Lake Manyara Day Trips from Arusha Compared
Three Lake Manyara day trips from Arusha at US$190, US$250 and US$316 per person, what the US$70 park fee covers, and when Tarangire is the better day.
Nov 1, 2026 5 min read
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Three Lake Manyara day trips are listed at US$190, US$250 and US$316 per person, and the main difference between them is where you start. Ismani Tours and Safaris' day at US$190 meets you at the park itself. Serengeti Wildlife Safaris' trip at US$250 meets at Kilimanjaro International Airport arrivals, with pickup details confirmed after booking. Utukufu Travels and Adventures' US$316 day runs Arusha to the park and back. All three are game-drive days in a 648.7 km² park under the Rift Valley escarpment that TANAPA calls the only place in Tanzania where lions lounge in tree branches. The park entry fee is US$70 per international adult, and the gates close at 6 pm.
Lake Manyara packs forest, lake and escarpment into a small park
TANAPA's park page lists four things that make the day: the groundwater forest of towering mahogany and fig trees sheltering blue monkeys and bushbuck, lesser flamingos filtering algae on the soda lake, more than 390 bird species, and the tree-climbing lions. The main activity is a day game drive by vehicle. The park also has a canopy tree walkway with viewing decks around the trees, which TANAPA says is one of the longest in Africa and is good for birds, butterflies and monkeys. The park is open year-round and was nominated for Africa's Leading National Park at the 2025 World Travel Awards.
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A tree-climbing lion in Lake Manyara. TANAPA calls the park the only place in Tanzania where lions lounge in branches.
Photo credit: Jan Fleischmann, CC BY-SA 4.0
None of the three day trips lists the canopy walk as included, so if you want it, ask us to put it in the written plan and confirm the extra charge before you pay. The same goes for lunch: none of the three publishes an inclusions list, so we confirm meals and park fees with the host before you book.
The three day trips compared
| Day trip | Where you start | Group size | Price per person |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ismani Tours and Safaris, Best 1 day trip to Manyara National Park | Lake Manyara National Park (you get yourself to the park) | Ask us | US$190 |
| Serengeti Wildlife Safaris, Lake Manyara Day Trip | Kilimanjaro International Airport arrivals, pickup details confirmed after booking | Up to 28 | US$250 |
| Utukufu Travels and Adventures, 1-Day Lake Manyara's Tree-Climbing Kingdom | Arusha, returning to Arusha | Up to 20 | US$316 |
Ismani Tours and Safaris' day at US$190 per person is the cheapest, and its meeting point is the park itself, which makes it the right pick if you're already staying near Lake Manyara and have your own way to the gate. If you're in Arusha, add the cost of getting there before you compare it with the other two. The host leads with the birdlife, quoting more than 400 species, and the tree-climbing lions.
Best 1 day trip to Manyara National Park
Best 1 day trip to Manyara National park becomes a haven for migratory birds, with over 400 species flocking to the area and see tree-climbing lions.
per person
$190
View experienceSerengeti Wildlife Safaris' Lake Manyara Day Trip is US$250 per person on shared departures of up to 28 people, bookable from one person, and the host pitches it as an introduction to safari for people with limited time. The meeting point is the arrivals area at Kilimanjaro International Airport, with exact pickup details confirmed after booking, so tell us your Arusha hotel when you book and we'll arrange the pickup with the host.
Lake Manyara Day Trip | Explore Tanzania’s Hidden Gem
Experience the stunning landscapes and diverse wildlife of Tanzania on a Lake Manyara Day Trip. Located at the base of the Great Rift Valley escarpment, Lake Manyara National Park offers a spectacular introduction to Tanzania’s safari experience — perfect for travelers with limited time.
per person
$250
View experienceUtukufu Travels and Adventures' 1-Day Lake Manyara's Tree-Climbing Kingdom is US$316 per person for up to 20 people and is the one built around Arusha: the route is Arusha, Lake Manyara National Park, Arusha, with a local professional guide and flexible pacing. It's the dearest of the three, and its pickup point and inclusions aren't published, so ask us about both before you choose it over the US$250 trip.
1-Day Lake Manyara's Tree-Climbing Kingdom
1-Day Lake Manyara's Tree-Climbing Kingdom. An expertly guided Tanzania safari, mountain, cultural or beach journey by Utukufu Travels and Adventures. Route: Arusha; Lake Manyara National Park; Arusha. Designed with flexible pacing, local professional guides and carefully selected accommodation. Activities include wildlife viewing, scenic drives, cultural encounters and/or trekking as appropriate to the route. Exact order, accommodation and rates are subject to availability. Contact [email protected] for dates and customization. Itinerary Day 1: Arrival, briefing and the first route segment. Days 2-2: Guided exploration across Arusha; Lake Manyara National Park; Arusha. Daily activities are adjusted to wildlife, weather and guest interests. Day 1: Final experience segment and return/finish at the listed end point. Official source listing: https://www.safaribookings.com/tours/t101027 Operator website: https://utukufutravels.com/
per person
$316
View experienceThe US$70 park fee, and what else you pay
TANAPA lists Lake Manyara entry at US$70 per international adult and US$20 per international child, with East African residents paying TZS 20,000. Its tariff page adds that children under five enter free, child rates apply from 5 to 15, fees include 18% VAT where applicable, and a conservation fee is valid for 24 hours from entry. Fees are paid through the government electronic payment gateway, with cards and mobile money accepted at the gate. East African citizens must show a national ID or passport for the resident rate, and expatriates a residence or work permit. Whether the US$70 is inside the US$190, US$250 or US$316 isn't published for any of the three trips, so we confirm it in writing before you pay.
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Elephants on a park road in Lake Manyara. The US$70 entry fee covers 24 hours in the park.
Photo credit: John Mackenzie Burke, CC BY-SA 4.0
When Tarangire is the better day
Tarangire is the other one-day park from Arusha, and it is the bigger choice: more than 2,850 km², more than 3,000 elephants, which TANAPA calls Tanzania's densest population, ancient baobabs, and massive dry-season herds of wildebeest, zebra and buffalo (TANAPA's Tarangire page). Its entry fee is the same US$70. Pick Manyara when you want forest, lake and escarpment in a compact day, or the canopy walk. Pick Tarangire when elephants are the point. Our Tarangire day trip from Arusha guide compares those packages, and Lake Manyara in September explains the dry-season case.
Before you book
- Gates close at 6 pm. Agree your pickup time with us so you have a full day inside the park.
- Carry your passport or ID for the gate, and a residence or work permit if you're claiming the expatriate rate.
- Ask us to confirm in writing what the price includes: park entry, lunch, drinking water and the canopy walk if you want it.
- If you have a second day, the Ngorongoro Crater is the usual add-on. Our Ngorongoro Crater day trips from Arusha comparison covers it.
More on Tanzania: Arusha National Park day trips for a different park day from Arusha, one free day in Arusha for the city-or-park question, and 3 and 4-day Serengeti and Ngorongoro safaris from Arusha when a day trip isn't enough.
Prices checked 30 October 2026.
Good to know
Three day trips are listed at US$190, US$250 and US$316 per person. The US$190 trip meets at the park itself, the US$250 trip meets at Kilimanjaro International Airport arrivals with pickup confirmed after booking, and the US$316 trip runs Arusha to the park and back. Ask us to confirm whether the US$70 park fee and lunch are included.
TANAPA lists US$70 per international adult and US$20 per international child, with East African residents paying TZS 20,000. Children under five are free, child rates apply from 5 to 15, fees include 18% VAT where applicable, and a conservation fee is valid for 24 hours from entry.
TANAPA lists the park's groundwater forest with blue monkeys and bushbuck, lesser flamingos on the soda lake, more than 390 bird species and tree-climbing lions. The park is 648.7 km², so a single game-drive day covers a lot of it. No sighting is guaranteed.
Lake Manyara for forest, lake and escarpment in a compact park, and for the canopy walkway. Tarangire for elephants: TANAPA describes more than 3,000 elephants and ancient baobabs in a park of more than 2,850 km². Both charge US$70 per international adult.
TANAPA says the park is open year-round and the gates close at 6 pm. Agree your pickup time with us so you have a full day inside.