Lake Manyara Tortilis Camp

You have two options to reach the camp. The journey from Arusha is 130km or 2 hours 30 minutes by road, allowing you to see the everyday life and scenery in Northern Tanzania.

Alternatively, you can travel by air, taking a morning flight from Arusha or Kilimanjaro airports to Lake Manyara airstrip. From there, it is a 30-minute vehicle transfer to the camp.

Being so close to the equator means the winter and summer weather are not very different, and you can visit this national park all year round. The most popular months are June till October, but there is never a bad time to visit. Staying overnight in Lake Manyara National Park is a privilege afforded to just three camps, one of which is Lake Manyara Tortilis Camp.

It’s a great place to experience Soda Lake with thousands of pink flamingos. Over two-thirds of the park is covered by water, so a guided walking tour is necessary. Bird watching of over 350 species is a tremendous spectacle, and game drives for spotting lions, elephants, buffalo, leopards, and a huge variety of games are always a highlight. A trip to the banana plantations of Mto was Mbu gives some great insight into how the locals live in the area.

Hairdryers use too much power, putting a strain on the system. Unfortunately, there is no option to use a hairdryer.

Yes, we have very few safety concerns at the Lake Manyara Tortilis Camp due to implementing measures from our experience to prevent incidents. When you arrive, you can lock away valuables in a box with a strong padlock provided in every tent. We’ve designed this for you to lock away a whole bag, a large camera lens, or other large items. You will then be able to keep the key for the padlock for your use when needed.

Yes, we have constant power availability for CPA machines used for breathing.

We provide 500ml of bottled water per person, per night, in each tent for teeth brushing. Water and drinks are always available from our watering hole/bar in the mess tents. We regret that no drinks are allowed to be brought into the camp from outside. Drinks are available at the Bar at an extra cost.

Yes. Hot showers are at your request, and the camp staff will check your schedule and ensure there is hot water for morning or evening showering.

The camp does not have wheelchair ramps or infrastructure created for guests with limited mobility. If guests have a dedicated helper, the beds and access to the tents and bathrooms are still an option. The distances from the car to the tents, and tents to mess tent, are relatively short and flat with no steps or terraced levels but with gravel pathways.

In Tanzania, we use type D and G sockets – just like in the UK. Each tent has outlets at the bedside tables, a special writing desk, and the bathroom. From here, you can plug in a USB, phone, laptop, tablet, electric razor, or other devices for charging.

Yes. It is only recommended to use the laundry service if you stay more than one night and the weather is sunny, as the clothes are sun-dried.

Our tents are large – 5m wide by 14m long and have been well thought out and designed to give you the best view of the site from inside your tent while relaxing or in bed. The entrance to the tent has a flap covering the dedicated front room with a sofa, chair, and relaxing setup that looks directly out into uninterrupted views of the beautiful landscape.

Passing from the front room into the main room is through another flap, which acts as the perfect adaptable partition from the outside world but still keeps the all-around views. All the sides of the tent can be adjusted by lifting the many side flaps to let in as much light as you like and to allow air to flow through the tent to keep it cool.

Behind the main room is a separate extra bed and a small partitioned space for a child or third person to sleep. Behind this, use extra space in the bathroom with an enclosed shower, private toilet, and the main area of the bathroom with a basin, luggage stand, towel rack, and wooden box safe.

It is safe to walk around the camp during the day; however, it is an unfenced area, so visitors still need to be vigilant. At night, we constantly have escorts to walk you from your tent to the mess tent. Our Maasai staff carry out this function and can walk with you anytime you need local assurance. All the paths are lit when it gets dark, and each tent has a powerful torch for your use.

Lake Manyara Tortilis Camp is a 1.5-hour drive to Fame Hospital in Karatu.

The Lake Manyara Tortilis Camp is completely unfenced, so wildlife does come into the camp. If this happens, visitors need to stay inside their tents and are not allowed out until staff has ensured it is clear to do so. Wildlife will not come into the tents.

Please note that at the moment, we only accept cash payments in Euros, Tanzanian Shillings, and American Dollars printed after 2009.