Lake Manyara National Park is a protected area in Manyara Regions, situated between Lake Manyara and the Great Rift Valley. It is administered by the Tanzania National Parks Authority, and covers an area of 325 km2 (125 sq mi) including about 230 km2 (89 sq mi) lake surface. More than 350 bird species have been observed on the lake.

History

Since the 1920s, Lake Manyara area has been used for sports hunting.[3] In 1957, a game reserve was established.In 1960, it was given National Park status and in 1974 about 550 ha (1,400 acres) were added to the southern end. 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 lake, to the east.The national park only includes the northwest quadrant of the lake, about 200 km2 (77 sq mi). It is part of the much larger Lake Manyara Biosphere Reserve, established in 1981 by UNESCO as part of its Man and the Biosphere Program.

The park derives its name from a plant called Euphorbia tirucalli, known as Emanyara in Maasai language and covers an area of 648.7 km2.

The lush green vegetation consisting of tall trees of the groundwater forest, the tree climbing lions, the soda lake inhabited with thousands of pink-hued flamingos, large water birds and the troops of baboons and blue monkeys  and the rift valley escarpment make your safari to this area unforgettable.