Lake Manyara National Park is a Tanzania-protected area located within Lake Manyara and Great Rift Valley. The park was established in 1960, covering an area of 325 square kilometers 230 square Kilometers of the lake surface. The plain bordering Lake Manyara has a high density of animal species; giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, and vast herds of buffaloes congregate on this grassy land. The diversity of Manyara Acacia provides refuge for legendary tree-climbing lions often perched on tree branches. Like most of the other lakes in the Rift Valley, the Manyara is a shallow lake that varies significantly in size depending on the season. Many animals bathe in the mud when the water recedes. It is possible to observe many water birds such as pelicans, flamingos, cormorants, and herons.