Lake Manyara National Park is an exquisite park situated along Africa's Great Rift Valley with breath taking views of the escarpment. Steep mountain sides give way to a thickly forested valley surrounding a prominent soda lake which attracts flamingos in their thousands each year. Manyara is particularly well-known for its tree-climbing lions. Fantastic photographic opportunities abound for shots of lions lying in trees. The region hosts the highest density of baboons in the world and the large olive baboon troops provide much entertainment for game viewers. There are a number of local villages on the periphery of the park which can add an excellent cultural element to a tour. There are a handful of elite safari camps in and around this game reserve and it is well worth a visit. The diversity of Lake Manyara National Park is in stark contrast to the open plains of the busier Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti nearby and should definitely not be overlooked.