Monday 19 March 2012

Lake Manyara Safari – A Great Tanzanian Safari Experience


Lake Manyara National Park safari is stretched over relatively small are of about 200 square kilometers located in the western ridge of the Great Rift Valley in Tanzania. This safari is none less than other Tanzanian safaris in terms of landscape, scenic beauty, and the diversity of wildlife seen in this park. You will find Manyara safari tour worth remembering forever. The landscape is composed of mountain slides, valleys, and a beautiful alkaline water lake surrounded by diverse plants and vegetation, which gives habitat to a large flock of flamingo, waterfowl and other bird species. Hot springs and ground water forest in this park also add to its splendour.

This wildlife park takes its name from “Manyara”, aMasai word, which refers to the Euphorbia Tirucalli plant. This plant is usually grown into a hedge around the Masairanches.

The unique feature of this safari is the sights of tree-climbing lions, which you hardly find at any other Tanzanian safaris. Other predators such as cheetah are also seen in this safari.

Lake Manyara area was established as a National Park to conserve elephants, which are found in abundance in this park. The number of elephants in this park is greater than that in any other wildlife parks in Tanzania. The other game animals in this park include impala, Masai giraffe, hippo, and buffalo. Blue monkey and baboon also live in abundance in this park, which is another great attraction for safari enthusiasts.

The game animals in this park were hunted by the game hunters in past when this area was not declared as conservation area. The Green Hills of Africa, a book written by Ernest Hemingway is also based on this park. Hemingway was highly impressed with lush green landscape and abundance of game animals in this area.
The sight of Lake Manyara presents a great scenic beauty and allows tourists to sit and relax while watching the game animals. Manyara safari can be visited any time throughout the year. The lake view also offer many other activities like swimming, photography, safari walks, sports, and cultural activities.

This park is also famous for variety of bird species. There are over 400 bird species inhabiting in the area surrounding Lake Manyara. This place is home to local as well as migratory birds. Flamingos and waterfowl are two bird species found in abundance here. The sight of bird flocks presents an attractive view for any tourist who comes to visit this park.

You will find great lodging and camping facilities in this park. These lodges offer excellent accommodation with large rooms, and a great dining experience. The cooks at these lodges know the area well and also serve as tour guides. A place called MtoWaMbu, which means “village mosquito creek” is popular among visitors as the find it worth stopping by and buy artefacts.
 
Manyara safari is really a great Tanzanian safari that offers a complete African experience to safari enthusiasts. You would really appreciate the idea of visiting this place in vacation.