Lake Manyara Day Safari

We collect you from your Arusha hotel at about 7:00 AM. The drive to Lake Manyara National Park takes roughly ninety minutes, and you're back at your hotel by about 6:00 PM. It's a full day, but there's no overnight stay and no packing up.

Quite a lot for a small park. The groundwater forest in the north has blue monkeys, large baboon troops and often elephants. Further south, dry bushland suits giraffes, zebras and impalas, and the soda lake draws flamingos in season. Sightings vary by day and none can be promised.

Not reliably. They're one of the park's best-known sights, but lions don't climb trees on schedule. Your guide spends the afternoon drive in the floodplains where they're known to rest, which gives you a fair chance. Even without them, the primates, birds and changing habitats make a full day.

Yes. The park is known for its birdlife, with over 400 species, and your guide on this trip is a wildlife and birding specialist. The forest, floodplains and lakeshore each hold different birds, and the afternoon keeps time for birdwatching before you head back to Arusha.

At a viewpoint on the Rift Valley escarpment, looking out over the park and the valley floor. It splits the day neatly between the morning in the forest and along the lakeshore and the afternoon in the floodplains, and it's a good chance to stretch your legs.

Yes. It runs in a private 4x4 safari vehicle and can be booked from one person, so solo travellers, couples and small groups all go on their own date. Tell us your Arusha hotel and the day you'd like, and we'll arrange the pickup.

It suits families who are happy in a vehicle for a long day. All viewing is from the car, the drive from Arusha isn't long, and the scenery keeps changing, from monkeys in the forest to flamingos on the lake. The early start is the main thing to plan around with young children.

A hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and a light jacket for the early start. Neutral colours are best for game viewing. Binoculars make a real difference for the birds, and a camera with a zoom lens helps with monkeys high in the forest canopy and birds out on the lakeshore.

The Lake Manyara Day Safari is a full-day trip.

This trip visits Lake Manyara National Park.

It is rated easy: no special fitness is needed.

It runs for groups of 1 to 6 travellers.

Included: Private 4x4 safari vehicle, Professional wildlife and birding guide, All park entry fees, Gourmet lunch at scenic viewpoint, Hotel pickup and drop-off in Arusha and Bottled water and snacks.

Not included: International flights, Travel insurance, Personal items, Tips and gratuities and Alcoholic beverages.