Lake Manyara National Park ::

Lake Manyara National Park is a small and verdant oasis of life in the confines of the East African Rift Valley. Nestling at the foot of the Great Rift Valley escarpment, is a 125 sq. mile park of which two-thirds is covered by water. The name "Manyara" comes derives from "emanyara", the Maasai word for "prickly euphorbia thorns".

Geologists believed the lake formed 2 or 3 million years ago when the Rift Valley cleaved and streams began to pour over the escarpment, collecting in the natural depression where the lake is today. The soda content in the lake is high despite the fact that the lake water from fresh water run-off. The water attracts large flocks of flamingos that, when viewed from far away, form a pink mantle over the lake.

Elsewhere in the park there is a surprising diversity of habitats from open grasslands to hot water springs, river forest and swamps to rocky outcrops. The habitat support a fantastic array of wildlife and a magnificent bird life numberingover 400 species. The park is known for its large and boisterous hippo population, populous groups of baboons, and several herds of elephant, whose tempers can be a little short as a result of the years of poaching that decimated their number.



Another phenomenon distinct to Lake Manyara is the occasional spotting of lions on acacia trees. Suggestions for this behavior include escaping the land heat by catching the air breeze, avoiding the flies or, more likely, to escape the disturbance from the elephant and buffalo herds.