Discover Tree-Climbing Lions And Scenic Views On Lake Manyara Safaris

Last updated on September 13th, 2025 at 04:05 pm

Think of an out-of-the-ordinary Tanzania Safaris and Tours where you get to see lions resting high in the branches of acacia trees. This is not a dream; this is Lake Manyara National Park, one of Tanzania’s most surprising and beautiful places.

Lake Manyara National Park is a hidden gem found at the base of the Great Rift Valley’s cliffs. Within its 330 square kilometers, several worlds are gathered in this small park. Its underground springs sustain the dense, green forests.

This blog will show you why Lake Manyara deserves your time. We will talk about its famous tree-climbing lions, incredible birdlife, and lush landscapes. We will also give you tips to plan your perfect Lake Manyara Safari.

For 16 years, African Scenic Safaris has been guiding travelers through the Lake Manyara National Park Tour. Our expert guides know its secrets and where to find its most amazing sights that define a truly great Safari Tanzania. One of our guests was astonished by the sight of tree-climbing lions.

From the famous crossing of the Mara in Northern Serengeti, to a lion kill, to a lion ambush (what an incredible nerve-wrecking show!), to tree climbing lions in Tarangire, to four leopards, including one that climbed down a tree.

Maria K, Sydney from Tripadvisor

Why Lake Manyara Stands Out

Even though Lake Manyara is smaller compared to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, its variety sets it apart. Lake Manyara offers a Tanzania Safari Tour experience that is detailed, personal, and wonderfully diverse. It’s a park that proves that the best treasures often come in smaller packages.

The escarpment of the Great Rift Valley dominates the landscape of the park. This wall of rock forms the park’s western border, providing a stunning backdrop everywhere you look. The cliff base spills a groundwater forest that remains evergreen year-round; the forest is sustained by underground springs.

“Manyara’s forests hold surprises at every turn.”

Beyond the forest lie the open floodplains, which transform into a shallow soda lake during the wet season. Some springs produce water hot enough to boil an egg. This incredible arrangement of the park’s features offers a sample platter of East African ecosystems.

Lake Manyara Wildlife

This mix of habitats in the park creates a mix of Lake Manyara Wildlife. When it is hot, the park’s lions climb trees and observe prey grazing in the savannah plains. Apart from the famous tree-climbing lions, Lake Manyara Safaris expose tourists to other unique wildlife in the park. Some of the impressive wildlife in the Lake Manyara National Park include:

• Elephants: large tusked elephants move silently through the dense forests in the park. They move in big herds to search for water and pasture.
• Baboons: The park is also famous for its massive troops of olive baboons. As many as 150 baboons in a troop endlessly provide entertainment along the roadsides.
• Flamingos: The shores of Lake Manyara are a good spot to view flamingos. They feed on algae found in the lake water. The best time to see flamingos is during the wet season. Besides flamingos, the park has over 350 identified species of birds.

Are you ready to experience this incredible diversity for yourself? Explore our thoughtfully crafted Tanzania Safari Packages that seamlessly include this unforgettable experience.  

Best Time & Ways To Experience The Lake Manyara Glamour

Each season in Lake Manyara paints the park with a different brush. Choosing wisely when to visit can shape your Tanzania Safari experience. Planning your perfect trip starts with understanding the Best Time to Visit Lake Manyara as per your interests.

• The Dry Season (June – October): This is considered the prime time for classic game drive viewing. Water sources are normally dry during this time; animals move to look for permanent water sources in the park. The thinned vegetation offers clearer sightlines, making it easy to spot wildlife.

This is the best time to view large mammals such as elephants, buffalo, and giraffes in large numbers.

• The Wet Season (November – May): The park gets transformed into a green paradise during this season. It is during this time that migratory birds from Europe and Northern Africa arrive in the park. This is the perfect time for bird lovers to visit. The dramatic skies, green landscapes, and intimate wildlife encounters provide perfect photography opportunities.

Seeing all sorts of birds, baby elephants with their parents, a group of zebras, flamingos, hippos, including a hyena dragging a wildebeest carcass.

The duration of your stay in the park is just as important as when to visit. Lake Manyara National Park Tours offer a variety of ways to connect with the park’s wilderness.

• Day Trips: Travelers can enjoy wonderful experiences of the park in just a day trip, and moreover, it is suitable for those who have limited time.
• Overnight stays: This is our recommended duration of stay. Staying overnight allows you to experience night game drives and an early morning game drive.
• Combo tours: Our Lake Manyara Safari Packages include pairing Lake Manyara trip with other parks. You can pair it with Tarangire or Ngorongoro to have an unforgettable Safari Tanzania.

Opening times and Entry fees 

The Lake Manyara National Park opens at 6 am and closes at 6 pm. For more current information on operational hours, regulations, and entry fees, we always recommend checking the Lake Manyara National Park information.

Lake Manyara National Park’s Legendary Tree-Climbing Lions

The sight of tree-climbing lions is what guests hope for in their Safari Tours Tanzania. It’s because lions in other places occasionally climb trees, but the lions in Lake Manyara are habitual tree climbers.

Why do they climb trees?

After years of observation, researchers and guides developed several theories that explain this unique behavior of lions.

• Escape from heat: when the ground gets hotter, the lions climb up trees to catch a cool breeze. This normally happens during the afternoon,
• Relief from pests: they climb trees to escape the constant annoyance of flies roaming around dead animals and tsetse flies.
• Look out for prey: sitting on tree branches gives lions a good view of potential prey like buffaloes, wildebeests and zebras.

The best time to see lions climbing trees is during the hotter parts of the day. They are not in every tree, but in specific large-branched acacia and sausage trees. One of our guides’ comments on tree-climbing lions: “We know the trees they love most.” 

Scenic Highlights & Activities For Lake Manyara Safaris

To solely focus on lions would be a waste of Lake Manyara National Park Tours. The park offers enchanting experiences and activities that can be done on your safari.

• The Alkaline lake: at the center of the park is a soda lake that covers about two-thirds of the park. Its size changes with the season, and it is a habitat for many water birds.
• The Flamingos: the Lake Manyara spectacle of flamingos is world-famous. The most famous residents of the lake are the lesser flamingos.

A true Safari Tanzania experience is more than just viewing wildlife from a vehicle. Lake Manyara’s surrounding areas offer opportunities to connect to nature and culture through these activities:

• Guided forest walks: Walking safaris are not permitted inside the park, but areas outside the boundaries are allowed. You will be led by a knowledgeable guide, and you will learn to identify animal tracks.
• Night game drives: night drives reveal the hidden world of the park. Using specialized spotlights will help you spot wildlife in this dark hour. These drives provide the best chances of seeing nocturnal animals.
• Cultural visits: guests can visit the multicultural village of Mto Wa Mbu. They can get a glimpse of Tanzania’s local life by taking guided walks in the market and seeing traditional woodcarvings. 

These visits are important because the tourism revenue can be used to impact the community and encourage conservation. The Cultural Tourism Programme Tanzania supports such initiatives and ensures that they’re beneficial and respectful.

We learned so much about nature, the animals and, last but not least, the people in this part in Tanzania.

Planning Your Lake Manyara Safari

A smooth and enjoyable safari is built on a foundation of good planning. Here is what you need to consider when crafting your Lake Manyara Safari Packages.

Entry Fees

Before entering the park, guests are required to pay for entry fees. These fees are a crucial contribution to the park’s conservation efforts. The table below shows Lake Manyara entry fees as set by TANAPA.

E.A. – East Africa | TZ – Tanzania | Tsh – Tanzanian Shilling | USD – United States Dollar

Accommodation Options

Your choice of stay can define your experience. The park offers a range of options to suit all preferences and budgets.

• Luxury tree Lodges and lodges: These offer high-end services, comfort, and stunning views. Guests can have a view of the forest or the rift valley wall.
• Tented camps: While camps provide a classic feel of nature, you will also enjoy modern amenities, creating the perfect balance between comfort and the wild bush.

African Scenic Safaris’ insider tip is “One night is perfect for Manyara, two nights for deeper exploration.”

Pairing with other destinations

You can join Lake Manyara Safaris with other parks in the northern circuit for a broader adventure. Moreover, you can combine the park safari with:

• Tarangire National Park: just a 1–2-hour drive away, famous for its big elephant herds and giant baobab trees.
• Serengeti National Park: You can get to this park by road or by air. The park renownedly showcases the Great Migration and beautiful landscapes.

Conservation & Eco-Travel At Manyara

Careful protection and preservation sustain the breathtaking beauty of Lake Manyara. The park carries out responsible tourism to protect the fragile groundwater forests. Conservation teams maintain the Lake Manyara Wildlife Corridors to allow animal movement between protected areas.

The revenue collected from park entry fees and tourism concessions funds wildlife conservation and community projects. By choosing a responsible tour operator for your Tanzania Safaris and Tours, you are directly contributing to these efforts.

African Scenic Safaris supports conservation initiatives and ensures that local communities benefit from the park’s presence. Your visit ensures that future generations will also be amazed by lions in trees.

Your Unforgettable Tanzania Safari Is Waiting For You

Lake Manyara may not be the biggest park in Tanzania, but it is one of the most memorable parks. It offers a surprise-filled safari experience that can live in your memory for a long time. A safari to this park will give you sightings of its incredible wildlife and beautiful landscapes.

It is a place that proves that the best adventures often come when you least expect them. Choosing the right safari operator will allow you to directly contribute to wildlife conservation and community empowerment.

Get the best Tanzania Safari Packages from African Scenic Safaris to see the magic of Lake Manyara. Few places offer this sight of lions in trees and flamingos by the thousand. Come see it for yourself.

Simbo Natai, founder of African Scenic Safaris, crafts sustainable, meaningful Tanzanian journeys rooted in his deep local knowledge and passion.

Director, African Scenic Safaris