Lake Manyara National Park

Lake Manyara National Park is one of Tanzania's most concentrated wildlife experiences - a narrow ribbon of ground-water forest, open grassland and alkaline lake that punches far above its size. Most visitors are heading to the Serengeti or Ngorongoro, which means Manyara often gets overlooked. That's a mistake.

The park is home to one of Africa's only populations of tree-climbing lions - a behavior so unusual it drew David Attenborough and a BBC camera crew. No one knows exactly why Manyara's lions climb; leading theories include escaping biting insects, catching a breeze or a local tradition passed down through generations. Seeing a lioness draped across an acacia branch six metres off the ground is unforgettable.

The alkaline lake draws extraordinary concentrations of lesser flamingoes - sometimes over a million birds turning the shoreline pink. Elephant herds move through the ground-water forest at remarkable close range. With over 400 recorded bird species, it's one of East Africa's finest birding destinations.