Lake Manyara is really two lakes. Well, it is depending on the time of year you visit. In the dry season, with the water level low, it basically splits in two.
The northern end, where the Simba River feeds in, is swampy with fresh(-ish) water. There are reeds, plants, and lots of wildlife. Hippos soak in the muddy water, and zebras, wildebeests, and impala graze.
The other end looks very different: a vast, flat, featureless plain from the alkaline water. Lake Manyara is, after all, basically a salt lake (or, more properly, a soda lake). The grass, such that there is, is low. Only a few giraffes and wildebeest wander through the hazy heat.
Ernest Hemingway called Lake Manyara "the loveliest [lake] ... in Africa." The National Park, which is relatively small compared with the nearby Tarangire National Park and very different from Ngorongoro Crater, also nearby, is famous for its climbing lions and troops of baboons. You'll see plenty of baboons, although the lions are harder to catch a glimpse of (as are the leopards). And the thick jungle near the park entrance, is the ideal habitat for blue monkeys and hundreds of varieties of birds.
Photos of Lake Manyara National Park
A view from up on the ridge overlooking the national park. The lake is off to the left, mostly out of the frame. Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.
A Blue Monkey. Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.
Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.
A solitary giraffe wanders along the edge of the lake. Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.
Baboons taking over the road. Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.
Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.
Good advice. Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.
Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.
The elephant had wandered over to take a closer look (while the truck was stopped). Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.
A Silver-Cheeked Hornbill. Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.
Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.
Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.
Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.
Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.
Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.
Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.
What To Know Before You Go
More to Explore:
Travel Advice for Tanzania
You can find the latest U.S. Department of State travel advisories and information for Tanzania (such as entry visa requirements and vaccination requirements) here.
The British and Australian governments offer their own country-specific travel information. You can find the British Government's travel advice for Tanzania here and the Australian Government's here.
Health & Vaccinations
The CDC makes country-specific recommendations for vaccinations and health for travelers. You can find their latest information for Tanzania here.