Lake Manyara Biosphere Reserve, Biosphere reserve in northern Tanzania.

Lake Manyara Biosphere Reserve is a large protected area in northern Tanzania containing grasslands, woodlands, wetlands, and an alkaline lake at its center. The landscape includes habitats ranging from open plains to thick vegetation zones where diverse wildlife species coexist.

The Lake Manyara Biosphere Reserve was established in 1981 under UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Programme, covering 2,833,000 hectares in the East African Rift Valley. It formed part of the UNESCO-MAB BRAAF project, which aimed to conserve biodiversity while involving local people in sustainable use. BRAAF initiatives promoted income-generating activities such as beekeeping and tick control for pastoralist communities.

The Maasai, Iraqw and Barabaig are the main ethnic groups of the Lake Manyara region, and most indigenous residents live by pastoralism and agriculture. UNESCO-MAB projects here supported income-generating work such as bee-keeping and tick control in pastoralists' livestock. As of 1999 the reserve held over 250,000 people, and most immigrants depend on tourism.

Access is possible through Lake Manyara Airport or by car from Arusha. The area is larger than most visitors expect, and the best time to explore is during or shortly after rainy seasons when water is abundant throughout the landscape.

The reserve hosts more than 350 bird species, including large flamingo populations that gather along the lake shore during wet seasons. These seasonal concentrations create viewing opportunities that shift noticeably depending on rainfall patterns.