Lake Manyara National Park

On Sunday we plus Stephanie were up early and off to Lake Manyara National Park for the day.  It is about 2 hours south-west from home.  Contrary to some advice we were allowed in as tourists with a private car - so that is now clear.

On the way we stopped for fuel and it came to 79,000 shillings (Aust$50) for about 34 l.  Unfortunately the pump attendant insisted the amount was 179,000 and we had quite a heated discussion - particularly after the pump reset and the receipt mysteriously disappeared.  We decided that a RAV4 only holds 55 l and drove off.  We won't be going back to that supplier.

Giraffes on the shore of Lake Manyara.

Once in the park we wandered the road network and saw many birds and mammals.  The lake holds many flamingos, pelicans, storks and herons.  The marshland has ducks, waders, jacanas, crakes and assorted weavers.  Raptors were largely absent apart from a single Fish Eagle, a couple of Bateleurs and some distant, unidentified vultures.  The bush had many birds and activity was busy all day.

Dwarf Mongoose

Hildebrandt's Francolin

Yellow-billed Stork nesting

Great White Pelican

Hottentot Teal

We nearly came to grief on one particularly boggy road but managed to think our way carefully out of it.  Soon after we met a couple in a RAV4 who were bogged for two hours on the same road and the people in a second 4WD that got bogged trying to pull the first car out.  The rest of the roads were fine however.

Elephant deep in the undergrowth.

Emerald-spotted Wood Dove

Red-and-yellow Barbet - very tame in picnic area.

Yellow-bellied Greenbul

A lovely small park but we only saw a small fraction of it. We will go back regularly and hopefully find somewhere nice and inexpensive nearby to stay overnight.

Helmeted Guineafowl

Dikdik

Black Bishop

Mammal highlights: Elephants, Giraffe, Hippos (distant), Dikdiks, Mongoose.
Bird highlights: Hildebrandt's Francolin (lifer), Hottentot Teal, Glossy Ibis, African Spoonbill, Great White Pelican, Grey-crowned Crane, Whiskered Tern, Olive Bee-eater, Southern Ground Hornbill, Red-and-yellow Barbet, Slate-coloured Boubou, African Golden Oriole, Yellow-bellied Greenbul and Hildebrandt's Starling.

Plains Zebra

Vervet Monkey