Lake Manyara Tree Lodge
Lake Manyara National Park, Serengeti and northern Tanzania, Tanzania
At a Glance
Excellent and varied wildlife experience
Enjoy private Sundowners and lakeshore picnics
Night game drives
Luxurious massage in the privacy of your own suite
Birding, accompanied by a specialist birding ranger
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Best time to Visit
Good time to visit
Average time to visit
Tanzania is a large country, with a varied climate. Generally, the long rains run from March to May - the temperature is warm and the humidity is high. June to October is the long dry season, and the short rains are in November and December, much lighter than the long rains. January and February are again dry (the short dry season) so this is another good time to visit.
Insider's View
Look out for the famous tree-climbing lions.
Experience the most luxurious treehouse in Tanzania and enjoy a frozen aperitif accompanied by delicious canapes before having dinner in their outdoor boma.
Opt for a massage in a private tree house surrounded by the sounds of the forest
Call us on 858 345 1761 to start planning your vacation to Lake Manyara Tree Lodge or take a look at our itineraries to Serengeti and northern Tanzania
Description
Lake Manyara Tree Lodge is tree house luxury in the heart of Lake Manyara and the only lodge in this small yet diverse national park. The ten tree houses are crafted from local materials and set in the boughs of ancient mahogany trees.
Although it is one of Tanzania’s smaller wildlife enclaves, Lake Manyara National Park is a spectacular reserve that boasts an incredible diversity of terrain, as well as plant and animal species. Established specifically to protect the elephant herds that have made this area world renowned, the park provides an excellent and varied wildlife experience. An incredible array of habitats, as well as a wealth of biodiversity, is crammed into a relatively small area in Lake Manyara National Park.
Apart from the elephants, Lake Manyara is famous for tree-climbing lions, as well as the thousands of flamingos that inhabit the lake shore. Large herds of buffalo, cheetah, Maasai giraffe, hippo and impala can be encountered. The lake supports an incredible diversity of birds, particularly water fowl and migrants.
Lake Manyara Tree Lodge is located in the remote south western region of the park, allowing for leisurely tracking of the park’s famous tree-climbing lions and for unimpeded viewing of the flocks of pelicans and flamingoes, and the buffalo cooling in the soda lake. The tree houses have been crafted from local timber and makuti (palm fronds) and feature large open decks and spacious rooms.
Game drives are in open 4x4 vehicles, led by experienced rangers and guides. The wildlife in Lake Manyara National Park is used to the presence of humans, thus making game drives and night drives all the more rewarding. Join guided walks in a near by village for a cultural experience, learning local traditions.
Accommodation
10 elegant stilted treehouses are cradled in the boughs of mahogany trees, ensuring privacy for all guests. Built of timber and makuti (palm fronds), the interiors are bleached, earthy and stylishly understated. Rooms are spacious with sitting areas and viewing decks. En-suite bathrooms have a bath, outdoor shower, twin hand basins and private w.c.
Childcare
Although there are no specific childcare facilities, children are welcome although regretfully, children 5 years and younger cannot participate in the regular game-drives. Childminders can be booked and meal times altered to suit. Children aged 6 to 11 years are accommodated on game-drives at the lodge manager’s discretion.
Facilities
The sitting and dining areas overlook a charming forest boma lined with ngalawas (dugout canoes). The Lodge has a Safari Shop featuring signature community craftwork and a range of lodge branded safari clothing. There is also a lovely swimming pool for guests to enjoy between safaris.
Activities
Activities from the Lodge include morning and afternoon game-drives in open safari vehicles in Lake Manyara National Park, excellent bird watching and picnics at scenic picnic sites overlooking the Lake. Night game drives are also available to try to a get a glance of the nocturnal animals.
Reviews
Harriet Whitmarsh (Staff)
This lodge is the only lodge actually based in the Manyara National park so although it takes two hours to get there from the nearest airstrip, it is essentially a game drive straight away on arrival, what more could you ask for! During my initial drive to the lodge I was able to see so much that Manyara had to offer and I couldnt believe I would get to spend two nights in this wonderful park. I absolutely love wildlife photography and this park offers some incredible shots of birdlife- this area is a must for any keen birder.
The lodge itself is stunning and the rooms are so special. Each room is nestled into the trees so you feel like you are surrounded by nature but then the rooms have all the luxury that you can dream of, including a lovely roll top bath and outside shower. After a day of successful game drives, you are greeted at dinner with an ice cold gin and tonic and then a delicious dinner in their outside boma. The lodge at night is probably the most romantic place I have ever seen, the boma is lit up with candle light and on a clear night you can see the stars from your dinner table.
This is a great start or end to any safari to the Serengeti.
Louisa Verney (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.
Experiences
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Flamingo Watching on Lake Manyara
Harder to predict than the Great Migration, the Flamingo migration is equally incredible to witness as they descend on Lake Manyara in their thousands. An amazing photo opportunity or simply the chance to witness these spectacular birds in their element.
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Game drive in Lake Manyara
Lake Manyara is a tiny gem of a national park in Northern Tanzania, famed in particular for its flamingos. Go on game drives here in search of tree-climbing lions, elephants, waterbuck and hippos.
Vacation Ideas
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Northern Tanzania in Style
Manyara, Ngorongoro, Serengeti & Zanzibar
from $16100 pp 12 nights
- Fantastic luxurious itinerary for couples or honeymooners
- Visiting three popular Tanzanian National Parks for an excellent and varied wildlife experience
- Serengeti Under Canvas is a mobile camp which brings you as close as possible to the wildebeest migration
Location & directions
Lake Manyara National Park, Serengeti and northern Tanzania, Tanzania
In the remote southern end of Lake Manyara National Park, northern Tanzania, Lake Manyara Tree Lodge is the only lodge in the Park. Here the Great Rift Valley is at its most impressive,
with the Escarpment dropping some 500 meters (1640 feet) down to the flamingo-rimmed shore of the lake.
How to get there
A number of scheduled airline services operate a twice-daily scheduled flight from Arusha Airport and Coastal Air operates daily flights from Dar Es Salaam – both to Lake Manyara airstrip, followed by a scenic 2-hour 30-minute leisurely game drive to the lodge through the National Park.