Lake Manyara is one of the top attractions in the famous Northern Tanzania safari region. The park is well known for its prolific birdlife that supplements the perfect wildlife scenes in nearby Ngorongoro and Serengeti national park. Despite being one of the smallest parks in Tanzania and with a soda lake covering over 2/3 of the total land mass, Lake Manyara boost an impressive 400 native and migrants bird species. Even though its majorly a waterbird sanctuary, the adjacent wilderness characterized by a series of unique habitats give it one of the most biodiverse ecological areas in the country. Interestingly, Lake Manyara is a seasonal lake that dries up when there is a prolonged dry period, leading to migration of the parks main water birds to other rift valley lakes and wetlands. The lakes high alkalinity provides the best environment that supports blue algae growth explaining why the lakes is possibly Tanzania’s second best flamingo hot spot after Lake Natron.

Water birds in Lake Manyara

Lake Manyara is well known for their high flamingo concentrates whose numbers peak to about 1.9 million during the wet season. Here the sights and honking sounds of the matchstick-legged creatures are the ultimate experience desired by every traveler. By just walking along the shoreline you have a perfect opportunity to capture the bustling flocks through the lenses some straight standing with heads down foraying on the shallow shorelines and others flying above the water surface all backdropped by alluring steep escarpment blanketed with flora. Besides flamingos the lake is a popular ground for aquatic and shoreline birds like Marabou storks, yellow billed storks, saddle billed storks, pink backed pelicans, white stork, black stork,  cattle egrets, grey-headed kingfishers, African spoonbill, African jacana,  Abdim’s stork, common squacco heron, goliath heron, little egret, glossy ibis, sacred ibis, grey-headed heron, spur winged goose, Egyptian goose, malachite kingfishers, pied kingfishers and white pelicans.

Land birding

Besides the riparian shorelines, the adjacent wilderness boosts a range of habitat favorable for different terrestrial species mainly varities adapted to savannah and greenwood vegetation. Notably, the parks dense woodlands make the region one of the major residences for lake Manyara – tarangire birds of prey species. Over 50 raptor species are said to live in  this ecosystem. Some of Lake Manyara’s most common terrestrial birds are common cuckoo, somali ostriches, varieties of weavers, Rufous chatter, Lesser Kestrel, common swift, owls, Martial eagle, Egyptian Vulture and Red-Bellied parrot.

Best way to experience birdlife in Lake Manyara

Go for a walking safari

Lake Manyara is possibly the best wilderness trail destination in Tanzania taking you through different habitats for a magical display of the widest range of avian species. Some of the most common trails include

• Treetop walkway. The is the longest canopy walk in Tanzania taking you through a 370 m long walk and reaching to a height of 50 m from the ground. The walk gives you a unique perspective to trace forest birds perched in the dense indigenous trees as well as viewing primates frolicking in the canopy. Silvery-cheeked hornbill is a popular bird in these territories.
• Majimoto trail. the walk leads you through the lake shore featuring a colourful view of wading birds feeding on the shoreline partly linned with palm trees to the maji moto springs where there are scenic hot springs. The areas is set in a grove of indigenous trees. The walk is also the best opportunity to sight animals like zebras, gazelles and giraffes drinking water in sections of the shorelines where there is large precipitation deposit.
• Msara river trail. this takes you through the 600 mkl escarpments of the rift valley marked by densely forested areas giving you an opportunity to sight some of the most elusive birds species in their natural habitat.
• Iyamba river trail. The walk leads to the inner parts of the park along iyamba river. the track features long savannah grasslands, acacia trees and some beautiful sights of rocky outcrops. This is the best for sighting birds that live in grasslands and a number of marsh birds especially egrets and heron varieties.

Go for a canoeing safari

With the lake covering more than 2/3 of Lake Manyara national park the 2.5 hrs ride along the shorelines of the lake will definitely lead to some of the most fascinating fauna and avifauna scenes. During the entire journey your tour guide will be hands on to keep give you details and guidance for the most quality view.

Best time to go birding in Lake Manyara

Lake Manyara is an excellent birding spot all year round. However, since the lake dries up in the dry season. However, if you are seeking to have a combined birding and wildlife safari the dry period between June and July. Over this game viewing is dependably excellent. Flamingos are in the lake most part of the year save on the breeding season, July and August. For the migratory, mostly song birds, the period between November and April is the best for your safari.