Lake Manyara National Park – Tanzania
A small national park by African standards, Lake Manyara nonetheless includes a huge variety of landscapes and wildlife. It is a beautiful park, with the lake on one side and the steep escarpment which is part of the Great Rift Valley in the west.
Picture the thick forest, dense like a rain forest but fed by underground springs instead. Then emerge with views of the huge soda lake in the east with open steppe plains in front of it, fringed by the imposing cliffs on the other side. There are stunning vistas everywhere, with more than 400 bird species and loads of mammals and other animals to be found in them.
Lake Manyara NP also has a hippo pool where you can stretch your legs and hot springs further south in the park.
If you prefer something a little different and not spend all your time in a safari car spotting animals, you can book a hiking trip through the Marang Forest on top of the escarpment. A place without roads, where you will hike in with all the gear needed yourself. A truly wonderful off-the-beaten-track experience.
