Tree climbing lions Lake Manyara National Park

Situated in the northern safari circuit of Tanzania, Lake Manyara National Park is well-known for its tree-climbing lions, as well as for its incredible scenery and wildlife, flamingoes, and soda-ash Lake.

The lions here can often be seen relaxing in acacia trees and have adapted tree-climbing skills. Lions weigh about 250 to 400 pounds and watching these big cats maneuver themselves up into the branches of a tree is quite a sight!

Tree climbing lions of Lake Manyara National Park

When you approach Lake Manyara National Park from the east, the Rift Valley escarpment looms on the horizon forming an impressive backdrop to the lake.

In the tall trees of the groundwater forest, monkeys leap from branch to branch, and on the escarpment, elephants stand in the shade. Other animals frequently seen are zebras, impalas, monkeys, giraffes, buffalos, hippos, and others.

Why do lions climb trees?

Some animal behaviorists believe that lions climb trees as a behavioral adaptation to protect themselves from the constant irritation of insect bites that they encounter while lying and resting on the savannah plains’ ground.

Others believe that tree-climbing lions do this as a way of escaping or staying away from the uncomfortably hot ground. It is much cooler to stay on the tree trunks than on the ground, especially in the dry season when the floor is very hot.

The other reason for these lions climbing trees could be that the tree branches offer such a good point to view the movement of their prey on the grounds below. It’s what helps them to catch their prey successfully.

With time the lions have taught their young ones to climb trees and it has become a tradition for them.

Lake Manyara National Park tree climbing lions are just one of the attractions to see in the park and those worth exploring. The park has many more wildlife species that can be seen during a Tanzania safari.

Other destinations in the region include the popular Serengeti National Park, Tarangire National Park, Mount Kilimanjaro, and the famous Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

For Africa tours beyond Tanzania, it is recommendable to always take primate tracking tours as well as wildlife trips. East Africa has the best primate trekking trips and these include Uganda gorilla safaris, Rwanda gorilla tours, and chimpanzee trekking in Uganda, and Rwanda.

These are unique forms of trips very different from the usual game drives in the popular national parks that host wildlife. All these trips can be customized by Acacia Safaris at any time of the year.