Created in 1960 and recognized as a World Biosphere Reserve in 1981, Manyara National Park covers 330 km2, including 250 km2 of lake. Located 130 km from Arusha and 45 km from the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, it is an excellent overnight stop before entering the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater parks. To get there, take the asphalt road on the left 4 km after leaving Mto Wa Mbu. With the torrential rains that have been increasing in recent years, the lake is set to gradually cover the entire park, forcing the relevant authorities to close it or extend it to include the Marang forest to the south. Located at an altitude of 950 m, Manyara National Park is set between the cliffs of the Great Rift and the alkaline lake that gives it its name. Manyara comes from the Maasai word emanyara, the euphorbia leaf found all around the lake and used by the locals to cover their traditional dwellings(boma). Further south, a hot spring(maji moto in Kiswahili) gushes out at around 80°C, rich in sodium and carbonate. In this region, there are frequent dust cyclones, not very dangerous, which the locals call "devil's fingers", as they are supposed to bring bad luck.Visits. The park is mostly traversed by a north-south track, with parallel lanes, which offers a panoramic view plunging down on the shores of the lake, where pink flamingos are superimposed in the background, giraffes, antelopes and zebras in the foreground, forming a pretty Noah's Ark postcard. This park can be visited on a half-day or full-day basis, for those who have time before visiting Tarangire, Ngorongoro and Serengeti. The best season is between June and October (dry season).Game drive. This activity is included in the entrance fee, whether you are in a Land Cruiser rented with the services of a chauffeur-driven agency, or in a self-drive 4×4. The park is open from 6.30 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. The park's specialty, however, is canoeing on the lake and hiking along its shores. The boat trip runs from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and lasts 2 to 3 hours. Activities are carried out with rangers, and reservations must be made in advance with the park administration.Walking safari. Two options: the short hike that starts at the Msasa picnic area and crosses the river gorges to the top of the rift valley cliffs (2 to 3 hours), or the long hike around the lake on the banks (4 to 6 hours).To stretch your legs (free in the park). The Manyara Treetop Walkaway (count US$36 per person) is a network of flexible wooden walkways suspended from trees that was set up by the park in 2016 in the forest canopy. It stretches for 370 meters and rises up to 18 meters. It's an ideal observatory for birdwatching, and a 30-minute to one-hour stroll to stretch your legs. A pleasure after hours of 4x4 driving! The Majimoto Boardwalk Way, built in 2014, is 325 metres long and leads to an observation platform, passing hot springs and the lake shore. The Hippo Pool View Point was a platform built on the lake in front of the hippo pool, but since the recent flooding it has been closed.Public campsites. There are two public campsites in Tanapa: Number One, 100 m from the entrance, is of little interest, and Endabash, on the banks of the eponymous river, is great for watching the animals cool off. On-site facilities are rudimentary, and you need to be well equipped: sanitary facilities with cold-water showers and WCs, and drinking water for cooking. Weigh up the advantages of each option carefully, as there are private campsites nearby in Mto Wa Mbu, which are well-equipped and less expensive.

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