manyara

The park gate sits about 126km west of Arusha on a tarred road, right beside the market town of Mto wa Mbu, and roughly 40km from Kilimanjaro International Airport. Because it's wedged on the natural route between Tarangire to the southeast and the Ngorongoro Highlands to the west, most northern circuit itineraries pass its front door regardless of whether Manyara itself is the main draw.

The park is open year-round, with gates closing at 6pm daily — pack binoculars, sunscreen and neutral-coloured clothing, and always follow your guide's instructions around wildlife.