Manyara packs an extraordinary range of scenery into a small, often overlooked park. The road winds through dense groundwater forest thick with troops of blue monkey and baboon, opens onto acacia woodland where elephant move freely, then finally breaks out along the shore of the lake itself, where flamingos gather in vast pink drifts across the shallows.

The park’s real claim to fame is its lions, some of which have taken to resting in the branches of acacia trees, a habit rarely seen anywhere else in Africa. No one knows quite why they do it here, though we have a few theories we’re always happy to share on the drive.