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Lake Manyara Budget Safari Tours
Lake Manyara National Park is perfectly suited for those on a budget safari. Part of Tanzania’s world-famous Northern safari circuit, the park is best known for its population of tree-climbing lions. It really is quite an experience to look up into the trees and find yourself face to face with a pride of lions. It’s also one of the best places in these parts to see elephants, and to go looking for birds. Although it’s not a big park, there have been more than 400 bird species recorded here, and it’s not unusual to see nearly 100 in a single day. Best of all, the park is filled with forest wedged between steep cliffs and the lake itself, which makes for a really beautiful setting. It’s also an easy park to visit on the cheap.
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Best Seller
5-Day Tanzania Camping Safari to Serengeti National Park
$900 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Shared tour (max 6 people per vehicle)BudgetCamping
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara NP, Arusha (End)
Go Serengeti African Tours
4.9/5 – 507 Reviews
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Best Seller
6-Day Unique Chapter in Your Adventures in East Africa
$1,188 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Shared tour (max 6 people per vehicle)BudgetCamping & Hotel
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Highlands, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara NP, Arusha (End)
Diana Tanzania Safaris
4.8/5 – 22 Reviews
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7-Day Safari Experience - Tanzania & Materuni Waterfalls
$1,210 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Shared tour (max 7 people per vehicle)BudgetCamping & Hotel
You Visit: Moshi (Start), Arusha (City), Tarangire NP, Central Serengeti NP, Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara NP, Materuni Waterfalls (Highlight), Arusha (End)
kiliclimb Africa Safaris
5.0/5 – 265 Reviews
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3-Day Group Tour to the Parks Close to Arusha
$655 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Shared tour (max 7 people per vehicle)BudgetCamping
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Lake Manyara NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Arusha (End)
Suricata Safaris
5.0/5 – 3,151 Reviews
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![5-Day Tanzania Wildlife Lodge Safari]()
5-Day Tanzania Wildlife Lodge Safari
$1,480 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Shared tour (max 7 people per vehicle)BudgetLodge & Tented Camp
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara NP, Arusha (End)
Go Makini Tanzania Expedition
4.9/5 – 141 Reviews
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![6-Day Private Serengeti Budget Camping Tanzania Safari]()
6-Day Private Serengeti Budget Camping Tanzania Safari
$1,815 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetCamping & Lodge
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Serengeti NP, Western Serengeti NP, Southern Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara NP, Arusha (End)
Meru Slopes Tours & Safaris
5.0/5 – 835 Reviews
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![6-Day Tanzania Safari & Materuni Waterfalls Tour]()
6-Day Tanzania Safari & Materuni Waterfalls Tour
$990 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Shared tour (max 6 people per vehicle)BudgetCamping
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara NP, Materuni Waterfalls (Highlight), Arusha (End)
Josh Dreamland Safari
4.9/5 – 82 Reviews
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![5-Day Budget; Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro & Manyara]()
5-Day Budget; Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro & Manyara
$1,862 to $1,880 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetTented Camp & Hotel
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara NP, Arusha (End)
Full Package Adventures
5.0/5 – 401 Reviews
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![6-Day Tanzania Iconic Parks -Dream Safari Experience]()
6-Day Tanzania Iconic Parks -Dream Safari Experience
$1,848 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetCamping & Lodge
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Serengeti NP, Central Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara NP, Arusha (End)
See Endless Adventures Tanzania
5.0/5 – 111 Reviews
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![7-Day Adventure Camping Safari]()
7-Day Adventure Camping Safari
$2,050 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetCamping
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Lake Manyara NP, Lake Natron, Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Highlands, Ngorongoro Crater, Arusha (End)
African Chitah
5.0/5 – 105 Reviews
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![7-Day Multidimensional Tanzania Safari]()
7-Day Multidimensional Tanzania Safari
$2,035 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetCamping & Hotel
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Lake Manyara NP, Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Materuni Waterfalls (Highlight), Arusha (End)
Safari Soles
5.0/5 – 484 Reviews
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![7-Day Best Safari Tanzania Iconic Parks Private Budget]()
7-Day Best Safari Tanzania Iconic Parks Private Budget
$2,429 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetCamping & Lodge
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Arusha NP, Tarangire NP, Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara NP, Arusha (End)
Colours Africa Tours and Safaris
4.9/5 – 276 Reviews
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![4-Day Awesome Tarangire Serengeti Ngorongoro & Manyara]()
4-Day Awesome Tarangire Serengeti Ngorongoro & Manyara
$1,320 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetLodge & Tented Camp
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti NP, Lake Manyara NP, Arusha (End)
Professional Safaris
5.0/5 – 149 Reviews
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![3-Day Fly in & Fly out Private Camping Safari]()
3-Day Fly in & Fly out Private Camping Safari
$1,650 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetCamping
You Visit: Zanzibar (Start), Tarangire NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara NP, Zanzibar (End)
Golden Trips Tanzania
4.9/5 – 189 Reviews
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![6-Day Amazing Wildlife & Cultural Experience Tour]()
6-Day Amazing Wildlife & Cultural Experience Tour
$1,834 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetLodge & Guest House
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Materuni Waterfalls (Highlight), Lake Duluti, Tarangire NP, Lake Manyara NP, Lake Eyasi, Arusha NP, Arusha (End)
Kimgoni Tanzania Safaris
5.0/5 – 143 Reviews
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![5-Day Fly in Group Joing Four Great Parks with Fondenss]()
5-Day Fly in Group Joing Four Great Parks with Fondenss
$1,240 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Shared tour (max 7 people per vehicle)BudgetCamping & Lodge
You Visit: Zanzibar (Start), Tarangire NP, Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara NP, Zanzibar (End)
Fondness Vacations
5.0/5 – 73 Reviews
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![3-Day Group Tour Lake Manyara Ngorongoro Tarangire]()
3-Day Group Tour Lake Manyara Ngorongoro Tarangire
$611 to $660 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Shared tour (max 7 people per vehicle)BudgetCamping
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Lake Manyara NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire NP, Arusha (End)
Toilo Tours and Safaris
5.0/5 – 26 Reviews
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![11-Day Best Parks and Acidic Lakes]()
11-Day Best Parks and Acidic Lakes
$2,995 to $3,179 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetCamping & Lodge
You Visit: Moshi (Start), Mt Kilimanjaro, Arusha NP, Tarangire NP, Lake Manyara NP, Lake Natron, Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Eyasi, Arusha (End)
Top Selected Tours
5.0/5 – 155 Reviews
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![5-Day Group Tour Serengeti Ngorongoro Manyara Tarangire]()
5-Day Group Tour Serengeti Ngorongoro Manyara Tarangire
$902 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Shared tour (max 6 people per vehicle)BudgetCamping
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara NP, Arusha (End)
Kale Voyage Expedition
5.0/5 – 117 Reviews
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![3-Day Pure Wilderness Safari]()
3-Day Pure Wilderness Safari
$1,045 to $1,128 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetHotel
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Lake Manyara NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Arusha (End)
Sirini Safaris
5.0/5 – 33 Reviews
_1813_5e20b935b89f3.gif "Meru Slopes Tours & Safaris")
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5 Questions About Lake Manyara Budget Safaris
Answered by
Anthony Ham
Anthony is a writer and author of numerous Lonely Planet guidebooks, including Tanzania and East Africa. He writes about Tanzania and the wider region for magazines and newspapers around the world. He is also the author of The Last Lions of Africa.› More about Anthony
5 Questions About Lake Manyara Budget Safaris
Anthony Ham
How many days is recommended for a Lake Manyara NP trip?
“Lake Manyara is a really compact park, with one main north–south track through the park. You could easily see the park in 1 full day and leave satisfied, although 2 days will allow you to really get to know the place (and increase your chances of seeing the tree-climbing lions). For a Lake Manyara budget safari, you’ll probably stay in (or near) the town of Mto wa Mbu, which has lots of affordable accommodation options. It’s a vibrant, multicultural place with most of the country’s ethnic groups represented here: make sure you have enough time to walk its streets for a taste of small-town Tanzanian life. If you’re adding on other parks, you’d want to allocate an extra 2 days to Tarangire National Park, 1 day for Ngorongoro Crater, and as much time as you can spare for the Serengeti.”
1Which other parks should I visit on a budget safari to Lake Manyara NP?
“Most people on a Lake Manyara budget safari do so on tours or packages that combine Lake Manyara with time spent in Tarangire National Park (known for its big cats, elephants and baobab trees), Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti National Park. That’s because Lake Manyara sits in the heart of northern Tanzania’s best safari country, and there are plenty of choices for visiting other parks in the area. How many of these you can visit will depend on how many days you have for your trip. Lake Manyara lies around halfway between Arusha (the gateway to Tanzania’s Northern safari circuit) and the Serengeti. You could visit the park in 1 or 2 days, which should leave more time for other parks. All of these parks are reasonably close to Lake Manyara, and can be reached by road, without the need for expensive flights (although you may need to fly back to Arusha from the Serengeti, unless you have time to drive back).”
2What type of accommodation can I expect on cheap Lake Manyara NP packages?
“There are two national park campsites within the park’s boundaries, one near the park entrance, another around an hour’s drive into the park, alongside the Endobash River. Both are simple affairs, with communal facilities (shower, toilets, cooking and dining areas) and space to pitch a tent. Near the park entrance, there are also national park bandas, which are simple, cheap bungalows with rooms. The park’s main entrance gate is very close to the small town of Mto wa Mbu which has plenty of affordable accommodation in the town itself. These include campgrounds and simple lodges with basic rooms; some will have en suite bathrooms, others won’t. The other areas with a few campsites are just off the main road that climbs the escarpment, and also high on the escarpment a short drive from the park.”
3How do I avoid the crowds on a Lake Manyara NP safari?
“Lake Manyara is a busy place, lying as it does along the main safari loop through northern Tanzania. It’s also a narrow park with only one main route through it, meaning that it can be difficult to avoid the crowds within the park itself. One option is to plan your trip so that you stay at the Endobash River campsite: the park has very little accommodation within its boundaries, so staying here allows you to enjoy the place once the day-trippers have returned home. Staying in Mto wa Mbu is certainly busy, but it’s the Tanzanian character of the town (rather than the touristy side of things) that shines through. In this sense, the crowding may be entirely welcome! You could also visit outside the July-to-March high season, which is when things are at their busiest. From the second half of March until roughly the middle of May, rain can be a problem, canceling out the benefits of sharing your holiday with smaller crowds. June could be an excellent option.”
4How much will this safari cost?
“The cost of a Lake Manyara budget safari varies considerably from one operator to the next, and no two safaris will ever be exactly the same. But as a general rule you can expect to pay around US$150 per person per day. This should include park entry fees (US$53/17.70 per adult/child per day), although these may not be included in the prices quoted to you by some operators for their tours and packages. Included in most quotes should be camping equipment, a guide, driver, vehicle, food, water, and two game drives per day (one in the early morning, the other late afternoon). For a really cheapo safari, you might be expected to help out around camp. Prices may be a little cheaper outside the high season months, although there aren’t many of these, and the price differential between the seasons is less for budget safaris than it is in other price categories.”
5Lake Manyara Reviews
Lizzie authored many guidebooks, including Footprint guides to South Africa, Namibia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
A Diverse Variety of Landscapes in a Small Area, Sheltered by the Magnificent Rift Valley Escarpment
Lake Manyara is easily seen from the road that climbs up the Rift Valley, where all safari vehicles stop for a gawk at the pink flamingos, but what I like about this park is its simplicity for a game drive. There’s essentially one track...
Mark is a travel writer who grew up in Africa and has written over 700 titles for Condé Nast Traveller, Travel Africa, BBC Wildlife and others.
Lake Manyara NP is famous for its tree-climbing lions and astounding views over the lake
We drove through Lake Manyara National Park en-route to Ngorongoro and Serengeti, and it was pretty much our initiation to Tanzania’s parks. The views are spectacular (as is to be expected in this part of Tanzania) and Lake Manyara is a...
CA
In March vegetation was lush, but there was a lot of flooding. Land cruising was in effected by flooding ! Wild animals were less stressed due to abundant grazing. Encounters were numerous, and sometimes surprising. On several occasions,...
Small National park but it was a lovely way to end our 10 day safari.
We had a wonderful time watching the elephant families coming to the waterfall/ river.
Plus we very lucky to see a small group of lions at the lake edge 😁😁
Completely different atmosphere in this park with animals we didn’t see anywhere else due to the lake. Monitor lizards and snakes, water birds etc. birds were a highlight in this park. The rangers were burning so the smoke was a little...
IT
Lake Manyara Park is a stunning place: it looks more like an asian jungle than an african forest. The trees are full of monkeys. Elephants emerge from the thick forest, breaking trees. Over the years, the lake has expanded, incorporating...