Manyara Ranch Conservancy

Manyara Ranch Conservancy — Currently Closed, Reopening Planned

Important update: Manyara Ranch Conservancy has been closed since the COVID-19 pandemic and is not currently operational. New owners have committed to investing in at least three tourism accommodation facilities on the ranch, but no reopening date has been confirmed as of 2026. The information below describes the property as it was before closure.

About Manyara Ranch Conservancy

Manyara Ranch Conservancy is a private 35,000-acre conservation area situated in the Kwakuchinja Corridor — the critical wildlife migration route between Tarangire National Park to the south and Lake Manyara National Park to the north. The conservancy was established in partnership with the Monduli District Council, the African Wildlife Foundation and the Honeyguide Foundation, with the dual mission of securing the migration corridor and benefiting surrounding Maasai communities.

The Kwakuchinja Corridor is why the conservancy exists: every year, large herds of elephant, wildebeest, zebra, eland, buffalo, and giraffe move between Tarangire and Manyara through this land. Predators follow — lion, leopard, cheetah and African wild dog have all been recorded. The conservancy protects the land bridge that makes this annual movement possible, ensuring wildlife can circulate freely between both parks without encountering the roads, farms and settlements that fragment so much of the Northern Circuit landscape.

Pre-Closure Accommodation

Before COVID, the conservancy operated a 12-bed luxury tented camp with eight East African-style tents, each configurable as double, twin or triple. All tents had en-suite bathrooms with rain-head showers and flush toilets, handcrafted furniture (wardrobe, writing desk, lockable wooden chests), and private verandas facing the waterhole. The camp was intimate, unpretentious and focused on the wildlife and walking experience rather than polished luxury.

Alternatives While Closed

For travellers looking for a similar experience between Tarangire and Manyara, we recommend Chem Chem Lodge or Little Chem Chem, both in the adjacent Burunge Wildlife Management Area. Please contact us for current recommendations based on your travel dates.