Lake Manyara National Park nestles at the foot of the escarpment of the Eastern arm of the Rift Valley 945 meters above sea level. Lying in the shallow depression, Lake Manyara spreads out in a heat haze backed by a narrow band of forest and the sheer red and brown cliffs of the escarpment. The park's name is derived from the Maasai word for the Euphorbia tirucalli, a bush which they grew to keep their cattle from straying. The entrance to Lake Manyara National Park is from the village of Mto wa Mbu, 'Mosquito Creek', a market town several tribes converge to form the richest linguistic mix in Africa

Lake Manyara the shallow, alkaline lake consumes the majority of this area. The land portion of the park is tucked between the lake and the sheer rock walls of the rift valley escarpment that tower 2,000 feet above. The park is home to three distinct habitats including a lush groundwater forest, open flood plains and acacia woodlands. In just a two-hour round trip foray into the park, it is possible to see all the main highlights in the groundwater forest and the floodplain's leading up to the lake.

Lake Manyara National Park is famous for Acacia Tortilis tree-climbing lions. Resident herbivores that you will likely encounter include elephant, hippo, giraffe, wildebeest, buffalo, warthog and impala. Primates include vervet monkey and baboon. Lake Manyara boasts one of highest concentrations of baboons in Africa. The baboons are among the more exciting animals to watch in the park as they squabble and feud in their large extended family groups.