Driving to Lake Manyara National Park offers one of the best sceneries of the Great Rift Valley region, the national park is Tanzania’s second oldest national park after the Serengeti National Park it was gazette in 1960 as a way of protecting animal species that call this home, it is being managed by the Tanzania National Parks Authority. The park stands as one of the smallest ecosystems of the country covering an area space of approximately 330 square kilometers, most if this area space is occupied by Lake Manyara after which it is named. It is popular for tree-climbing lions.
The vegetation of Lake Manyara National Park comprises savannah grassland, acacia woodland, marshy swampy areas, thickets, small bushes, and forests, these act as home to several animal species of the conservation area, for example, African elephants, warthogs, dik-dik, oribi, lions, leopards, giraffes, African wild dogs, wildebeests, hartebeests, black and white Rhinoceros, hippos, waterbucks, bush bucks, leopards, to mention a few and over 450 species of birds, for example, hornbills, pelicans, African fish eagles, grey crowned cranes, pelicans, flamingoes, yellow breasted barbets, among others.
Driving to Lake Manyara National Park is one of the most interesting drives to northern Tanzania despite it being as short, the backdrop of the Great Rift Valley escarpment is not to miss when driving as the route passes along the floor of the rift valley, the road to the national park is a smooth drive except within the park you may require to take a 4*4wheel car. It takes approximately 146 kilometers to the national park or 2 hours, once you reach MtoWaMbu town guests can have an en-route experience of visiting the local markets.
Driving to Lake Manyara National Park can be on self-drive to the biodiverse environment or through a tour operator who will transfer you directly to the park, types of cars used include the safari land cruisers, tour vans, safari drones, among other safari car types, game viewers are not recommended on the main road, guests are always transferred in enclosed vehicles. When doing the self-drive, park rangers will advise to hire a game ranger at the entrance of the park for a better experience.
The other option of reaching the Lake Manyara National Park is by Flying to the park, there are several daily flights to the park connecting from major airports, the most recommended airport to transfer from is the Kilimanjaro International Airport, it takes approximately 45 minutes to fly into the Lake Manyara airstrip, Arrivals can be from the Jomo Kenyatta international airport connecting into the Lake Manyara airport. It is possible to connect from all the other airports. From the airstrip, you will be transferred by road to the nearest accommodation facility that has been reserved for your stay.
In conclusion, driving to Lake Manyara National Park can be done any time of the year but is best during the dry season, this is also referred to as a high tourism season.