Lake Manyara & Tarangire: Tanzania's Hidden Gems

When travellers think of a Tanzania safari, they think of the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. But two parks just a few hours from Arusha offer extraordinary wildlife experiences with a fraction of the visitors: Lake Manyara and Tarangire. These neighbouring parks are often overlooked — which is precisely what makes them special.

Lake Manyara National Park

Lake Manyara is a compact park wedged between the Great Rift Valley escarpment and the alkaline lake that gives it its name. Despite its small size (330 square kilometres, of which two-thirds is the lake), it packs an astonishing variety of habitats and wildlife into a single game drive.

What Makes It Special

• Tree-climbing lions: Lake Manyara is one of only two places in Africa where lions regularly climb trees. The theory is that they climb to escape biting flies and catch cooling breezes. Seeing a lion draped over a branches of an acacia tree is an unforgettable sight.
• Huge elephant herds: The groundwater forest supports dense elephant populations. Herds of 50 or more are common.
• Flamingos: When water levels are right, thousands of lesser flamingos create a pink ribbon along the lakeshore.
• Birdlife: Over 400 bird species recorded — more than many entire countries. The combination of lake, forest, and savanna attracts everything from fish eagles to crowned cranes.

When to Visit

The park is open year-round. The dry season (June to October) concentrates animals near water. The wet season (November to May) brings migratory birds and the flamingos are more numerous. Lake Manyara is an excellent choice for a half-day or full-day game drive as a stopover between Arusha and the Ngorongoro Crater.

Tarangire National Park

Tarangire is Tanzania's sixth-largest national park but receives a fraction of the Serengeti's visitors. It is best known for its massive elephant herds — the largest concentration of elephants in any single park in East Africa — and its iconic landscape of ancient baobab trees.

What Makes It Special

• Elephants: Over 3,000 elephants live in Tarangire. During the dry season, herds of 200 or more gather along the Tarangire River — the scenes are extraordinary.
• Baobab trees: Some of these ancient trees are over 1,000 years old. The combination of elephants and baobabs creates one of the most photogenic landscapes in Tanzania.
• Lesser-known predators: Tarangire has excellent populations of lions, leopards, and the elusive African wild dog. The park is less crowded, giving predators more space and making sightings more relaxed.
• Pythons: Tarangire is famous for its large tree pythons, which can be seen draped in branches along the river.
• Oryx and gerenuk: These rare antelope species are found in the drier areas of the park — a treat for wildlife enthusiasts.

When to Visit

The dry season (June to October) is the prime time, when wildlife concentrates along the Tarangire River. During the wet season, animals disperse into the wider ecosystem and many camps outside the park close. A 2-day Tarangire itinerary allows for deeper exploration beyond the main river corridor.

How to Include These Parks in Your Itinerary

Both parks are easily combined with a northern Tanzania circuit:

1. Day 1: Arusha to Lake Manyara (2 hours). Half-day game drive. Overnight at a lodge on the escarpment with sunset views over the lake.
2. Day 2: Manyara to Tarangire (1.5 hours). Full-day game drive exploring the river corridor and Silale Swamp. Overnight at a camp inside or near the park.
3. Day 3: Tarangire to Ngorongoro or Serengeti.

Or as a standalone 3-day extension from Arusha — perfect for travellers with limited time who want a rich wildlife experience without the long drives to the Serengeti.

See our Tanzania safari tours for itineraries that include these parks, or contact us to build a custom route.