Game drives in Lake Manyara National Park are the most done activity of the national park. Lake Manyara is the second oldest conservation area of Tanzania after the Serengeti National Park, it is popular for tree climbing lions, it was gazette in the 1960s, most of the park area is covered with Lake Manyara one of the many rift valley lakes of East Africa. Several mammal species have been recorded in the national park animals as the African elephants, hartebeests, wild dogs, cape buffaloes, giraffes, bush bucks, water bucks, and over 450 species of birds.
Game drives in Lake Manyara national park are done using 4×4-wheel car drives, these are characterized by an open rooftop to enhance the guest experience with animal viewing and photography, drives are done in sessions, in the morning beginning at 6:30 am, afternoon from 2:30 pm and evening time beginning at 4:30 pm, Lake Manyara is one of the few places of Tanzania where doing night game drives is allowed, all game drives last for 2-3 hours in search of animal species, the most recommendable time to do game drives is in the early morning when the animals are more active, the predators are out to hunt while most of the other species are out graze, the run of the wild is quite satisfying to experience. Game drives pass through the well-distributed trails of the ecosystem, expect to see lions, leopards, cheetahs, African elephants, African buffaloes, warthogs, and hyenas, to mention a few.
Game drives in Lake Manyara National Park are best done during the dry season between the months of December -February and June-September when the trails of the park are dry and easy to pass through, the grasses thin out hence viewing of wildlife, this is also regarded to as a high tourism season, there are more travelers to the destination. What to pack for a great game drive experience includes long-sleeved shirts and trousers, insect repellants, huts, sunscreen, capes, hand gloves, and any other items of a personal nature.
Other things to do while in Lake Manyara National Park include birding, the conservation area is a haven of birds, there are over 400 species of birds that have been recorded in the park to date, some of these are endemics to the Great Rift Valley region, forest birds and savannah species, birding experiences are best during the wet season, it is a fruiting time in the park which attracts birds including migratory species, example bird types are pelicans, pink flamingoes, hornbills, sunbirds, African fish eagles, harrier hawks, to mention a few.
Boat cruise along Lake Manyara, this will take you to experience the best of the park along Soda Lake, it is home to large flocks of pink flamingoes and pelicans, along the marshy swampy areas expect to see more birds and animals that come around to drink water. This activity is seasonal, it is best done during the wet season when the water levels are higher and can permit boat cruises. Visit the hot springs of Lake Manyara, these are known as Maji moto and have waters high with temperatures hot enough to boil an egg.
In conclusion, Lake Manyara National Park is one of the best places in the northern circuit of Tanzania, it is epic with its animal experiences despite its size.