Climb + Scenic Safari Combo
Kilimanjaro + Lake Manyara Safari
Tree-Climbing Lions After the Summit
Summit Kilimanjaro. Then drive to Lake Manyara — famous for tree-climbing lions, hippo colonies, and pink flamingos. 12 days from $3,744/person.
Total Duration
12 Days
Climb Route
Machame (7 days)
Safari Parks
Manyara + Ngorongoro
Total Price
$3,744/person
Why Lake Manyara
East Africa's most photographed tree-climbing lions — and one of its most varied small parks
Lake Manyara National Park is one of Tanzania's smallest and most diverse parks. In 330 square kilometres, you get a lake fringed with alkaline-loving flamingos, a belt of acacia savanna, a groundwater forest sustained by springs, and steep Rift Valley escarpment rising straight from the water's edge. The variety of habitats creates unusual wildlife density in a small area.
The main attraction is the tree-climbing lions — the only population in East Africa where this behaviour is consistently observed. Lions in Manyara regularly climb into the horizontal arms of umbrella acacia trees to rest and survey the plains below. It is one of Africa's most unusual wildlife spectacles and a genuinely special photographic opportunity.
East Africa's only consistently tree-climbing lion population
Large hippo colonies visible from the main road — hauled out of the water in the heat
Pink flamingo colonies on the lake shore — spectacular during wet season
The only park in the northern circuit with a groundwater forest ecosystem
Most compact major safari park in Tanzania — thoroughly explorable in 1–2 days
Closest major park to Arusha — just 2 hours from the city
The Safari
3 days: Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro Crater
After the climb, your body is ready for a gentler pace. Lake Manyara is one of the few parks where you can drive for hours without seeing another vehicle — intimate and unhurried. Ngorongoro follows as the finale: the world's most productive wildlife caldera.
Day 9 — Arusha to Lake Manyara National Park
After the climb and your recovery day in Arusha, drive to Lake Manyara (2 hours). The park is a compact 330 square kilometres — small enough for a...
The first view from the viewpoint above the lake — the full picture of lake, forest, and Rift Valley escarpment in one frame.
Day 10 — Full Day Lake Manyara Game Drive
Lake Manyara's most famous residents are its tree-climbing lions — the only population in East Africa where this behaviour is consistently observed...
A lioness stretched out on a horizontal acacia branch at eye level — the classic Manyara photograph.
Day 11 — Lake Manyara to Ngorongoro Crater
Morning game drive in Lake Manyara, then drive to Ngorongoro (2 hours). Descend into the crater for an afternoon game drive — the world's largest i...
The crater viewpoint on arrival — looking down 600 metres at the 'Garden of Eden' floor below.
Day 12 — Ngorongoro to Arusha. Departure.
After breakfast, drive back to Arusha (2–3 hours). Option to extend: Zanzibar beach days, or a Tarangire add-on.
Tarangire add-on: 2 extra days in Tanzania's best elephant park.
Wildlife Guide
What you will see — and where
Lake Manyara
Tree-climbing lions
Unique to Manyara in East Africa. Look for them in acacia canopy on the lake side of the main road.
Lake Manyara
Hippos
Large colonies wallow in the lake near the南gate. Best seen from the road in the heat of the day.
Lake Manyara
Flamingos
Lesser flamingos in their thousands on the lake shore, October–April. The lake turns visibly pink.
Both parks
Elephants
Forest elephants in Manyara's groundwater forest; larger savanna elephants in Ngorongoro.
Ngorongoro Crater
Black rhino
Fewer than 100 left in Tanzania. Ngorongoro is the best place to see them. Lucky sightings, not guaranteed.
Both parks
Leopard
Spotted in riverine forest at Manyara; occasionally seen on the crater floor at Ngorongoro.
Frequently asked questions
Why choose Lake Manyara over Tarangire?+
Lake Manyara and Tarangire both sit close to Arusha, making them the most logistically efficient safari additions to a Kilimanjaro climb. Lake Manyara is the smaller, more intimate park — you can cover it thoroughly in one full day. Its main attraction is the tree-climbing lions and the extraordinary hippo colonies in the lake. Tarangire has larger elephant herds and more baobab scenery. Many travellers with 10+ days do both.
What is the best time to visit Lake Manyara?+
Lake Manyara is a year-round destination. The best time for tree-climbing lions is the wet season (November–June) when the game is more dispersed. The flamingos are most numerous during the wet season when the lake is shallower and more alkaline. The dry season (June–October) concentrates wildlife around the permanent water sources in the park's centre.
How does Lake Manyara compare to Ngorongoro Crater?+
Lake Manyara is much smaller (330 km² vs 8,292 km² of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area) and has lower wildlife density overall. However, Lake Manyara offers a uniquely varied habitat — lake, forest, swamp, and acacia savanna — in a very compact area. Ngorongoro has the highest wildlife density in Tanzania and is the best place on earth to see black rhino. We recommend both — Lake Manyara is best as a half-day park combined with a full Ngorongoro descent.
What is the total price for Kilimanjaro + Lake Manyara?+
Our 12-day Machame + Lake Manyara + Ngorongoro combo is priced from $3,744 per person based on two people sharing. Includes: park fees (Kilimanjaro, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro), 7-day Machame climb, all camping and mountain meals, safari accommodation (tented camps), all ground transfers, private Land Cruiser with professional guide, and airport transfers. Excludes: international flights, Tanzania visa, travel insurance, tips for crew, and personal climbing gear.
Can I do Lake Manyara + Tarangire together?+
Yes. Both parks are within 2 hours of Arusha, making them the most efficient safari combination for a post-Kilimanjaro trip. A 12-day itinerary with 2 days Tarangire, 1 day Lake Manyara, and 1 full day Ngorongoro is a rich and varied northern circuit — without the longer drives to the Serengeti.
What wildlife will I definitely see?+
Lake Manyara: hippos (large colonies in the lake), elephants, giraffes, baboons, vervet monkeys, and with luck, tree-climbing lions. Ngorongoro: lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, hippo, wildebeest, zebra, flamingos on the lake, and with exceptional luck, black rhino. The combination of a Kilimanjaro summit and Ngorongoro's wildlife is the finest one-two punch in African travel.
Build My Kilimanjaro + Lake Manyara Combo
Every Safari Kilimanjaro trip is planned around your dates, your preferred route, and your fitness level. Tell us what you need.
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