: Tarangire and Lake Manyara
- Park fees and entry
- Full board overnight
- Safari jeep with guide
Both parks in two days with one night in between. The standard stay is a safari tent with shared toilets, and a replacement can be arranged.
Check availability →2-day safari: Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro Crater
- Park, conservation and crater fees
- Land Cruiser with pop-up roof
- Night near Karatu
Lake Manyara on day one and the crater on day two. Camping or a budget or mid-range lodge, depending on the option you choose.
Check availability →
Lake Manyara day safari with Mto wa Mbu village visit
- Park fees and taxes
- 4x4 with driver-guide
- Lunch, water and soft drinks
A game drive in the park is paired with a village tour in Mto wa Mbu, with transfers from your hotel or the airport.
Check availability →
Guided day safari in Lake Manyara
- Park fees included
- Safari jeep with guide
- Packed lunch and water
Pick the Lake Manyara option when you book, because the same listing also offers Tarangire. It is one park per day, without canoe or treetop walkway.
Check availability →Lake Manyara safaris and day trips
Day trips from Arusha, combinations with Ngorongoro and village tours, with live prices and availability.
Plan your Lake Manyara trip
Start with the safari and day trip pages, then open the topics you need.
Lake Manyara safari
How a game drive works, where the vehicle goes and what to ask before you book.
Day trips and tours
Tours from Arusha and combinations with the Ngorongoro highlands.
Park fees and payment
Entry by season and group, vehicle charges and how to pay.
Tree climbing lions
What is known about lions in trees and how to give yourself a chance.
Treetop walkway
Bridges and platforms in the groundwater forest.
Flamingos and birds
Species, seasons and why the flamingos come and go.
Animals
Elephants, baboons, hippos, giraffes and what lives in each habitat.
Maji Moto hot springs
A hot natural feature on the lakeshore route, and what it is not.
Night drives, canoe and walks
Other ways to see the park, with rules and conditions.
Mto wa Mbu
The village at the gate: market, cultural programme and banana beer.
The Rift Valley escarpment
The wall above the park and how it shapes the forest.
Weather and seasons
Rainy and dry seasons in northern Tanzania.
Where to stay
The rim, Mto wa Mbu and Karatu: which area suits you.
Getting to Lake Manyara
The road from Arusha, the airstrip and entry rules.
History
From game reserve to national park and biosphere reserve.
Lake Manyara safari: what a day looks like
The park is small enough for one good day.
A vehicle game drive is the main activity in the park. You start in the groundwater forest near the entrance gate, where baboons and blue monkeys are common. The track then leads toward the open shore, where elephants, buffalo, zebra, wildebeest and giraffe use the flooded grassland, and hippos stay in the pools and along the water. No species is a scheduled stop, so think in terms of good chances rather than promises. Details and what to ask your operator are on the Lake Manyara safari page.
A day trip from Arusha spends about 2 to 2.5 hours each way on the road, so the drive is part of the plan. The park also serves as a stop on the way to the Ngorongoro highlands and the Serengeti. That does not mean two full park visits fit into one day, so ask how a combined day is planned before you book. The Ngorongoro Crater has its own guide, and Tarangire National Park is the neighbour to the south for elephants and baobabs. Our page on Lake Manyara day trips compares the common formats.
Landscape and habitats
The lake is a soda lake with a shoreline that shifts. Permanent springs below the escarpment feed the groundwater forest in the north, which is why the first part of the drive feels green and shaded. Acacia woodland and floodplains follow, then wetlands and the hot springs known as Maji Moto. The wall of the Rift Valley rises above all of it and gives the park its backdrop. The escarpment page explains how the pieces fit together.
Birds
More than 400 bird species have been recorded in the park. Lesser and greater flamingos and pelicans gather on the water, but the numbers are seasonal and depend on the lake. Storks, herons, spoonbills and bee-eaters are other groups to look for. See flamingos and birds for what to expect.
A few things to know before you go
Practical points that affect your planning.
Park fees depend on the tariff year
The 2023/24 tariff set $50 for a non-EAC adult in peak season and $45 from 15 March to 15 May, with 18 percent VAT added. For the 2026/27 season, 127,750 TZS per non-resident adult per 24 hours is set for 16 May 2026 to 14 March 2027. Check the current amount before you book, and whether your safari price already includes it.
Park fees →Tree climbing is not unique to Manyara
Lions climb trees in several parts of northern Tanzania. Seeing it at Lake Manyara takes luck, and no month or hour guarantees it.
Tree climbing lions →Maji Moto is a hot natural feature
It is a stop on the lakeshore route for nature and photos. Do not plan it as a spa or a swim.
Maji Moto →Travel insurance is compulsory on the mainland
Since October 2026, visitors to the mainland need entry insurance, at USD 44 per person for up to 92 days. Holders of Tanzanian residence permits are exempt. An eVisa for tourists costs $50 for up to 90 days, depending on your nationality.
Getting there →Airport works in 2026
Rehabilitation works are planned at Lake Manyara Airport in 2026. If you plan to fly in, confirm the flight and the transfer with your operator before you go.
Airstrip and road →Beyond Lake Manyara
Neighbouring parks have their own guides.
If you want a longer safari, Tarangire safaris fit well after Manyara. Lake Natron lies in the far north, a very different landscape. This site stays with Lake Manyara and Mto wa Mbu.
More independent guides to Tanzania
Separate guides from the same team.
Ngorongoro
The crater, fees, crater tours and the highlands.
Serengeti
Safaris, the Great Migration, park fees and the best season.
Kilimanjaro
Climbing routes, day hikes, park fees and trips from Moshi.
Tarangire
Elephants, baobabs, day trips from Arusha and park fees.
Arusha
Arusha National Park, Mount Meru, the city and its airports.
Lake Natron
Flamingos, Ol Doinyo Lengai and the Engare Sero waterfall.
Ruaha
Lions, walking safaris and the southern circuit.
Nyerere
Boat safaris on the Rufiji, wild dogs, park fees and trips from Zanzibar.
Selous
The Selous name, Frederick Selous, the World Heritage Site and Selous safaris.
Mikumi
Safaris from Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar, the SGR train and the Udzungwa Mountains.
Stone Town
Walking tours, Prison Island, spice tours and the ferry from Dar es Salaam.
Zanzibar
Beaches, Mnemba snorkeling, Jozani Forest, the best time to visit and entry rules.
Lake Manyara National Park: frequently asked questions
Is Lake Manyara worth a visit?
Yes, if you like varied scenery in a compact park. Forest, lakeshore and the escarpment sit close together, and a single day covers the main areas. If your time is limited, it fits well as a stop on the way to Ngorongoro. See the safari page for how a day works.
Will I see tree climbing lions?
Perhaps, but there is no guarantee. Seeing it is a matter of luck, and lions in other parts of northern Tanzania climb trees too. Read more on the tree climbing lions page.
How far is Lake Manyara from Arusha?
About 125 km, or 2 to 2.5 hours on a tarmac road. Depending on the starting point, the distance is 115 to 125 km. The getting there page covers the road, buses and the airstrip.
What does the entry fee cost?
The 2023/24 tariff set $50 for a non-EAC adult in peak season and $45 from 15 March to 15 May, plus 18 percent VAT. For the 2026/27 season, 127,750 TZS per non-resident adult per 24 hours is set. Check the current amount before you book. See park fees.
Do I need a visa and insurance?
Most visitors need an eVisa, which costs $50 for up to 90 days for the ordinary tourist visa. Since October 2026, entry insurance for the mainland is also required, at USD 44 per person. Rules depend on your nationality and change, so check your government's travel advice.
Is lake-manyara-national-park.org the official park website?
No. This is an independent travel guide, not run by Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) or any authority, and it has no link to safari operators, lodges or village programmes.