Lake Manyara National Park

Lake Manyara National Park offers a different kind of safari from Tanzania's larger parks. It is compact, but it packs in groundwater forest, open grassland, woodland and the wetlands around the lake itself, all beneath the steep wall of the Great Rift Valley escarpment. As you drive through, dense forest opens onto clearings where you watch wildlife against the backdrop of the escarpment and the water.

Elephants are often seen here, along with buffalo, giraffe, zebra, hippo and several antelope species. The park is well known for its tree-climbing lions. Lions do not climb on every visit, and the habit is not unique to Manyara, but the chance of finding one stretched along a branch is part of the appeal.

Birdwatchers enjoy the lake and its surroundings, which support a wide range of resident and migrant species. Flamingos may gather on the lake, depending on water levels and the season.

The park lies by the town of Mto wa Mbu, close to the road up to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, so it slots easily into a northern circuit safari between Tarangire, Ngorongoro and the Serengeti. It also works as a short safari from Arusha, and a cultural visit in Mto wa Mbu can be added.