Best Lodges in Lake Manyara National Park
This guide helps you choose among the three zones. It compares the lodges named most often at every level, profiles the leading properties, shows how the park’s fees change the cost, suggests who each type suits and finishes with a booking checklist and common mistakes. Rates vary widely by season and room.
Lake Manyara Lodges at a Glance
A guide to the whole area gives budget rooms in Mto wa Mbu as starting under US$150, mid-range escarpment tented camps at roughly US$150 to US$350 and the upper escarpment lodges at US$300 to US$650.
| Level | Typical Rate Per Person Per Night | Where |
| Budget | About US$50 to US$150 | Mto wa Mbu village lodges, campsites and Migunga Forest Camp |
| Mid-range | About US$150 to US$500 | Escarpment tented camps and the larger lodges, such as Kirurumu and Sangaiwe |
| Upper escarpment | About US$300 to US$650 | Lake Manyara Serena and Kilimamoja |
| Ultra-luxury | About US$950 to US$1,500 | andBeyond Lake Manyara Tree Lodge, inside the park |
Three Zones:
One guide notes that staying outside the park is easier logistically and offers a wider price range, with a slightly longer drive to the gate, while staying inside offers direct access to game drives and night safaris. Our separate guide to national park fees explains how entry and concession fees work.
| Zone | Distance to the Gate | What It Offers | Drawbacks |
| Escarpment rim | About 25 to 45 minutes | Panoramic views over the lake and the Rift Valley, pools and larger lodges | A longer drive to the park and higher rates |
| Inside the park | None | The only lodge, a private concession in mahogany forest with night access | Highest cost, with fewer options |
| Mto wa Mbu village | About 5 minutes | Budget rooms, campsites and cultural access to the village | Simpler facilities and no rim views |
The Lodges Compared
The pattern is that the park’s only lodge holds the top, the escarpment lodges form a mid-to-upper tier with the best views and Mto wa Mbu holds the lowest prices. Other names include Mawe Mawe Manyara Lodge, Furaha Luxury Lodge, Moonbow Lodge and African Sunrise Lodge and Campsite.
| Lodge | Zone | Style and Level | Reported Rate Per Person Per Night |
| andBeyond Lake Manyara Tree Lodge | Inside the park | Treehouse-style luxury tented lodge in an ancient mahogany forest; all-inclusive; rated about 4.7 | About US$950 to US$1,500, or US$700 to US$1,200 in another guide |
| Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge | Escarpment | Hilltop lodge with an infinity pool at the edge; rated about 4.3 from over 1,100 reviews | From about US$248 to US$403 per standard room, and US$400 to US$650 in a guide |
| Wellworth Lake Manyara Kilimamoja Lodge | Escarpment | Luxurious, family-friendly lodge with Rift Valley views; rated about 4.8 from nearly 800 reviews | From about US$690 on one site |
| Escarpment Luxury Lodge Manyara | Escarpment | Spacious chalets with lake views; rated about 4.8 from nearly 790 reviews | Confirm current rates |
| Kirurumu Manyara Lodge | Escarpment | Rustic tented lodge with views; about 20 minutes from the entrance; rated about 4.2 | About US$250 to US$400 |
| Lake Manyara Wildlife Lodge | Mto wa Mbu | Relaxing lodge with lake and wildlife views; named best value of over 100 places on one site | Mid-range, confirm current rates |
| Sangaiwe Tented Lodge and Burunge Tented Camp | Outside, toward Burunge | Mid-range tented lodges | About US$250 to US$500 |
| Migunga Forest Camp and Twiga Lodge and Campsite | Mto wa Mbu area | Budget camps and campsites | About US$50 to US$150 |
andBeyond Lake Manyara Tree Lodge
andBeyond Lake Manyara Tree Lodge is the only lodge inside the park and one of the finest in northern Tanzania, hidden in an ancient mahogany forest on a private concession. Its suites sit among the trees, with an all-inclusive rate that covers meals, drinks and activities.
Reviewers call it very comfortable, high-end and exclusive, rated about 4.7 from more than 260 reviews, and it is described as the best choice for photographers and luxury travellers who want direct access to game drives and night safaris.
Rates are quoted at about US$950 to US$1,500 per person per night in one guide, and US$700 to US$1,200 in another. It suits honeymooners and travellers who want a wilder, more immersive stay and are prepared to pay for it. Book early, since there is only one lodge of its kind in the park.
The Escarpment Lodges
Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge sits on the rim of the Mto wa Mbu escarpment, with an infinity pool on the edge of the valley, and is called the most photographed lodge in the area. It is rated about 4.3 from more than 1,100 reviews, and a guide describes it as mid-luxury, with a rate of about US$400 to US$650.
Lake Manyara Kilimamoja Lodge, rated about 4.8, is a luxurious and family-friendly option with unique architecture and views, from about US$690 on one site, and Escarpment Luxury Lodge is praised for spacious chalets and lake views.
Kirurumu Manyara Lodge is a more rustic tented lodge on the rim, about 20 minutes from the park entrance, at about US$250 to US$400, and it is described as particularly well suited to budget-conscious travellers and families who want a fun, social atmosphere. The escarpment lodges suit travellers who want a view and a pool for their one night. Our separate guides to lodges near the northern circuit’s other parks explain the next stops.
Mto wa Mbu, Budget and Cultural Stays
Mto wa Mbu is the village at the park’s gate, a lively mix of cultures with markets and farms, and it offers the lowest prices. Lake Manyara Wildlife Lodge, in the village area, is named best value of more than 100 places to stay on one booking site, at a relaxing mid-range level with lake and wildlife views. Twiga Lodge and Campsite, Migunga Forest Camp and several campsites offer simple stays from about US$50 to US$150.
These suit backpackers, budget travellers and those who want cultural access, such as village walks and local meals, and who do not mind simpler facilities. Our separate guides to Tanzania safaris explain how the cost of a trip is built up.
What the Rate Includes and What the Park Charges
Most travellers spend one night at Manyara on the way between Arusha, Tarangire and Ngorongoro, so the lodge rate is usually a single night of the total. One guide notes that Serena is outside the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, so no extra park fee applies there.
| Item | Reported Cost |
| Lake Manyara entry, per adult per 24 hours | About US$59 including VAT |
| Concession fee, per night inside the park | About US$47.20 |
| Night drives | About US$59 per person in some parks, including Manyara, in one guide |
| Lodge rate | Usually full board; check drinks, activities and fees |
| Transport and driver-guide | Charged by your operator, separate from the lodge rate |
Choosing by Traveller Type
If you have only one night, choose the lodge by its view and its position on your route. If you have two, spend one on the escarpment and one in the village or inside the park.
| If You Are | Consider | Why |
| A honeymooner who wants exclusivity | andBeyond Lake Manyara Tree Lodge | The only lodge inside the park |
| A first-time visitor wanting a view and a pool | Lake Manyara Serena | An infinity pool above the valley |
| A family | Kilimamoja or Serena | Family-friendly facilities and space |
| On a moderate budget | Kirurumu Manyara Lodge | Value on the escarpment |
| A budget or cultural traveller | A lodge or campsite in Mto wa Mbu | The lowest prices and village access |
| A birder | A lodge with lake views | The lake has over 300 migratory bird species in one description |
Best Time to Go and When to Book
Manyara works all year, though the lake and the flamingos vary with the season. The escarpment views are good whatever the weather, apart from cloud and rain.
| Period | Conditions | Booking Advice |
| June to October | The dry season and the busiest period | Book several months ahead |
| November to April | Green, with strong birding and lower rates | Ask for green season discounts |
| Shoulder months | A mix of conditions | Good value |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a lodge inside Lake Manyara National Park?
Yes. andBeyond Lake Manyara Tree Lodge is described as the only lodge inside the park.
What is the best lodge near Lake Manyara?
Serena and Kilimamoja for views on the escarpment, Kirurumu for value and the Tree Lodge for exclusivity.
How much do lodges cost?
From about US$50 to US$150 for budget stays to US$150 to US$500 for mid-range and US$950 to US$1,500 for the Tree Lodge, though guides disagree.
How long should I stay?
Most travellers spend one night, enough for a morning or afternoon in the park.
Are park fees included?
Not always. Entry is about US$59 per adult per 24 hours, with a concession fee of about US$47.20 per night inside.
