Lake Manyara Vs Tarangire: Which Is Better for a Safari in Tanzania?

Tanzania is a world-class destination for anyone looking for adventure and leisure. Whether you’re looking for a peaceful place away from the daily hustle and bustles of town or want to immerse yourself in nature, include Tanzania in your favorite destinations. But visiting this East African country comes with challenges, especially when you have limited time or budget.

Tarangire National Park and Lake Manyara National Park are two wonderful parks in the Northern Circuit, both known for striking natural beauty. Visiting both will be an unforgettable safari experience. But you can decide to visit one of them depending on your interest, length of travel, and budget. Either way, this article will provide all the important details you need to know about Lake Manyara and Tarangire. So, stick with it to the end.

Wildlife in Lake Manyara & Tarangire

Tarangire is the best place to see elephants. It’s the only park with the highest concentration of elephants in Tanzania’s Northern Circuit. These giants with their beautiful grey coats stay in groups of up to 50 individuals. Imagine driving on a 4×4 vehicle while stopping frequently to stare at the world’s largest land animal. If elephants are your favorite animals, Tarangire is your must-go safari park in the Northern Circuit.

Besides elephants, Tarangire harbors other big games, including giraffes, buffalos, lions, wildebeests, zebras, etc. You might also see warthogs, wild dogs, and many species of antelopes.

Lake Manyara is also home to a diverse animal species. There is incredible wildlife in its terrestrial part. They include herbivores, carnivores, birds, and small animals. The most fascinating creatures are tree-climbing lions. They can only be found in Lake Manyara National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park of Uganda. These unique predators have adapted to climb up even upright trees. More interestingly, they do climb to rest during sunny days. They also climb to scan for prey, and when they see it, stalking begins.

Apart from the legendary tree-climbing lions, Lake Manyara hosts other big game. These include gazelles, antelopes, hyenas, zebras, baboons, giraffes, buffaloes, and many others.

Birdlife in Lake Manyara & Tarangire

Both parks have tremendous birdlife. Tarangire hosts about 550 bird species, which is a promising number. Birders should bring binoculars and a good camera because Tarangire has a lot to offer. Some birds are residents residing in the riverine forests along the Tarangire River. Several migratory birds also breed in Tarangire between February and May.

Lake Manyara is home to about 400 species. The most captivating ones are the pink flamingos. These wonderful water birds decorate Lake Manyara on its shallow shores. They can be seen from a distance and this makes Lake Manyara look pink. Other birds include secretary birds, spoonbills, starlings, weavers, etc.

Size

Tarangire is far bigger than Lake Manyara. It covers about 4,160 square kilometers (1606 square miles) of area. Due to high density of animals and stunning vegetation, visitors can enjoy doing many things. They include game drives, nature walks, balloon safaris, and night drives.

Lake Manyara is 330 square kilometers (127 square miles) big. The lake takes about two-thirds of the total area. The remaining portion makes it possible to explore the entire park on a day trip. Visitors can engage in game drives, birding safaris, canoeing, night safaris, and a treetop walkway.

Tarangire is crowded with animals during the dry season. So, if you want to see the best scenes of wildlife, spend a full day full of wonders, Tarangire is the best option. But, if you’re running out of time and want an interesting place to see tree climbing lions, flamingos, and canoe on the alkaline lake, Lake Manyara is the right one.

Landscape

Open plains, woodlands, and riverine forests characterize Tarangire. The southern part consists of grassy plains. Lake Manyara is known for its soda lake and scenic Rift Valley escarpment. The lake shrinks in the dry season. You can enjoy other natural things like hot springs.

Getting there

The two parks are so close to Arusha – the Geneva of Africa. Arusha is the center of most Tanzanian safaris to see wildlife, climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, or learn Tanzanian culture.

Tarangire is a 2-hour drive from Arusha while Lake Manyara is a 1:30-hour drive from Arusha. Driving is adventurous since the roads are paved with only 7 kilometers of unpaved road.

You can get to Tarangire or Lake Manyara by air through chartered flights from Arusha Airport (ARK) or Serengeti to Lake Manyara Airport (LKY).

Tarangire and Lake Manyara are wonderful destinations too. Whether you decide to visit both or one of them, depends on your decision. It’s your choice. But if time and budget allow, we suggest you give these two parks a try. If you don’t know where to start, our safari planners will help you out. Reach out to our team to create your plan.