Lake Manyara National Park: Tree-Climbing Lions and Flamingos

Lake Manyara National Park, nestled at the base of the Great Rift Valley escarpment in Tanzania, is a captivating and diverse wildlife destination. Despite its relatively small size (330 sq km, with about two-thirds covered by the lake), it offers a concentrated safari experience renowned for two particularly unique features: its tree-climbing lions and its spectacular flamingos.

Tree-Climbing Lions: An Unusual Phenomenon

While lions are typically ground dwellers, a unique behavior has emerged among the prides in Lake Manyara (and also in the Ishasha sector of Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park). Here, lions regularly climb and rest on the branches of acacia and fig trees.

• Why they climb: The exact reasons are still debated by experts, but several theories exist:
  • Escaping Heat: The forest canopy offers a cooler, breezier escape from the intense midday heat on the ground.
  • Avoiding Insects: Getting away from irritating biting insects like tsetse flies, which are more prevalent at ground level.
  • Better Vantage Point: From the elevated position, lions might get a better view of potential prey grazing in the plains below.
  • Learned Behavior: It’s believed to be a learned behavior passed down through generations within specific prides. Young lions observe adults climbing and imitate them.
• Where to spot them: These elusive felines are usually found in the acacia woodlands of the park, particularly in the southern and central sections. Spotting them requires patience and a good guide who knows their usual haunts.
• Significance: Seeing lions lounging elegantly in the trees is a rare and thrilling sight that adds an extra layer of mystique to a Lake Manyara safari.

Flamingos: The Pink Spectacle

Lake Manyara itself is a shallow, alkaline (soda) lake that is a magnet for vast numbers of flamingos, creating a vibrant “pink sea” along its shores.

• Lesser and Greater Flamingos: Both species can be found here, but the Lesser Flamingo, with its more intense pink plumage, is usually present in much larger numbers.
• Diet and Color: The flamingos feed on the abundant blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) that thrive in the lake’s alkaline waters. The carotenoid pigments in this algae give the birds their characteristic pink color.
• Seasonal Fluctuations: The number of flamingos at Lake Manyara can vary significantly with the seasons and water levels. During the wet season (November to May), when water levels are higher, the lake is often covered in vast flocks. During the dry season, as the lake dries up, the flamingos may migrate to other Rift Valley soda lakes like Lake Natron (their primary breeding ground) or Lake Bogoria in Kenya.
• Birdwatcher’s Paradise: Beyond flamingos, the park is home to over 400 recorded bird species, including large flocks of pelicans, cormorants, storks, herons, and various raptors, making it a crucial birding destination.

Other Wildlife and Landscapes:

Beyond its famous lions and flamingos, Lake Manyara offers a rich diversity of other wildlife and varied habitats within its compact area:

• Elephants: The park is known for its large elephant herds, often seen in the groundwater forests or along the lakeshores.
• Baboons: Lake Manyara boasts one of the highest concentrations of baboons in Africa, often seen in large troops near the park entrance.
• Forest Wildlife: The northern part of the park features a lush groundwater forest, home to blue monkeys, vervet monkeys, bushbucks, and various forest birds.
• Plains Game: The open grasslands host buffalo, wildebeest, zebras, giraffes, impalas, and various antelopes.
• Hippos: Large pods of hippos can be seen in the Hippo Pool, often joined by other animals coming to drink.
• Predators: Leopards and spotted hyenas are also present, though less frequently sighted than lions.
• Diverse Ecosystems: The park encompasses a narrow strip of land between the Great Rift Valley’s western escarpment and the alkaline lake, featuring varied habitats including groundwater forests, acacia woodlands, open grasslands, and the lake itself. There are also hot springs in the southern part of the park.

Activities in Lake Manyara National Park:

• Day Game Drives: The most popular activity, offering excellent opportunities to spot all of the park’s wildlife.
• Night Game Drives: One of the few parks in Tanzania that offers night drives, allowing you to see nocturnal animals like civets, genets, porcupines, and potentially hunting predators.
• Canoeing: When water levels permit, canoeing on Lake Manyara offers a unique perspective of the flamingos, pelicans, and other water birds, as well as hippos.
• Guided Nature Walks: Explore the diverse flora and smaller creatures on foot with an armed ranger.
• Treetop Walkway: A canopy walk suspended in the groundwater forest, offering a unique aerial view of the forest canopy and its inhabitants.
• Cultural Tours: Visits to the nearby Mto wa Mbu village provide insights into local Maasai and other tribal cultures.

Best Time to Visit:

• Dry Season (June to October): Best for general game viewing, as vegetation is sparser and animals congregate around permanent water sources. This is also often the best time to spot the tree-climbing lions.
• Wet Season (November to May): While game viewing can be more challenging due to thicker vegetation, this is the prime time for birdwatching, as migratory birds arrive, and the flamingo numbers are often at their peak when the lake’s water levels are high.

Lake Manyara National Park is often included as a first or last stop on the northern Tanzania safari circuit, offering a memorable introduction to the region’s diverse wildlife and unique attractions before or after visiting the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater.