Lake Manyara, Freshwater lake in northern Tanzania
Lake Manyara extends across 230 square kilometers within the Great Rift Valley, featuring alkaline waters that support numerous aquatic species and shore birds.
The lake area transformed from a sports hunting ground in the 1920s into a protected national park by 1960, with territorial expansions occurring in 1974.
The lake's name originates from the Euphorbia tirucalli plant, which the Maasai people traditionally use for creating protective barriers around their settlements.
The optimal period for observing wildlife near Lake Manyara occurs during the dry season between July and October when animals gather near water sources.
Lake Manyara experiences substantial water level changes throughout the year, occasionally drying completely due to natural evaporation patterns.
Location: Manyara Region
GPS coordinates: -3.58333,35.83333
Latest update: March 16, 2025 13:13
Tanzania provides photographers with an extraordinary range of subjects, from the Serengeti plains to Zanzibar's coastline and Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa at 19,341 feet (5,895 meters). The country contains major wildlife reserves including Tarangire, where elephant herds move between baobab trees, and the Ngorongoro Crater, which holds a dense concentration of large mammals within its 100-square-mile (260-square-kilometer) caldera. Coastal regions and offshore islands like Mafia and Pemba offer opportunities to photograph coral reefs, sea turtles, and traditional dhow boats. The Mahale Mountains support habituated chimpanzee groups, while Selous Game Reserve presents riverine landscapes and diverse animal populations. Stone Town's historic quarter features Arab, Persian, and Indian architecture spanning several centuries, including the House of Wonders and the narrow alleys of the former trading port. The less visited Katavi National Park delivers scenes of hundreds of hippos crowding shrinking pools during the dry season. Kondoa rock art sites preserve prehistoric paintings dating back as far as 30,000 years. The active volcano Ol Doinyo Lengai and alkaline Lake Natron with its flamingo flocks add geological interest. From the terraced hillsides of the Usambara Mountains to the wildflower meadows of Kitulo National Park, Tanzania covers nearly every photographic interest.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area
58.7 km
Mount Meru
110.2 km
Laetoli
84.4 km
Ol Doinyo Lengai
92.1 km
Tarangire National Park
49.1 km
Kilimanjaro National Park
179.8 km
Lake Manyara National Park
9.3 km
Ngorongoro Crater
53.8 km
Arusha National Park
117.2 km
Engaruka
68.1 km
Olduvai Gorge Museum
84.4 km
Kikuletwa Hot Springs
152 km
Arusha Declaration Monument
97.9 km
Arrow Glacier
177.5 km
Materuni Waterfalls
178 km
Mount Hanang
106.1 km
Nyumba ya Mungu Reservoir
177.1 km
Sheikh Amri Abeid Memorial Stadium
97.7 km
Ngurdoto Crater
125.8 km
Ol Doinyo Orok
158.5 km
Balletto Glacier
177.1 km
Barranco Glacier
176.9 km
Lake Manyara Biosphere Reserve
20.7 km
Great Penck Glacier
177.2 km
Olmoti Crater
68.9 km
Little Penck Glacier
177 km
Barafu-Lager
180 km
New Safari Hotel
98.6 kmReviews
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