Birdwatching Tours in Lake Manyara National Park: Lake Manyara National Park is a diverse and beautiful wildlife national park in Tanzania’s Arusha and Manyara regions, located between Lake Manyara and the Great Rift Valley. It is managed by the Tanzania National Parks Authority and covers an area of 325 square kilometers, a game reserve was established. In 1960. It is part of the much larger Lake Manyara Biosphere Reserve and was established in 1981 by UNESCO. While the park is famous for its tree-climbing lions and diverse habitats, it is also a haven for birdwatchers. with over 450 species of birds recovered within its boundaries, Lake Manyara National Park offers an incredible birdwatching experience for enthusiasts of all levels.
The best time to go for a birdwatching tour in Lake Manyara National Park is during the dry season, which runs from June to September. This period offers optimal birdwatching conditions due to the reduced vegetation cover, making it easier to spot and observe a wide variety of bird species within the park. additionally, the dry seasons coincide with the breeding season for many birds resulting in increased bird activity and sights. Another good time to visit Lake Manyara National Park for birdwatching is during the short dry season, which occurs from January to February. this period is characterized by mid-temperatures and minimal rainfall, making it an ideal time for birdwatching excursions. Additionally, many migratory bird species visit the park during this time, adding to the diversity of bird species that can be observed.
One of the best places for birdwatching in Lake Manyara National Park is the lush groundwater forest, a prime birdwatching spot in Lake Manyara National Park, where you can spot bird species like the schalows’s turaco, silvery-cheeked hornbill, grey-headed kingfishers and elusive narina trogon can be found. The alkaline Lake Manyara itself is a hotshot for birdwatching with pink flamingos, pelicans, storks and herons being common-sighted along its shores. The acacia woodland in Lake Manyara National Park is another great spot for birdwatching where you can spot raptors such as fish eagle, martial eagle, and African hawk-eagle. the hippo pool area in Lake Manyara National Park attracts a variety of water birds such as egrets, herons, and jacanas and the Baboon cliff is a scenic viewpoint in Lake Manyara National Park that offers stunning panoramic views of the park and the surrounding landscape
Birdwatching tours in Lake Manyara National Park are usually conducted by experienced guides who are knowledgeable about the different bird species found in the park. they will help you identify the birds, understand their behavior, and spot rare and elusive species that you may have missed on your own. In addition to birdwatching, visitors to Lake Manyara National Park can also enjoy other wildlife viewings such as elephants, giraffes, zebras and the iconic tree-climbing lions. The park offers a unique and diverse safari experience that appeals to nature lovers of all kinds
List of bird species found in Lake Manyara National Park
African Pygmy Kingfisher, African Malachite Kingfisher, Giant Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, Grey-headed Kingfisher, African Pygmy Falcon, Lesser Kestrel, White-browed Coucal, Common Ostrich, Little Bittern, Dwarf Bittern, White-backed Night Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, Striated Heron, Squacco Heron, Madagascar Pond Heron, Rufous-bellied Heron, Speckled Mousebird, White-headed Mousebird, Blue-naped Mousebird, Narina’s Trogon, Bar-tailed Trogon, African Black Coucal, Jacobin Cuckoo, Levaillant’s Cuckoo, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Klaas’s Cuckoo, African Emerald Cuckoo, Diederick Cuckoo, Red-chested Cuckoo, Black Cuckoo, Common Cuckoo, African Rail, African Crake, Black Crake, Purple Swamphen, Allen’s Gallinule, Common Moorhen, Lesser Moorhen, Red-knobbed Coot, Greater Flamingo, Lesser Flamingo, Grey Plover, Common Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Kittlitz’s Plover, Three-banded Plover, Chestnut-banded Plover, Lesser Sand Plover, Greater Sand Plover, Caspian Plover, Long-toed Lapwing, Blacksmith Lapwing, Double-banded Courser, Heuglin’s Courser, Bronze-winged Courser, Temminck’s Courser, Collared Pratincole, Double-banded Courser, Heuglin’s Courser, Bronze-winged Courser, Temminck’s Courser, Collared Pratincole, Helmeted Guineafowl, Vulturine Guineafowl, Crested Guineafowl, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Black-necked Grebe, Crowned Hornbill, African Grey Hornbill, Red-billed Hornbill, Eastern Yellow-billed Hornbill, Von der Decken’s Hornbill, Trumpeter Hornbill, Golden-tailed Woodpecker, Cardinal Woodpecker among others.
List of packing equipment for exciting birdwatching in Lake Manyara National Park
When planning your birdwatching tour in Lake Manyara National Park, you need to arrange the following items to make your birding experience in the region fantastic such as enough drinking water and snacks, sunglasses, field clothing; sturdy shoes, a notebook and pen, binoculars, a field guide, a camera or good phone, and insect repellent, among others
Are there any safari activities I can combine with a birdwatching tour in Lake Manyara National Park
Yes! Exploring in Lake Manyara National Park blesses tourists with great opportunities to participate in interesting activities besides exhilarating birdwatching such as;
Game drives
Game drive safari in Lake Manyara National Park offers visitors the opportunity to embark on an exhilarating journey through the park’s different habitats, offering a chance to spot a wide range of fascinating animals in their natural habitat. The experienced guides lead tourists on a guided tour while sharing their knowledge of the park’s flora and fauna as well as ensuring the best possible sightings of the wildlife. During your game drive safari, you will have the chance to spot a variety of wildlife species such as elephants, baboons, impalas, giraffes, klipspringers, zebras, hippos, warthogs, and antelopes among others. Birdwatchers will also be delighted by the park’s abundance of bird species, with Lake Manyara being particularly famous for its flamingo population, other birds that can be spotted include, secretary birds, storks, cormorants, herons, egrets, pelicans, ducks, glossy ibis, the long-crested eagle, grey crowned crane, guinea fowls, hornbills, crown eagles among others.
Boat rides
Boat rides in Lake Manyara National Park are one of the exciting activities that are done on lake Manyara which is the famous and biggest lake located in the heart of the park Boat rides in Lake Manyara are done in different schedules, the day trip is the morning at 7 a.m. and the evening 5 pm East African time schedule. During the boat ride, you will have the opportunity to observe a large school of hippos and also enjoy views of the Rift Valley escarpment as well as the beautiful scenery in the national park made up of a forested area, open savannah plains, and the woodlands.
Nature Walks
Nature walks in the park are one way you can explore the hidden treasures of the park on foot. The park offers a variety of chances for nature walks that allow visitors to immerse themselves in the unique ecosystems and diverse wildlife that call the park their home. During your guided nature walks in the park, you will have the chance to navigate along the treetop walkway that involves walking along a designated walkway into the forest area of the national park which gives an up-close experience with nature and wildlife species such as monkeys. Different bird species can also be seen during this nature walk and on also Majimoto boardwalkway. This route followed during game drives enables the tourists to enjoy views of Lake Manyara and also other scenic photography locations at the destination.
Contact our trusted tour operators for more information about the Tanzania birdwatching tour in Lake Manyara National Park and Book with our tours and travel companies such as; Focus East Africa Tours which offers the best tour packages while on your safari in Tanzania.
