 Landscape
The sheer rock walls of the Great Rift Valley rock escarpment drop
over 500m to the gleaming soda lake that is Lake Manyara. Surrounding
the lake, is a narrow bank of acacia woodland, shrubland, grassy
floodplains, and a verdant groundwater forest. Towards the southern
end of the lake lie hot springs, reaching a temperature of 60ºC/140ºF
- hot enough to cook an egg. The water is heated as it circulates
at great depths through fractures in the rocks formed by the Great
Rift Valley faulting.
Game
The park is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including leopard,
buffalo, elephant and lion but no rhino. It is famous for its elusive
tree-climbing lions which only here seem to enjoy spending time
spread out among the branches of acacia trees. Also of special interest
are the Maasai giraffe, buffalo, zebra, warthog, hippo, slender
mongoose, blue monkey, honey badger, porcupine, hyena, wildebeest,
Coke's hartebeest and impala. The park features the highest density
of baboons anywhere in Africa and troops can number up to 200 members.
 Birds
Lake Manyara National Park is one of the best place in Africa for
birdwatchers. The park has nearly 400 species and the extraordinary
diversity of birdlife draws birders from around the world. There
are seven species of vulture, 12 species of eagle and five owl varieties,
as well as an abundance of waterfowl.
It is possible to count 30 or more aquatic species from certain
points at the water's edge, with Saddle-billed Stork, Lesser Flamingo,
and Little Egret usually among them. For several months of the year,
the still waters of the lake attract huge flocks of Greater and
Lesser Flamingo. In and around the camp itself, you stand a good
chance of seeing birds such as Peter's Twinspot, Pygmy Kingfisher,
Abysinnian White-eye, Pangani Longclaw, Crowned Hornbill, Silvery-cheeked
Hornbills, dazzling Fischer's Lovebirds and pelicans. Family groups
of Ground Hornbill are very much a feature at Manyara, with some
nesting sites under regular observation by our resident guides.
Fish and Amphibians
There are no crocodiles in Lake Manyara, though there are lizards.
Lake Manyara is also home to large fish populations, particularly
tilapia and catfish.
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