Proclaimed by Ernest Hemingway to be the loveliest lake he had seen throughout all his travel in Africa, it is also the home of a fascinating and diverse set of landscapes and wildlife.
Although Lake Manyara Park was established specifically to protect the elephant herds that have made this area world renowned, the reserve boasts an incredible diversity of plant and animal species. The park itself occupies 203 square kilometres, but 142 of these are made up of its vast alkaline lake, which attracts vast flocks of pink flamingos. Unsurprisingly, Lake Manyara is a birding paradise with more than 400 species thriving in the area, particularly waterfowl and migrants. Most commonly known for its baboons, the lake and its environs is also home to hippos, impalas, elephants, wildebeests, buffalo, warthogs and giraffes, making it an enticing African safari destination.
Of course, where there are so many herbivores, you’re bound to find a few predators. The forests surrounding the lake are famous for lion sightings. Lions hunt on the grassy shores of the Lake, and are renowned for their habit of climbing and lounging in the trees, a unique sight along the shores of this vast, beautiful lake.
