Lake Manyara National Park, Tanzania
Adventure safari, flamingos, action sports and more...
Kirurumu Tented Lodge is set high on the edge of the Great Rift Valley, enjoying a marvellous, panoramic view eastward over Lake Manyara, the Rift floor and Mt. Losimingori. Behind Kirurumu Tented Lodge, the Ngorongoro Highlands rise in green and fertile splendour and form the gateway to Ngorongoro Crater and, finally, Olduvai Gorge and the Serengeti. The lodge offers a selection of ‘tented' rooms, a central dining area and bar, gift shop and a wide range of adventure activities.
Location: Kirurumu Tented Lodge
The Kirurumu Tented Lodge is located within the Lake Manyara National Park, Tanzania. The park lies 3 km from the small town of Mto wa Mbu, Northern Tanzania (130 kilometres west of Arusha via the Arusha-Serengeti road: approximate journey time 1.5 hours). The national park has an airstrip.
Kirurumu Tented Lodge is:
15 minutes from Lake Manyara Airstrip
2 - 2 1/2 hours from Arusha
40 minutes from Ngorongoro Gate
20 minutes from Lake Manyara National Park
40 minutes from Tarangire National Park
The Lake Manyara National Park
Lying in a shallow depression at the base of the western wall of the eastern arm of the Rift Valley, Lake Manyara typically shimmers in a lilac and gold heat-haze, sometimes streaked pink with thousands of flamingos. Venue for numerous adventure sports, such as walking, hiking, biking and abseiling, this beautiful national park is backed by the dramatically sheer red-and-brown cliffs of the Mto wa Mbu Escarpment. Lake Manyara National Park includes not only a substantial portion of the lake and its shores but also large areas of ground-water forest with giant fig and mahogany trees alternating with acacia woodland and open. The national park's name is derived from the Maasai word for the Euphorbia tirucalli bush, which the tribesmen plant as a living stockade to keep their cattle from straying.
Your Lake Manyara adventure lodge safari
Although it covers an area of only 318sq km, the terrain of Lake Manyara national park is so diverse that its mammal and bird lists are some of the most impressive in Tanzania. As to wildlife, the national park offers abundant sightings of; monkey, jackal, mongoose, hyena, hyrax, zebra, hippo, warthog, buffalo, Masai giraffe, duiker, waterbuck and impala. Significant numbers of elephant are also resident in the national park whilst sightings of black rhino and leopard are not uncommon. Lake Manyara is also especially noted for its wealth of bird life, being visited by many thousands of sugar-pink lesser flamingos, significant numbers of greater flamingos and a host of other woodland, plains and water birds.
The famous tree-climbing lions of Lake Manyara
As the heat shimmers over the lake, entire prides of lion can be seen lolling in the branches of the acacia trees of the national park. The existence of tree-climbing lions is actually unusual, since Tanzania lions usually prefer to remain hidden in the thick savannah where they have a better chance of hunting their prey. Quite why the tree-climbing lions exist in this national park is unknown, but it is thought they have adopted the habit to avoid the heat and the flies and to gain a better vantage point from which to hunt.
Wildlife highlights on this Lake Manyara adventure lodge safari:
Lake Manyara national park is famous for its spectacular tree-climbing lions and also offers; monkey, jackal, mongoose, hyena, hyrax, elephant, rhino, leopard, zebra, hippo, warthog, buffalo, Masai giraffe, duiker, waterbuck and impala. Birds: Manyara is noted for its wealth of bird life, which includes many thousands of lesser flamingoes, greater flamingos, pelican, yellow-billed stork and white-necked cormorant.
Accommodation: An adventure safari lodge
Kirurumu Tented Lodge offers just 27 tented rooms , including 2 honeymoon suites & 2 family cottages. Each of the rooms is tastefully furnished with: wooden verandah with armchairs and table, full interior furnishing (desk, chair, luggage rack etc), full en suite facilities (flush WC, shower, wash-hand basin) and electricity. Kirurumu Tented Lodge also offers its own shop, telephone facilities at reception.
The Kirurumu Tented Lodge is open all year round.
Dining and bars at this adventure safari lodge
The central thatched dining room and bar offer wonderful views and a wide selection of local and European dishes. Menus at the lodge typically reflect the best of Tanzania choices, vegetarian options, safari specials and international favourites.
Safari lodge conference and event facilities
Kirurumu Tented Lodge does not offer specific conference facilities but small events can be accommodated. The lodge makes an ideal honeymoon or Tanzania wedding venue (2 honeymoon tents available).
A child-friendly safari tented lodge
Kirurumu Tented Lodge welcomes children (family tent available).
What to see and do at this Lake Manyara adventure safari lodge
Tanzania lodge safari experiences in Lake Manyara National Park
Typical Tanzania safari experiences at Kirurumu Tented Lodge include: safari game drives in especially adapted 4WD safari vehicles (with professionally trained Tanzania safari guides), adventure bush breakfasts, lunches and dinners; cocktails around the lodge safari campfire and guided safari walks through the bush and around the flamingo-fringed lake. Kirurumu Tented Lodge also offers ornithological tours, cultural performances and visits to the local Maasai people of Tanzania.
Specific to Lake Manyara adventure safari activities
Adventure and action activities specific to Lake Manyara include:
• Boating trips around the Lake and its ecosystem
• Flamingo-viewing.
• Visits to the villages of the Mbu Cultural Tourism Programme offering village walks, bicycle tours and boating trips.
• Mountain biking around the national park and adjacent landscapes.
• Day trips to nearby Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire National Park.
• A daily selection of morning and afternoon game drives around the Lake.
• Visits to such famous Tanzania attractions as; Tarangire National Park, Serengeti National Park, The Ngorongoro Crater and Conservation Area and the Ol Duvai Gorge paleolithic site.
Specialist adventure activities at Kirurumu Tented Lodge include:
• Ethno-botanical walks with knowledgeable and informative local Maasai, of any duration from one hour to one day. Visit homes and bomas of the local Iraqw and Mbulu tribes, or take a trip to the river gorge and learn first-hand about local flora and fauna.
• Horse riding - 1 hour up to 4 days (including fly camps)
• Adventure Trekking: One to three days (with support vehicle or trekking just with the Maasai and donkeys) including unusual treks to Mt. Losimingori, the Crater Highlands & Mount Makarot, Lake Eyasi, Empakai Crater and Losimingori.
• Fly camping in forests on special request
Kirurumu Tented Lodge - Lake Manyara • Tanzania Adventure Safari Lodges
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