Tanzania | Road Scholar Day Trip: Lake Manyara National Park

After early breakfast your safari guide will pick you from the Hotel and drive to Lake Manyara National park (approx. 2hrs good road) for game drive. While Lake Manyara lacks the raw drama of other northern circuit destinations, its vegetation is diverse, ranging from savannah to marshes to evergreen forest (11 different ecosystems in all) and it supports one of the highest biomass densities of large mammals in the world. Elephants, hippos, zebras, giraffes, buffaloes and wildebeest are often spotted. Leopards and hyenas are also here. Lake Manyara is also home to a famous population of tree-climbing lions. Enjoy your lunch in the Park then later in the afternoon drive back to the lodge.
Lake Manyara National Park is one of Tanzania's smaller parks and, although many safari itineraries skip it, we highly recommend you make the detour. The dramatic western escarpment of the Rift Valley forms the park's western border. To the east is the alkaline Lake Manyara, which covers one-third of the park, but shrinks considerably in the dry season. During the rains, the lake hosts millions of flamingos and other birdlife.