2-Day Tarangire & Lake Manyara Safari
Arusha Tarangire Karatu Lake Manyara Arusha
From, per person$453
Day trip
Lake Manyara Day Trip
Overview
Lake Manyara National Park is a narrow strip of wild country squeezed between the steep wall of the Great Rift Valley and a broad, shallow soda lake. In a single day you pass through several quite different worlds: a tall, shady forest fed by underground springs, open grassland running down to the water, and a shoreline where wading birds gather in the shallows.
Because the park is compact and the drive from Arusha takes about two hours, it suits travelers who want a real game drive without a very long day in the vehicle. Expect baboon troops along the forest road, elephants browsing among the trees, buffalo and zebra on the open flats, and hippos lying low in the water. Lions here are known for sometimes resting in the branches of acacias, though a sighting is never certain.
Tanzania Tourism Safaris runs this trip in a 4×4 Land Cruiser with an English-speaking local guide, and it goes ahead even with a single traveler. Lunch is a picnic inside the park, and on the way home there is time for a short stop in one of the villages along the road before you are dropped back at your hotel.
Tour highlights
- Groundwater forest below the Rift Valley escarpment
- Baboons, elephants, buffalo, zebra and hippos
- Pelicans, storks and, in some seasons, flamingos
- Picnic lunch at a designated site in the park
- Short village stop on the drive back
- Goes ahead with just one traveler
Day by day
-
Day 1 Full Day: Forest, Floodplain and Soda Lake Meals Lunch
After an early breakfast at your hotel, your guide collects you in Arusha and heads west across the plains, with the Rift Valley wall growing on the horizon. Inside the park gate the road dips straight into the forest, where baboons and blue monkeys move through the tall trees. Later you drive out onto the grassy floodplain toward the lakeshore to look for elephants, giraffes, buffalo and water birds. Lunch is a packed picnic at one of the park’s picnic sites. In the late afternoon you leave the park, pause at a local village to meet the people who live along the road, then return to Arusha.
Prices by season
Per person in US dollars. The price depends on when you travel and how many travelers share the trip.
| Season | 1 traveler | 2 travelers | 4 travelers | 6 travelers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low season 1 Mar – 31 May | $384 | $256 | $181 | $171 |
| High season 1 Nov – 20 Dec and 6 Jan – 29 Feb | $404 | $270 | $190 | $180 |
| Peak season Now 1 Jun – 31 Oct and 21 Dec – 5 Jan | $448 | $299 | $211 | $200 |
Tour price includes
- Pickup and drop-off at your Arusha hotel (airport transfer on request)
- Game drive in a 4×4 Land Cruiser (up to 7 seats)
- English-speaking local guide
- Park entry fees and taxes
- Picnic lunch with soft drinks and local beer
- Village visit on the way back
- Support by phone throughout the day
- Runs with a minimum of one traveler
Tour price excludes
- International flights
- Visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Breakfast and dinner
- Souvenirs and personal items
Questions about this trip
Will I see the tree-climbing lions?
Possibly, but nobody can promise it. Lions in Manyara are known for lying up in acacia branches, yet they are often hard to find in the thick cover. The park’s elephants, baboons, buffalo and birdlife are far more reliable, so the day is rewarding even without a lion in a tree.
Are there always flamingos on the lake?
No. Flamingo numbers on Lake Manyara rise and fall with the water level and the season, and some months there are few or none. Pelicans, storks, herons and other water birds are usually present, so bring binoculars either way.
Is Lake Manyara a good choice for a first game drive?
Yes. It is one of the closer northern parks to Arusha, the roads are short and varied, and the change from forest to open lakeshore keeps the day interesting. It works well as a taste of safari before a longer trip or as an add-on after a climb.
Before you go
- Best Time To Visit Tanzania
- How Much Does a Tanzania Safari Cost?
- Top Safari Packing List in Tanzania
- The Best Guides on Tanzania Visa Requirement
- Tanzania Travel Insurance
- Tanzania Travel Safety
- Tipping In Tanzania Safari
- Tanzania Safari Faqs
Listed in Cultural safarisDay trips
Where you will go
Parks on this safari
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