Tanzania’s Lake Manyara National Park is only 70 miles (43 km) northwest of Tarangire National Park. The national park covers an area of 125 kilometers (325 sq km). Around Lake Manyara, the national park extends approximately 89 square miles (230 square kilometers). Its designation as a Biosphere Reserve protects it from development. Lake Manyara is a small alkaline lake in the Great Rift Valley. The lake is located at an altitude of roughly 3,150 feet (960 m).

The lake is so shallow that animals can readily navigate it. During the rainy season, the deepest point is only 12 feet (3.7 m). During the rainy season, it is 9.3 miles (14 kilometers) long and 25 miles (40 kilometers) wide (15 km). The deepest point often measures around 10 feet deep (3.0 m). Yet, the average depth is only 2.8 feet (0.81 m). Wetlands, salt flats, and grasslands all encircle the lake. Near the park’s entrance, a tiny woodland contains fig and mahogany trees. 

The streams that feed the lake are lined with sycamore fig, forest toad-tree, acacia, and the Phoenix palm. The region has a variety of environments, including marshes, swamps, grasslands, and forests. Due to the plentiful water, the area is home to big fig and mahogany trees. The Gregory Rift Wall is located to the west, while Lake Manyara is located to the east, making up the park’s land area.

Tanzania’s Lake Manyara National Park is the best place to see flamingos. In the shallow, alkaline waters of the lake, an estimated 1.9 million flamingos eat algae. A total of 2.5 million waterbirds inhabit a variety of environments, contributing to the population. More than 30 different bird species that prey on other bird species can be seen in the park.