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also on this website: Kilimanjaro
Mount Meru Arusha
NP Lake Manyara NP
Ngorongoro Crater
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Lake Manyara Nationalpark, Tansania
A Daytrip in Great Rift Valley
The Lake Manyara National Park is situated at a height of 960 meters above
sea level. It covers 300 square meters, thereof 230 sqm surface of water.
The park is 125K West of Arusha and it can be visited on the way to
Tarangire NP or to Ngorongoro Crater. The entry to Lake Manyara NP is
close to MtoWaMbu, the central town of Massai country. Translated MtoWaMbu
means Mosquito River what gives you a hint at the danger of Malaria around
the place. Prophilactic actions are highly advisable, especially during
dawn.
Lake Manyara NP consists of 3 different zones of vegetation: rain forest,
scrubland and the lake. Most common animals are baboon, impala and
elephant. But birders will like the lakeshore, too. There is flamingo,
pelican, ibis and different species of waders, ducks and geese.
Tree-climbing lions, whom the Park is famous for, can be spotted very
rarely. Others: leopard, giraffe, zebra, buffolo, hippo.
Photos shown here have been taken during a half day visit in February. |
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(below: click to enlarge photo)
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Lake Manyara is situated in the Great
Rift Valley which is the result of the separation of the African and
Arabian tectonic plates. The photo shows the view to the Eastern
border of the rift.
This geoligical feature is so dominant
that it can be spotted by spacemen from the universe. It runs for
5000K from Syria to Mozambique.
If our planet exists that long, Africa will be separated into two
parts in a few million years. |
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Anubis or Olive Baboon
Papio anubis
Size: m 90cm, f 80cm
Weight: m 30kg, f 15kg
Age: up to 45 years
Baboons are so numerous in
the park that the rangers think about methods to reduce their numbers. |
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Acacias belong to the family of mimosas.
There are about 500 species of acacias, this one is the Umbrella Thorn
Acacia
(Acacia tortilis).
Leaves and blossoms are food for many kinds of animals. The tree
defends itself by production of tannin. A tree is able to communicate
with its neighbours in case of danger who then start to increase their
toxin production.
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Impala
Impala melampus
Aepyceros melampus
Impalas live in little prides with one buck and 20 to 30 females and
their pups.
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Their only way of defense is running
away from their numerous predators. Leopards, lions, hyenas and
jackals like to hunt them. Sadly there are still humans who believe
they could be proud to present such a trophy. |
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Termites form big states of up to 3
million individuals. Material for building their capitals are earth,
parts of wood and their own excrements.
Termites mainly feed on wood and self
bred (!) mushrooms.
A termites' state consists of a royal
couple, workers and soldiers, who defend the population against
hostile ants.
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Sooner or later every visitor will come
across an elephant. |
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African elephant
Loxodonta africana
Living free an elephant gets an age of up to 30 years, in zoos up to
40 years.
It is the largest land dwelling animal with a weight of up to 10 tons.
The adult ingests a daily amount of 200kg of vegetarian food.
Elephants drink around 200 liters of water daily. |
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Even within the game reserves elephants
are still being poached for their ivory. Both males and females have
tusks. |
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To care for their thick skin elephants
take a bath in the mud first and then throw dust all over their body. |
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Sandpiper (?)
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White-faced Whistling Duck
Dendrocygna viduata
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left:
openbill stork
anastomus lamelligerus
(thanks to Brigitte)right:
Sacred Ibis
Threskiornis aethiopicus
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Giraffes always work very well as a
decoration in the landscape. They show an enviably mixture of elegance
and calmness. |
Literature (Amazon UK - commissions are donated without any
cuttings)
Links
Lake Manyara
National Park official tourism site
Tanzania Parks
African Dream Safaris
GORP Away
commercial site, extensive information on the parks
Paul Gross
very nice private page
also on this website: Kilimanjaro
Mount Meru Arusha
NP Lake Manyara NP
Ngorongoro Crater
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