Lake Manyara National Park

Not as spectacular as Serengeti or Ngorongoro but good close up views of elephants. Close to Arusha too

This was our first day on safari, and we didn't spend as long here as we did in other parks. We had a boxed lunch watching Lake Manyara and the Rift Valley. We are not birders – but no one could fail to be impressed with the all the birds -red and yellow barbet hopping around our feet, a weaver bird finishing off a nest a few feet from us, several other species with spectacular colours. After lunch, we drove around the park and saw our first zebras (babies too), giraffes (babies too), impalas (babies too), buffalos, warthogs and flamingoes from a distance. Many elephants and babies. On the way out, we stopped to watch a family of baboons, and later a family of Vervet monkeys.

This was one of the few places to see flamingos and they were my favorite part. The water almost looked completely pink because there were so many flamingos.

Paradisiacal experience at lake Manyara

In april 2014 I went on a game view at Lake Manyara. The day before we went to Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Although Ngorongoro was very beautiful, I even liked Lake Manyara more! Lake Manyara is a smaller but very nice park, where animals suddenly show up from between the trees. That was very awesome. A lot of variety in animals and beautiful birds, wide vast land as a viewpoint (with giraffes, flamingos, impalas, zebras, hippos...), a very quiet safari because of low season (which was very nice to be almost alone), flock of elephants at 1 meter from the jeep,...

The accomodation and food at the Jumbo campsite at Mto Wa Mbu, were unbelievable. It had a pool, very nicely warm tents. There we had our first warm shower in two months!! The organisation and guidance were very very good. They listened to our 'demands' to make sure we had the best safari ever for as less money as possible.

This organisation and safaris are very much recommended! I had the time of my life.

Not as good as the other parks.

Nice stop on your way to Ngorongoro area. The lions and elephants are great to see.

Compared to other safari sites in Africa, this Park is really worth going.

The park is quite small but has an unusual rain forest environment. The hotel overlooking Manyara has one of the most exciting swimming pools in the world - there is a thousand foot drop from one side.

You feel the Rift Valley

Amazing experience with my 8-year-old son

It's the first time my husband and son had been to Africa. I went there before but for business - only for three days. It's not like we saw on TV (tragedies etc.). We went through Dar-es-salaam, Tanzania's business city. We visited the spice island of Zanzibar first before flying to Arusha and then Lake Manyara National Park - where my son had a blast.

Coming from Minnesota - it felt hot even though it's supposed to be one of their cooler months. But it gets hotter even in Minnesota. We loved the weather.

You can't expect to get the first world service in a third world country but I would say - we're really impressed with what we paid for. Plenty of wildlife, beautiful uncontaminated air, exotic food, very good and kind African people.

It's our best trip ever!! Going again in the next two years,