One of only a couple of places on earth where you'll find lions lounging in the branches. Here's why they do it.Lions are not natural climbers — they're heavy, and the descent is undignified. Yet at Lake Manyara, and a h...
Lions are not natural climbers — they're heavy, and the descent is undignified. Yet at Lake Manyara, and a handful of other places, you'll find whole prides draped along the boughs of acacia and fig trees like oversized leopards.
Why they do it
No one is entirely certain. The leading theories: escaping the biting tsetse flies and heat at ground level, catching a cooling breeze, or simply getting a better vantage over the herds below. Whatever the reason, it's become a local tradition passed between generations.
A park of contrasts
Manyara packs remarkable variety into a small area — a groundwater forest of ancient mahogany, an alkaline lake pink with flamingos, and the dramatic wall of the Rift Valley escarpment behind. It's a superb first or last stop on the northern circuit.
Spotting them
Sightings are never guaranteed — that's wildlife — but the dry season, when the light is good and the game concentrates, gives you the best odds. Our guides know the prides' favourite trees.
