Lake Manyara National Park

Lake Manyara National Park
IUCN category II (national park)

Plains zebras in Lake Manyara National Park
Map showing the location of Lake Manyara National Park
Location Arusha Region and Manyara Region, Tanzania
Nearest city City of Arusha, Babati
Coordinates 3°30′S 35°50′E / 3.500°S 35.833°E / -3.500; 35.833Coordinates: 3°30′S 35°50′E / 3.500°S 35.833°E / -3.500; 35.833
Area 325 km²
Established 1960
Visitors 178,473 (in 2012[1])
Governing body Tanzania National Parks Authority

Lake Manyara National Park is a Tanzanian national park located both in Arusha Region and Manyara Region, Tanzania. The two administrative regions have no jurisdiction over the parks. The park is governed by the Tanzania National Parks Authority. The majority of the land area of the park is a narrow strip running between the Gregory Rift wall to the west and Lake Manyara, an alkaline or soda-lake, to the east.[2]

The park consists of 330 km2 (130 sq mi) of arid land, forest, and a soda-lake which covers as much as 200 km2 (77 sq mi) of land during the wet season but is nearly nonexistent during the dry season.

Fauna

A Masai giraffe at Lake Manyara National Park.
African bush elephants at Lake Manyara National Park
Squirrel eating a fruit in Lake Manyara National Park, Tanzania

Lake Manyara National Park is known for the flamingos that inhabit the lake. During the wet season they inhabit the edges of the lake in flocks of thousands but they are not so present during the dry season.

More than 400 species of birds inhabit the park and many remain throughout the year. Because of this Lake Manyara National Park is a good spot for bird watching. Visitors to the park can expect to see upwards of 100 different species of bird on any day.[3]

African leopards, Masai lions, Tanzanian cheetahs, African bush elephants, blue monkeys, dik-dik, Thomson's gazelle, hippo, Masai giraffe, impala, Grant's zebras and more inhabit the park and many can be seen throughout the year. There is a hippo pond at one end of the park where visitors can get out of their cars and observe from a safe distance. The leopards and lions are both known to lounge in the trees while not hunting for prey.

Access

Lake Manyara National Park is located 126 km (78 mi) south west of Arusha and can be reached by car in an hour and a half. The park can also be reached easily from Babati the capital of Manyara Region. The park is also very close to Tarangire National Park There is also an airport, Lake Manyara Airport (LKY), located at the top of the rift wall.

Lake Manyara NP philosophy

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Tanzania National parks Corporate Information". Tanzania Parks. TANAPA. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  2. ↑ World Conservation Monitoring Centre Lake Manyara National Park
  3. ↑ Tanzania National Parks official website Lake Manyara National Park

External links

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