Scott Dunn: ANYTHING ELSE IS JUST A HOLIDAY

Samantha Gee (Staff)

The transfer time from Manyara Airstrip to the lodge (2hrs) may sound rather long but in fact it’s just a short road journey and then you are in Lake Manyara National Park enjoying a game drive. This is a really beautiful area and the combination of forest, lake and distant mountains make this one of the prettiest parks in Tanzania. We sadly did not see any of the infamous tree-climbing lions but we did enjoy watching a huge troupe of baboons playing, fighting and socialising as well as herds of buffalo, various antelope and the huge flocks of flamingo on the lake. Although the rooms are not actually ‘up’ trees though they are cleverly built into the forest, each around a vast tree trunk. They are very comfortably designed with a big double bed, a cool box and a roll top bath. We had pre-dinner drinks in the tree-house style main area over a game of backgammon and an excellent dinner in the candlelit boma around a campfire. The lodge is lucky to be the only one actually inside Lake Manyara National Park so guests have the park to themselves in the early morning and later evening, when all other vehicles have to make it to the main gate to exit on time. All in all, a gorgeous, peaceful place that makes a great combination with Ngorongoro Crater Lodge or a camp in the Serengeti.