Tanzania has two species: the Lesser Flamingo, which is smaller, deeper pink and much more numerous, and the Greater Flamingo, which is taller and paler, with a pink-and-black bill. Both feed in shallow soda lakes, where the water is salty and alkaline.
Where we see them
- Momella Lakes, Arusha National Park: often in good numbers, with Kilimanjaro in the background.
- Lake Manyara: numbers vary with water levels, sometimes thousands.
- Lake Magadi, Ngorongoro Crater: a small soda lake on the crater floor, often pink at the edges.
- Lake Natron: the main breeding site for Lesser Flamingos in East Africa. It’s remote and hot, and we can add it on request.
Why numbers change
Flamingos move between lakes as water levels and food change, sometimes overnight. A lake that’s pink one week may be nearly empty the next. Our guides share sightings with each other, so we usually know where they are.
Photography tip
Early morning light on a still lake gives the best reflections. At midday the heat shimmer makes distant flocks hard to photograph.
Flamingos feature on our 6-day northern birding tour and most wildlife trips that include Manyara or the crater.
Your questions answered
What makes flamingos pink?
Pigments in the algae and small crustaceans they eat.
When do they breed?
Mainly at Lake Natron, with timing that depends on rainfall.
Can I see them on a short trip?
Yes. The Momella Lakes are 45 minutes from Arusha.
