The park is 78 miles (125 km) west of Arusha town, from where it is a half an hour flight or a two-hour drive. It attained National Park status in 1960. The park is 127 miles² (330 km²) of which 89 miles² (230 km²) is Lake Manyara.

Short rains are November and December when it gets hot and humid, and the long rains are from March to June. These are the best times for bird watching, waterfalls and canoeing.

Typically it is dry in the cooler winter months of July to October, which is the best time to view game.

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