Lake Manyara National Park
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Lake Manyara National park is a protected area in Tanzania’s Arusha and Manyara regions, located between Lake Manyara and the great Rift valley. Its managed by the Tanzania National parks Authority and it covers an area of 325km including 230km lake surface. The park has got over 350 bird species which have been observed on the lake. Since 1920s, Lake Manyara area was used for sport hunting, majority of the land area of the park is a narrow strip that runs between the gregory rift wall to the west and lake Manyara to the east. The national park includes the northwest quadrant of the lake about 200km and its part of the much larger Lake Manayara Biosphere Reserve, established in 1981 by UNESCO as part of its man and the Biosphere programme.
The National park
s got two rainy seasons, short rains from November to December and the long rains from March to May. The wettest month is April and it also has the highest number of rainy days. The driest months are July, August and September. September has got the lowest average number of rainy days. The warmest months are January, February and march. The months with the lowest average high temperatures are June and July and the nearby highlands tend to be cooler with more rain fall.
Lake Manyara national park is located 126km south west of Arusha and can be reached by car in an hour and half. The park can also be reached from Babati the capital of Manyara, region. Lake Manyara Airport is nearby. To south, located on the escarpment above the park, is the 35,399 ha Maranga Forest reserve. To the east side is the Kwa Kuchinja Wildlife corridor, which allows wildlife to migrate between the nearby Tarangire National Park to the southeast, Lake Manyara to west, and the Engaruka Basin to the north. Lake Manyara National park is part of the Lake Manyara Biosphere Reserve. It includes the areas within and outside the national park along with the Maranga Forest Reserve on the adjacent uplands that are included in the Lake Manyara important Bird Area.
<strong>Fauna and Flora in Lake Manyara National Park</strong>
The flora of Lake Manyara National Park is so diverse, with over 670 flowering plant and fern species documented. Most are wide spread species and so endemic species. The park has got variety of diverse habitats. River flowing off the escarpment and perennial springs below the rift wall supporting tall, evergreen groundwater filled by Trichilia Roka with Broad leaved croton, Quinine tree and forest toad tree. The trees are densest in gorges, along the edge of streams and in areas where the springs emerge. Growing at the edge of the ground water forest are dense stands of yellow fever trees as well as the palm. The woodland is filled by Acacia and commiphora species. There are also extensive swamps and many more.
Lake Manyara National Park is known for flocks of many flamingos that feed along the edge of the Lake in the wet season. The many bird species found in the park include; non breeding lesser Flamingo, greater flamingo, great white pelican, pink backed pelican, yellow billed stork, Marabou stork, grey heron, ayre’s Hawk eagle, and many more.
The populations of large migratory mammals that are concentrated in Tarangira National Park. Mammal species in the park include; wildebeest, zebras, Thomson’s gazelle, giant gazelle. The Herbivore species include; Zebras, bushbucks, waterbucks, Giant’s gazelle, Thomson’s gazelle, cape buffalos, giraffe, hippos, baboons, warthogs as well as elephants. The other species include; Lions, leoprads, African wild cats, black backed jackal, spotted hyenas, bat eared fox, serval badger, African civet, cheetah, mongose species and the African golden cat. Over 180 species of butterflies have been documented in the park.
Game viewing
Lake Manyara has got both day and Night game drives that can be enjoyed by the tourists who visit this great National park. You are to see many animal species including; Zebras, bushbucks, waterbucks, Giant’s gazelle, Thomson’s gazelle, cape buffalos, giraffe, hippos, baboons, warthogs as well as elephants. The other species include; Lions, leoprads, African wild cats, black backed jackal, spotted hyenas, bat eared fox, serval badger, African civet, cheetah, mongose species and the African golden cat. Over 180 species of butterflies have been documented in the park.
Picnicking
This is another activity that can be enjoyed with in the park. You are provided with the necessary equipment’s and you go out in the wild to enjoy a picnic where you are to enjoy scenery viewing as well as lots of animal species.
Canoeing
Canoeing can be done on Lake Manyara and you get to see variety of fish species as well as many bird species. The common animal species seen here include hippos, buffaloes and many more.
The other activities to be engaged in in Lake Manyara National Park include; mountain bike tours, forest walks, cultural tours and many more.
How to reach Lake Manyara National Park
The National Park can be reached by road, or using a charter or a scheduled flight coming from Arusha, to Serengeti as well as Ngorongoro crater.
Best Time to Visit
During the dry season from July to October to see large mammals in the wet season from November to June to watch birds, canoeing and exploring the waterfalls.
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