Lake Manyara National Park history

Origin of the Name and Formation Stages

The history of Lake Manyara National Park is inextricably linked with Tanzania's rich natural heritage and the culture of local tribes. The park's name comes from a word in the Maasai language — emanyara. This is the name for a species of spurge (Euphorbia tirucalli), which the local inhabitants traditionally used to build living hedges around their settlements.

Main milestones in the formation of the protected area:

• 1957 — The territory was declared a Game Reserve.
• 1960 — Granted National Park status to protect unique ecosystems and the elephant population.
• 1981 — The park was included in the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves.

Geographical and Historical Prerequisites

The park's unique location played a decisive role in its popularity and the need for protection. It is situated at the base of the steep escarpment of the Great Rift Valley. Geological features have created a mosaic of diverse habitats here: from dense forests fed by groundwater to the shallow alkaline lake.

Factors that influenced the development of the territory:

• Hunting Trade: In the first half of the 20th century, these lands were a famous destination for sport hunting, which threatened the local fauna and led to the necessity of introducing strict conservation measures.
• Literary Fame: Ernest Hemingway, who visited these places in the 1930s, described Lake Manyara in his work "Green Hills of Africa," calling it "the loveliest I had seen in Africa."

Early Settlement and Cultural Context

Before the official creation of the park, this territory was used by indigenous peoples for centuries. Maasai tribes grazed cattle on the plains around the lake, coexisting with wildlife. The early economy of the region was based on nomadic pastoralism, and later — on servicing the first expeditions of European explorers and hunters, which subsequently transformed into the photographic safari industry.

Key Dates in the Park's History

• 1935 — Ernest Hemingway publishes the book "Green Hills of Africa," in which he calls Lake Manyara the most beautiful place on the continent.
• 1957 — The territory receives official status as a Game Reserve for the primary protection of fauna.
• 1960 — Lake Manyara is proclaimed a National Park, legally establishing a ban on hunting.
• 1981 — The park is included in the international network of UNESCO Biosphere Reserves under the "Man and the Biosphere" programme.
• 2012 — The area of the protected territory is significantly increased by annexing the Marang Forest Reserve on the southern slopes.
• 2016 — The first Treetop Walkway in Tanzania opens in the park, allowing tourists to walk at the level of the tree canopy.

Evolution and Development Vectors

The development of Lake Manyara National Park followed a path of qualitative transformation: from the use of natural resources to their preservation and competent exposition. The history of the park is not just a set of dates, but a consistent shift in priorities that turned former hunting grounds into a modern centre for ecotourism and scientific research.

• Shift in Nature Management Paradigm. The most important stage was the complete abandonment of the hunting reserve concept in favour of a national park. This decision radically changed the fate of the local fauna, stopping the extermination of elephants and laying the foundation for the photographic safari industry, which is the basis of the region's economy today.
• Recognition of Global Value. Obtaining the status of a biosphere reserve brought the park to the international arena. This allowed attracting the attention of the global scientific community to the unique ecosystems of the alkaline lake and rainforests, as well as introducing advanced environmental monitoring methods.
• Infrastructure Boom on the Rift Edge. The formation of a hotel cluster at the top of the Rift Valley escarpment became an economic breakthrough. The construction of lodges with panoramic views not only provided comfort to tourists but also created jobs, turning the park into a key stop on Tanzania's "Northern Circuit."
• Territorial Expansion Strategy. An important step in modern history was the annexation of the Marang forest massif. This decision was dictated by the need to protect water sources, which are critically important both for wild animals during dry periods and for the agriculture of neighbouring villages.
• Diversification of the Tourist Experience. In response to growing competition, the park began to introduce unique activities. The opening of Tanzania's first Canopy Walkway and the launch of night safaris allowed Manyara to offer travellers exclusive impressions unavailable in most other parks in the country.
• Urbanisation and Symbiosis with Mto wa Mbu. The development of the park became a catalyst for the growth of the adjacent settlement of Mto wa Mbu. From a small village, it has turned into a lively cultural and trading hub, where tourism directly supports local markets, farms, and ethnographic programmes.

Architectural Appearance and Infrastructure

Since Lake Manyara National Park is a nature reserve, there is no classic urban development or change of architectural eras in the usual sense (Gothic, Baroque, etc.). The "urbanism" of this territory is limited to tourist infrastructure and service buildings, which are designed with the aim of minimal interference with the landscape.

The architectural development of the region can be divided into stages associated with the development of the territory and the growth of tourist flow:

Styles and Historical Stages

• Traditional African Architecture (Historical Context). Vernacular architecture historically predominates in the vicinity of the park and buffer zones. These are Maasai bomas (settlements) — circular huts built from a framework of branches plastered with a mixture of clay, ash, and dung, with thatched roofs. This style reflects centuries of adaptation to the climate and a nomadic lifestyle.
• Classic "Safari Style" (20th Century). With the development of tourism, a recognizable style of lodges and camps was formed. It is characterised by the use of natural materials (stone, wood, canvas), roofs made of palm leaves (makuti), and open terraces. Buildings often imitate traditional forms but with modern comfort suitable for international guests.
• Organic Architecture and Eco-modernism (Modernity). Modern structures in the park and on the edge of the Rift follow the principles of sustainable development. The main goal is mimicry of the environment. Solar panels, water collection systems, and structures on stilts are used so as not to disturb the soil cover and animal migration paths.

Iconic Structures and Objects

Although there are no cathedrals or palaces in the park, there are engineering and architectural objects that shape its appearance:

• Main Gate. Built from local stone and stylised to resemble natural rock formations. It serves as a visual boundary between civilisation (the village of Mto wa Mbu) and the wild, setting the tone for the entire journey.
• Treetop Walkway. A unique example of modern engineering thought in a natural environment. This is a series of suspension bridges with a total length of 370 metres, rising to a height of up to 18 metres. The structure is designed so as not to harm the trees and allows viewing the forest from an unusual angle.
• Lodges on the Rift Escarpment. A number of hotels (for example, Lake Manyara Serena Safari Lodge), built at the top of the steep cliff, are an example of complex architectural integration. The buildings are literally "inscribed" into the rocks, resembling birds' nests, and provide a panoramic view of the lake without disturbing the visual harmony from below.

Notable Figures in the Park's History

The history of Lake Manyara National Park is connected with the names of famous explorers, writers, and conservationists whose activities helped open this corner of Tanzania to the world and preserve its unique ecosystem.

• Joseph Thomson
  Scottish geologist and explorer of Africa (19th century)
  In 1883, he became the first European to successfully pass through Maasai lands from the coast to Lake Victoria. His expedition explored the Great Rift Valley, and it was his reports that gave the outside world the first reliable geographical information about the region around Lake Manyara.
• Ernest Hemingway
  American writer and journalist, Nobel Prize laureate
  Visited these places during his African safaris in the 1930s. In the famous book "Green Hills of Africa," he immortalised the landscapes of the region, calling Lake Manyara "the loveliest I had seen in Africa." This quote became the unofficial slogan of the park.
• Iain Douglas-Hamilton
  British zoologist, founder of the organisation "Save the Elephants"
  In the mid-1960s, he chose Manyara Park for his pioneering research. He became the first scientist to study the social structure and behaviour of wild elephants in detail. His work in Manyara laid the foundation for modern science about these giants and drew attention to the problem of poaching.
• Julius Nyerere
  First President of Tanzania, "Teacher" of the nation
  Played a decisive role in creating the environmental legislation of independent Tanzania. His famous "Arusha Manifesto" of 1961 affirmed the preservation of wildlife as a national duty, which provided the legal basis for the existence of Manyara Park and the protection of its borders from agricultural development.
• Oria Douglas-Hamilton
  Conservationist, photographer, and writer
  Together with her husband Iain, she spent years in the park documenting the life of wildlife. Co-author of the bestseller "Among the Elephants," which introduced the general public to the unique biodiversity of Manyara and contributed to the growth of ecological tourism in the region.
• Bernhard Grzimek
  German zoologist, Director of the Frankfurt Zoo
  Although his name is more often associated with the Serengeti, Grzimek was the main ideologist behind creating a unified network of protected areas in Northern Tanzania. His active educational activities and fundraising in Europe helped provide technical support and protection for Manyara Park during the difficult post-colonial years.