The Lake Manyara Treetop Walkway
The Lake Manyara Treetop Walkway is an ascending wooden path with suspension bridges, side nets and platforms built around tree trunks. It lies near the main gate in the northern groundwater forest, the greenest part of the park. A guide explains the trees, plants and animals along the way, so it is as much a short nature walk as a viewpoint.
An elevated walk gives you a different angle on the forest from the one you get on a game drive, with views of the canopy and the birds that live in it. It is a short activity. It does not replace a safari and no animal sightings can be promised.
Our picks: treetop walkway trips
The overnight trip puts the walkway on day two, after a canoe outing and game drive on day one. The day trip lets you choose the walkway as one of its activities, so check your choice when you book.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. 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.
2-day Lake Manyara trip with canoe and treetop walkway
- Canoeing and game drive
- Treetop walkway on day two
- Entry and park fees
You sleep in Karatu, in a lodge or camping, with meals and water included. Ask whether the canoe and walkway fees are covered before you book.
Check availability →
Lake Manyara day trip with optional activities
- Park fees and entry
- English or French guide
- Lunch and water
You pick a game drive, a morning canoe, the treetop walkway or a mix when you book. Ask what the activity you choose adds to the price.
Check availability →Lake Manyara tours and forest walks
Safaris, village tours and activities around the park, with live prices and availability.
What the walkway is like
Built for a slow walk and a look upward.
The structure
A raised wooden walkway climbs through the trees. Hanging bridges connect sections, nets run along the sides and platforms circle trunks so you can stop. It reaches up to 18 m above the ground. If you are uneasy with heights, ask your guide how high the sections are before you start.
The guide
A guide walks with you and explains the plants and animals. Birds such as the silvery-cheeked hornbill are among the species to look for. A sighting is never certain.
The forest below
The trees stand on groundwater fed by springs under the escarpment. See the Rift Valley escarpment for why the forest is so green, and the safari page for what you pass before and after.
Read about the baboons and monkeys of the forest floor in Lake Manyara animals.
Where it sits and how to fit it in
Close to the gate, in the greenest part of the park.
The walkway stands in the northern groundwater forest, not far from the main gate at the foot of the hill above the village of Mto wa Mbu. Permanent springs below the escarpment feed this forest, which is why it stays green and shady while the land further on is open floodplain. The park as a whole covers 648.7 km², so the walkway is a small part of a much larger visit.
Because it is near the entrance, the walkway is easy to add to a day safari. Ask your driver or operator where it fits in the plan, how long the stop lasts and whether the fee is paid in advance or on the spot. Three questions are worth asking before you start: whether the walkway is open on your day, whether your group meets any age, size or weight limits, and whether a guide is included.
Price, hours and status
Confirm everything before you go.
| Item | What is known |
|---|---|
| Fee, 2024 rates | TZS 10,000 for EAC visitors, $20 for non-EAC visitors and residents, in addition to park entry |
| Minimum age | From 5 years in the 2024 rates |
| Duration | About 1 hour in the 2024 rates |
| Opening hours and closed days | Check with your operator or at the gate |
| Size and weight limits | Check with your operator or at the gate |
Hours, closed days, age, size and weight limits are best confirmed with your tour operator or at the gate. Ask whether the walkway is open on your day before you pay. The fee is separate from park entry, which is described in park fees.
For most visitors, the walkway fits well at the start or end of a day safari, because it is close to the main gate. Visitors with a full multi-day itinerary can skip it and spend the time on the lakeshore instead. Other options are in activities.
Plan the rest of your trip
What to combine with the walkway.
Lake Manyara Treetop Walkway: frequently asked questions
How long is the Lake Manyara Treetop Walkway?
Figures range from about 370 m to 470 m, so treat it as a short walk of about an hour.
How high is the walkway?
It reaches up to 18 m above the forest floor.
How much does it cost?
The 2024 rates were TZS 10,000 for EAC visitors and $20 for non-EAC visitors and residents, in addition to park entry. Ask for the current price before you go.
Is the walkway open today?
Ask your guide or the park before you book whether it is running on your day, since the status can change.
Is this the official Lake Manyara website?
No. This is an independent guide. It is not run by Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) or any authority, and it is not connected to any operator running the walkway.