Lake Manyara National Park
  
We drove 60kms from Ngorongoro to Manyara and stayed at the Kirurumu Lodge. The Kirurumu Tented Lodge has been nominated for an award for its efforts as a conservation project involving the local community. In addition to the safari we went on a walk to observe the plants and vegetation.
 
This 325km² park is one of the most diverse of Tanzania’s national parks, with a tiny combination of Rift Valley lake, dense woodlands and steep mountainside. Made famous by elephant researcher, Dr Iain Douglas Hamilton in his book, ‘Among the Elephants’. Manyara was established specifically to protect the elephant herds that have made the area world-renowned. But heavy poaching in the 1970’s and 1980’s decimated the herds, although they are now recovering and returning to their former strengths. Manyara is a birding paradise (more than 380 species), especially for waterfowl and migrants, and the forests are one of the best places around to see leopards. Lions hunt on the grassy shores of the lake, and were once known for their habit of climbing trees.
 
The park is home to tree-climbing lions, elephant, giraffe, hippos and substantial populations of flamingoes and other bird life.