Game Drive Safaris in Lake Manyara National Park

Game Drive Safaris in Lake Manyara National Park: Lake Manyara is a beautiful freshwater lake situated in the Northern part of Tanzania and is another national park. Slightly measuring 330sq km and therefore perhaps slightly more compact than some of its fellow game reserves such as Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, this park is nevertheless amazingly fascinating on safari. Starting from the steep cliffs of the Rift Valley to the serene shores of Lake Manyara, the park offers the most scenic, spectacular, and cinematic views for game viewing. This article will give some insight into what you might find when on a game drive in the Lake Manyara National Park.

Overview of Lake Manyara National Park

 Geography and Ecosystem

 Lake Manyara National Park is located on the northern circuit, at the highest point of the western escarpment of the Great Rift Valley. These include the groundwater forests, acacia woodlands, the savannah, open grasslands, and the Lake Manyara which is alkaline in nature. These various types of habitats are likely to accommodate a number of wildlife and birding species of animals.

Wildlife

Lake Manyara National Park is home to an impressive diversity of wildlife, including: Lake Manyara National Park is home to an impressive diversity of wildlife, including:

 – Mammals: Elephants, lions, leopards, buffaloes, hippos, giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, and different species of antelopes.

 – Birds: More than 400 bird species of which 100 are water birds like flamingos, pelicans, storks, herons, etc, and other waterfowls.

 – Primates: Blue monkeys; vervet monkeys Olive baboons and bush babies.

  Game Drive Experience

  Morning and Evening Drives

 Game drives in this park are perhaps more rewarding in the morning and towards the dusk. These are the periods of activity of the animals and cool time of the day or rather the night. Morning drives commence from dawn this means that one can be able to see those animals that are most active at night as well as those that are most active in the morning. Off late evening drives are good for watching the sunset and the denizens getting ready for their nocturnal thralls.

  Northern Entrance

 More often, game drives start in the northern part of the park, in the area close to the Mto wa Mbu village. The northern sector of the park is full of concentrated biomass mostly dominated by groundwater forests; one is likely to spot elephants, monkeys and other bird species.

  Lake Shore and Floodplains

 When moving southwards to the lake shore and the floodplain, the viewpoint widens to the alkaline lake and the extension to the grasslands. This area is particularly excellent for the sighting of large plant feeders such as giraffes, zebras, wilde beasts, and buffaloes. The lake is also a bird Heaven, especially the pink Flamingos that create a natural lining to the shores of the lake.

  Rift Valley Escarpment

 On its western border, there are steep cliffs of the Rift Valley geographical formation. Such massive structures enhance the aesthetic value of the park and afford homes to even different species of the fauna. You may see a klipspringer and some varieties of antelopes that usually reside in the rocky regions.

  Highlights of a Game Drive Safari

  Tree-Climbing Lions

 Among the special features for the Lake Manyara National Park, one can mention tree-climbing lions. Contrary to other lions, these lions are usually portrayed resting in the tree branches, especially on the trees that are normally referred to as acacia trees. Though the exact reason why they do this is not clear, it is thought to prevent contact with insects and to enjoy the fresh air. Sighting a lion in a tree is really a marvel, it is something to behold.

  Elephant Herds

 A relatively popular feature in the Lake Manyara National Park is the elephants. Large herds of elephants are frequently sighted bog moving through the forest tracts and the exposed savanna country. These large-tusked, peaceful elephants are one of the main attractions in the park and getting close to the animals is always a thrill during the game viewing.

  Rich Birdlife

 To bird lovers, Lake Manyara National Park is what one calls a birder’s haven. There is also a good representation of birds which can be explained by the many and varied habitation types that are available in the park. But apart from the flamingos, one will have close-up views of pelicans, storks, herons, and any number of other birdlife. The Terrestrial birds of the park’s forests and woodland include flying and all sorts of raptors.

  Hippo Pool

 The Hippo Pool near the lake shore is also a common stop over during game drivers as mentioned above. There you can watch hippos mudding in water, sometimes with waterbirds and others animals around. These large animals are interesting to watch and their view and vocal communication can be a great photo material.

  Other Activities in Lake Manyara National Park

  Night Game Drives

 Among all the nine of Tanzania’s national parks and reserves, only the Lake Manyara National Park provides night games. These night drives make it possible to observe nocturnal animal species such as genets, bushbabies, civets, and at times leopards. The night park that is done with searchlights will always be an interesting one, I could learn a lot.

 Canoeing on Lake Manyara

 If you want to have a look at another prospect of the park, one can organize a canoeing safari on Lake Manyara. The calm water enables the clients to approach the birding sites and the aquatic animals such as hippos. Canoes present one with a quiet and close overview of the park landscaped without interruption in privacy.

Cultural Tours in Mto wa Mbu

 A visit to a nearby town of Mto wa Mbu allows for personal, and direct, interaction with the local people and getting to know more about the cultural diversities of Tanzania. It is also evident that cultural tour mainly entail visits to local markets, farms, schools as well as traditional houses. It is also possible to watch traditional dances and taste local products, thus making the safari more colorful and asking more questions about culture.

Treetop Walkway

This is yet another treasured product available in Lake Manyara National Park; which is the Treetop Walkway which enables the visitors to get a bird-view angle of the park’s forest floor. This series of suspension bridges and platforms will guide you up into the canopy level giving them a new perspective of the park and likely to see birds and other wildlife from this perspective.

Conclusion

Going for a game drive in a tour vehicle in the park provide an amazing view of the park, the wonderful scenery, and different wildlife sightings. This park is home to the odd tree-climbing lions apart from a diversity of bird species and enormous populations of elephants for a diverse, typical safari. To get the most out of your experience, go for night drives, and water experiences like canoeing, learning about the Maasai people and their way of life and the incredible tree-top walkways, in this incredibly beautiful region. No matter if you have been on the safari several times and if you are a first-timer, there is so much waiting for you in Lake Manyara National Park.