See tree-climbing lions and 400 species of birds at Lake Manyara

If you love birds, don’t miss Lake Manyara. Christened ‘the loveliest lake in Africa’ by Ernest Hemingway, it attracts a colourful mix of birds from over 400 species. Bring your binoculars and head out on an early-morning safari for the best bird-spotting opportunities. Look out for everything from pelicans and herons to hornbills, egrets and yellow-billed storks. If you’re lucky, you might catch a glimpse of crowned eagles soaring through the sky. For most, elegant flamingos are the highlight, usually seen between November and April when they come to breed.

Although the lake covers a third of Manyara’s national park, there’s plenty more to see in its diverse ecosystems. Explore woodlands filled with elephants, olive baboons and blue monkeys, then venture into the open grasslands where antelopes graze, stalked by big cats. No doubt your safari guide will be looking out for Manyara’s tree-climbing lions – spotting one is a rare treat. Along the way, marvel at views of the hippo-spotted lake as sunshine glints off the water against a backdrop of Great Rift Valley peaks.

Relax in hilltop lodges that offer supreme lake views, best enjoyed with cold sundowners. Many will offer cultural excursions to local villages belonging to tribes like the Makonde, who are known for their intricate wooden carvings, and the famous Maasai. One of the most fascinating places to visit is Mto wa Mbu , a thriving market town just north of Lake Manyara. Take a tour on foot or by tuk tuk of this enterprising hub, which is home to members of over 120 different ethnic groups. Wander the market where stalls are piled high with produce, harvested from Manyara’s fertile soils.