Lake Manyara National Park

🇹🇿 Tanzania

🦁 Lion Nests Among Acacia Canopies
🌍 #90 Global · 4.2 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #40 in Africa #40 in Savanna & Grassland
East Africa, Tanzania 1209 spp. recorded

Lake Manyara National Park is a protected wetland and groundwater forest situated in Tanzania, tucked beneath the steep red cliffs of the Great Rift Valley escarpment. This compact reserve differs from nearby acacia savannas through its permanent alkaline lake, dense woodlands, and open grassy floodplains fed by underground springs.

-3.563° S   35.756° E

Wildlife

SIGHTING PROBABILITY Share of citizen-science records from the park that report this species
<5%
Rare5–20%
With luck20–40%
Possible40–70%
Likely>70%
Very likely
ACTIVITY PATTERN
☀️ Diurnal 🌙 Nocturnal 🌅 Crepuscular ☀️🌙 Day & Night

⭐ Iconic Species

Lion ★
VU

Lion

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Panthera leo

20–30% · Possible
Greater Flamingo ★
LC

Greater Flamingo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Phoenicopterus roseus

5–10% · With luck
African Fish-Eagle ★
LC

African Fish-Eagle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Haliaeetus vocifer

30–40% · Possible
African Bush Elephant ★
EN

African Bush Elephant

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Loxodonta africana

60–70% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Olive Baboon
LC

Olive Baboon

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Papio anubis

70–80% · Very likely
Common Bulbul
LC

Common Bulbul

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pycnonotus barbatus

60–70% · Likely
Vervet Monkey
LC

Vervet Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Chlorocebus pygerythrus

60–70% · Likely
Silvery-cheeked Hornbill
LC

Silvery-cheeked Hornbill

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Bycanistes brevis

60–70% · Likely
Impala
LC

Impala

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Aepyceros melampus

50–60% · Likely
Speckled Mousebird
LC

Speckled Mousebird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Colius striatus

50–60% · Likely
Crowned Hornbill
LC

Crowned Hornbill

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lophoceros alboterminatus

50–60% · Likely
Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove
LC

Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turtur chalcospilos

50–60% · Likely
Northern Bushbuck
LC

Northern Bushbuck

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tragelaphus scriptus

50–60% · Likely
Fork-tailed Drongo
LC

Fork-tailed Drongo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Dicrurus adsimilis

50–60% · Likely
Northern White-crowned Shrike
LC

Northern White-crowned Shrike

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Eurocephalus ruppelli

50–60% · Likely
Little Egret
LC

Little Egret

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Egretta garzetta

50–60% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Lion ★
VU

Lion

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Panthera leo

20–30% · Possible
African Bush Elephant ★
EN

African Bush Elephant

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Loxodonta africana

60–70% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Olive Baboon
LC

Olive Baboon

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Papio anubis

70–80% · Very likely
Vervet Monkey
LC

Vervet Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Chlorocebus pygerythrus

60–70% · Likely
Impala
LC

Impala

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Aepyceros melampus

50–60% · Likely
Northern Bushbuck
LC

Northern Bushbuck

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tragelaphus scriptus

50–60% · Likely
Waterbuck
LC

Waterbuck

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Kobus ellipsiprymnus

40–50% · Likely
Blue Monkey
LC

Blue Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Cercopithecus mitis

40–50% · Likely
African Buffalo
NT

African Buffalo

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Syncerus caffer

40–50% · Likely
Plains Zebra
NT Endemic

Plains Zebra

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Equus quagga

30–40% · Possible
Klipspringer
LC

Klipspringer

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Oreotragus oreotragus

20–30% · Possible
East African Giraffe

East African Giraffe

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Giraffa tippelskirchi

20–30% · Possible
Common Dwarf Mongoose
LC

Common Dwarf Mongoose

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Helogale parvula

20–30% · Possible
Blue Wildebeest
LC

Blue Wildebeest

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Connochaetes taurinus

20–30% · Possible

⭐ Iconic Species

Greater Flamingo ★
LC

Greater Flamingo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Phoenicopterus roseus

5–10% · With luck
African Fish-Eagle ★
LC

African Fish-Eagle

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Haliaeetus vocifer

30–40% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Common Bulbul
LC

Common Bulbul

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pycnonotus barbatus

60–70% · Likely
Silvery-cheeked Hornbill
LC

Silvery-cheeked Hornbill

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Bycanistes brevis

60–70% · Likely
Speckled Mousebird
LC

Speckled Mousebird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Colius striatus

50–60% · Likely
Crowned Hornbill
LC

Crowned Hornbill

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lophoceros alboterminatus

50–60% · Likely
Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove
LC

Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turtur chalcospilos

50–60% · Likely
Fork-tailed Drongo
LC

Fork-tailed Drongo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Dicrurus adsimilis

50–60% · Likely
Northern White-crowned Shrike
LC

Northern White-crowned Shrike

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Eurocephalus ruppelli

50–60% · Likely
Little Egret
LC

Little Egret

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Egretta garzetta

50–60% · Likely
Little Bee-eater
LC

Little Bee-eater

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Merops pusillus

40–50% · Likely
African Pied Wagtail
LC

African Pied Wagtail

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Motacilla aguimp

40–50% · Likely
Hamerkop
LC

Hamerkop

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Scopus umbretta

40–50% · Likely
Egyptian Goose
LC

Egyptian Goose

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Alopochen aegyptiaca

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Nile Monitor
LC

Nile Monitor

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Varanus niloticus

40–50% · Likely
African Striped Skink
LC

African Striped Skink

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Trachylepis striata

Insufficient data
Variable Skink
LC

Variable Skink

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Trachylepis varia

Insufficient data
Dodoma Rock Agama

Dodoma Rock Agama

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Agama dodomae

Insufficient data
Sudan Mabuya
LC

Sudan Mabuya

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Trachylepis brevicollis

Insufficient data
Jackson's Forest Lizard
LC

Jackson's Forest Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Adolfus jacksoni

Insufficient data
Painted Dwarf Gecko
LC

Painted Dwarf Gecko

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Lygodactylus picturatus

Insufficient data
Southern African Python
LC

Southern African Python

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Python natalensis

Insufficient data
African Rock Python
NT

African Rock Python

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Python sebae

5–10% · With luck
Wahlberg's Snake-eyed Skink
LC

Wahlberg's Snake-eyed Skink

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Panaspis wahlbergii

Insufficient data
Kenyan Rock Agama
LC

Kenyan Rock Agama

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Agama lionotus

Insufficient data
Puff Adder
LC

Puff Adder

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Bitis arietans

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

African Common Toad
LC

African Common Toad

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Sclerophrys gutturalis

Insufficient data
Shovel-nosed Frog
LC

Shovel-nosed Frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Hemisus marmoratus

Insufficient data

Animal Events

🦌

Tree-Climbing Lion Nests

FebMarJulSepNovDec

Lions in Lake Manyara are known to climb trees, primarily baobabs and acacias, to escape heat, avoid flies, or survey prey. This behavior is most frequent during dry seasons when shade is scarce.

Lion
VU

Lion

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Panthera leo

20–30% · Possible
🐦

Flamingo Breeding Spectacle

FebMarOctNovDec

Greater Flamingos gather in thousands to breed on mudflats, creating a striking pink landscape. Breeding coincides with receding water levels and abundant algae.

Greater Flamingo
LC

Greater Flamingo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Phoenicopterus roseus

5–10% · With luck
🐦

Great Migration of Waterbirds

JanFebMarAprMayNov

Lake Manyara acts as a critical stopover for migratory waterbirds, including herons, storks, and egrets, during their seasonal movements. Peak numbers align with local breeding cycles.

Great Egret
LC Endemic

Great Egret

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ardea alba

20–30% · Possible

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Species Total
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
40–50
50–60
40–50
Lion
20–30
20–30
30–40
<5
20–30
20–30
10–20
20–30
30–40
10–20
20–30
10–20
Greater Flamingo
5–10
<5
<5
<5
<5
<5
<5
10–20
10–20
<5
20–30
<5
African Fish-Eagle
40–50
60–70
30–40
30–40
20–30
10–20
40–50
30–40
20–30
40–50
20–30
30–40
African Bush Elephant
40–50
60–70
60–70
20–30
30–40
70–80
70–80
60–70
50–60
40–50
60–70
50–60
Olive Baboon
70–80
80–90
70–80
60–70
80–90
80–90
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
70–80
Common Bulbul
50–60
70–80
70–80
80–90
70–80
60–70
70–80
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
70–80
Vervet Monkey
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
50–60
60–70
70–80
60–70
60–70
50–60
Silvery-cheeked Hornbill
70–80
50–60
60–70
50–60
80–90
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
70–80
70–80
60–70
Impala
50–60
60–70
70–80
40–50
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
60–70
20–30
60–70
40–50
Speckled Mousebird
50–60
60–70
50–60
70–80
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
30–40
30–40
50–60
50–60
Crowned Hornbill
60–70
70–80
50–60
60–70
60–70
30–40
40–50
40–50
20–30
50–60
80–90
50–60
Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove
50–60
50–60
60–70
70–80
80–90
40–50
40–50
40–50
30–40
40–50
60–70
40–50
Northern Bushbuck
50–60
40–50
30–40
20–30
60–70
30–40
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
50–60
20–30
Fork-tailed Drongo
40–50
60–70
40–50
70–80
40–50
50–60
40–50
50–60
30–40
50–60
50–60
50–60
Northern White-crowned Shrike
40–50
70–80
40–50
40–50
70–80
50–60
30–40
30–40
20–30
40–50
40–50
50–60
Little Egret
40–50
70–80
30–40
30–40
30–40
40–50
50–60
50–60
30–40
40–50
50–60
40–50
Animal Events
🦌 Tree-Climbing Lion Nests
🐦 Flamingo Breeding Spectacle
🐦 Great Migration of Waterbirds

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Excellent
🦁 Lion Nests Among Acacia Canopies

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Very good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
4.3 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
834
🐒 Mammals
214
🦎 Reptiles
122
🐸 Amphibians
39
1209 Total Species
850 Global average across 296 parks
39 Threatened 6 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Excellent

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
4.2 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
60%
📊
Coverage (242 species at ≥5% of 1209 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
20%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (7 bird, 5 mammal)
46% Global avg
65%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
134 Global avg
184
🌟
Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)
15 Global avg
24
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
27 Global avg
25

Quick answers

What animals can you see in Lake Manyara National Park?

The most likely sightings are Olive Baboon (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Common Bulbul (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Vervet Monkey (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Silvery-cheeked Hornbill (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), African Bush Elephant (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers) — among 1209 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.

When is the best time to visit Lake Manyara National Park for wildlife?

May has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.

Can you see Lion in Lake Manyara National Park?

Yes — about 22% of wildlife watchers report a Lion sighting in Lake Manyara National Park, based on 36 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Greater Flamingo in Lake Manyara National Park?

It's possible but not guaranteed: about 6% of wildlife watchers report a Greater Flamingo sighting in Lake Manyara National Park, based on 19 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data. Sightings take luck and time in the field.

Can you see African Fish-Eagle in Lake Manyara National Park?

Yes — about 35% of wildlife watchers report a African Fish-Eagle sighting in Lake Manyara National Park, based on 106 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see African Bush Elephant in Lake Manyara National Park?

Yes — about 60% of wildlife watchers report a African Bush Elephant sighting in Lake Manyara National Park, based on 50 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

⚖️

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