Flamingos of Lake Natron and Lake Manyara: When and Where

Wildlife Guides · 4 min read · By Ndovu African Expeditions

Tanzania's soda lakes attract huge flocks of flamingos; learn how Lake Natron and Lake Manyara differ, and how to time your visit for the best views.

Few sights are as surprising on a safari as a shoreline turned pink by thousands of flamingos. Northern Tanzania's alkaline soda lakes provide the algae and tiny invertebrates these birds feed on, and two lakes in particular, Natron and Manyara, are well known for them.

Flamingos are nomadic, though, and their numbers on any given lake can change dramatically from month to month. Understanding why they move, and what each lake offers, will help you set expectations and plan an itinerary that gives you the best chance of seeing them in numbers.

Two Flamingo Species to Look For

Tanzania hosts both lesser and greater flamingos. The lesser flamingo is smaller and a deeper pink, with a dark red bill, and it gathers in the largest flocks. The greater flamingo is taller and paler, with a pink bill tipped in black. Both can feed side by side, and comparing them through binoculars is an enjoyable challenge.

Their color comes from pigments in their food, which is why the birds look brightest where feeding conditions are good.

Lake Natron: The Breeding Ground

Lake Natron, near the Kenyan border, is a harsh, intensely alkaline lake beneath the volcano Ol Doinyo Lengai. It is the most important breeding site for lesser flamingos in East Africa. The caustic water and remote mudflats keep predators away from nesting colonies, which is exactly why the birds choose it.

Visitors do not get close to the breeding colonies, which are out on the lake and protected from disturbance. Instead, you can walk with a local guide toward the shoreline where flamingos often feed, typically in the late afternoon or early morning. The landscape itself is a big part of the experience, with views of Lengai, a waterfall hike up a nearby gorge, and Maasai communities living around the lake.

Lake Manyara: Flamingos Within a National Park

Lake Manyara National Park is easy to include on a northern circuit safari, lying between Arusha and the Ngorongoro highlands. Flamingos gather on the shallow lake when water levels and food supply suit them, and they can be seen from viewpoints and the shoreline areas the park roads reach.

Some months the flocks are large; at other times only scattered birds are present, or they are too far out to see well. Manyara still rewards a visit with its groundwater forest, baboon troops, elephants and abundant water birds such as pelicans, storks and herons.

Timing Your Visit

Because flamingos follow food and water conditions rather than a fixed calendar, there is no single best month. Breeding at Natron has historically tended to happen in the later part of the year, but this varies, and it does not take place every year. Rainfall changes water levels on both lakes, which can push birds elsewhere.

Our guides keep an eye on recent reports from colleagues, and Ndovu African Expeditions can advise on current conditions when you are planning. Other places that sometimes hold flamingos include the soda lake on the Ngorongoro Crater floor, Lake Eyasi and the crater lake at Empakaai.

• Ask about recent flamingo reports before fixing your itinerary
• Visit early or late in the day for softer light on the pink plumage
• Allow a night at Natron rather than a rushed day trip

Viewing and Photography Etiquette

Flamingos are easily disturbed, and a flock lifting off in panic wastes energy they need. Approach slowly on foot, stay low, and stop when birds start walking away. Keep away from soft mud near the shore, which can be deceptively deep and, at Natron, very caustic. A medium telephoto lens is useful, and a flock in flight against the hills makes a memorable shot if you are patient.