Lake Manyara National Park
At roughly 125 square miles, Lake Manyara National Park is a beautiful little park and is well known for its tree-climbing lions, elephants and large troops of baboons. The park is home to an amazing variety of birds and animals considering its small size. Lake Manyara the shallow, alkaline lake consumes the majority of this area. The land portion of the park is tucked between the lake and the sheer rock walls of the rift valley escarpment that tower 2,000 feet above. The park is home to three distinct habitats including a lush groundwater forest, open flood plains and acacia woodlands. In just a two-hour round trip foray into the park, it is possible to see all the main highlights in the groundwater forest and the floodplain's leading up to the lake. Resident herbivores that you will likely encounter include elephant, hippo, giraffe, wildebeest, buffalo, warthog and impala. Primates include vervet monkey and baboon. Lake Manyara boasts one of highest concentrations of baboons in Africa. The baboons are among the more exciting animals to watch in the park as they squabble and feud in their large extended family groups. The baboons, elephants and impala can be found in the groundwater forest in the immediate area around the park gate. On the flood plains and fringes you will encounter buffalo, wildebeest and giraffe. There are also several pools supporting large concentrations of hippos. Carnivores include lion and leopard. With over 300 species including migratory birds, even the most seasoned bird enthusiast will not be disappointed. In every tour and guidebook you will undoubtedly find a description of Lake Manyara that references ‘the famous tree climbing lions’. It is true that there are lions in Manyara and they have been known to climb trees. |
