Lake Manyara is a breathtaking, shallow alkaline lake that serves as the centerpiece of the Great Rift Valley in northern Tanzania. This seasonal soda lake undergoes a dramatic transformation, ranging from a vast, shimmering body of water in the wet season to a more concentrated, saline pan dotted with flamingos in the dry season. The name “Manyara” comes from the Maasai word “emanyara,” which is the Euphorbia tirucalli plant, a spiny, cactus-like tree used by the Maasai to build their livestock enclosures.

The lake and its immediate surroundings cover an area of approximately 470 square kilometers, with a significant portion falling within Lake Manyara National Park. While the national park was established in 1960, the lake itself has been a vital ecological feature for millennia, recognized as part of the Lake Manyara Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1981.

Climate
The lake’s water levels are highly dependent on the region’s climate. The main wet season from March to May can cause the lake to expand significantly, while the long dry season from June to October causes it to recede, concentrating algae and attracting vast numbers of flamingos. The area enjoys a moderate climate due to its altitude, with the dry season offering the most spectacular birdlife viewing on the lake itself.

Getting There
Lake Manyara is easily accessible and a prominent landmark on the northern safari circuit. The main viewpoints are accessed through Lake Manyara National Park, whose main gate is located in Mto wa Mbu, about a 1.5-hour drive (130 km) from Arusha. The lake’s shimmering surface is clearly visible from the main road that leads to Ngorongoro and the Serengeti.

Attractions
Lake Manyara is most famous for the spectacular, ever-changing panorama it creates and its incredible birdlife. During the dry season, the lake is often tinged pink with thousands-strong flocks of lesser flamingos that come to feed on its algae. It is a critical habitat for over 400 species of waterbirds, including great white pelicans, yellow-billed storks, and African spoonbills. The lake’s reflective surface, set against the dramatic, rust-colored escarpment of the Rift Valley, provides one of the most iconic and photographed landscapes in Africa. The sight of elephants or giraffes from the national park wandering along its shores, silhouetted against the vast, alkaline expanse, creates a truly unforgettable and serene African scene.