Tarangire national park is a quieter Tanzania wildlife destination renowned for its incredible concentration of wildlife and a stunning landscape and natural scenery.
Tarangire national park is a gem in the northern safari circuit of Tanzania and among the favorite wildlife destination in Tanzania for tourists, the park is loved for its migration of elephants of approximately 3000 elephants, the migration peaks from July to November
Tarangire national park’s spectacular landscape is dominated by the Baobab trees known as Mbuyu in Swahili local language, these trees are one of the largest trees on the planet and they are easily recognized by their thick, study trunk and stunted root-like branches.
Baobab trees can grow to reach up to 30 meters high and some trunks have an 11 meters diameter and can reach to the grand age of around 1000 years – the oldest baobab tree is said to have grown to 6000 years.
Top highlights
- One of the biggest elephant populations in northern Tanzania.
- Highly concentrated wildlife viewing during the dry season.
- Excellent Tanzania bird watching opportunities.
- Night safaris and walking safaris available.
- Unique luxury lodges and camps.
- Spectacular scenery famed for its ancient baobab trees
Quick facts
- Number of Annual Visitors: Approximately 160,000
- Size: 2,850 km²
- Common Animal Sightings: Elephants, giraffe, big cats (lion, leopard, cheetah), wildebeest, waterbuck, eland, gazelle, buffalo, impala, hartebeest.
- Tarangire national park is famously known for its breathtaking landscapes with ancient baobab trees, acacia woodlands and massive termite mounds – home to dwarf mongoose dotting the plains.
Location and Size of Tarangire national park
At the Size of 2,850 square kilometers, Tarangire national park is ranked as the 6th largest national park in Tanzania. The park lies in the Northern Tanzania safari circuit and is located in the Manyara Region, just south of Lake Manyara national park.
Tarangire national park lies approximately 118 kilometers from Arusha the regional capital city and it lies between the meadows of Masai Steppe to the south east and the lakes of the Great Rift Valley to the north and west.
Tarangire national park is situated in close proximity to some of the prominent wildlife destinations in Tanzania northern Safari Circuit including Serengeti national park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Lake Manyara national park.
Tarangire national park is named after Tarangire River which is the main water source feeding the park and its ecosystem, the river flows northwards as it it exits the park in the northwestern corner to pour into the Lake Burungi.
During the dry season experienced from June to October, Tarangire River becomes the only source of water in the park and becomes a great spot for wildlife watching as many animals congregate around its banks to drink water.
History of Tarangire national park
Tarangire national park was initially established as a game reserve in 1957 and in 1970 it was upgraded to a national park.
Wildlife in Tarangire national park
Elephant migration
Though not as massive as The Great annual Elephant migration, Tarangire national park experience a spectacular elephant annual migration happening during the dry season that is from June – November. Over 3,000 elephant move into the park in search for water and grasses and they congregate around Tarangire River making it a regular rendezvous spot.
Large elephant population
Tarangire national park is a home to large herds of elephant which is one of the popular tourist attractions, this elephant population is considered to be the highest elephant population in the whole of Tanzania. While in Tarangire national park except to spot large herds of elephants with over 300 elephants in each herd, as they graze and most especially around the dry riverbed of Tarangire River.
In addition to the elephant and their migration, Tarangire national park is a home to abundant wildlife including leopards, lions, hyenas, cheetahs, wild dogs, rare coke’s hartebeests, dry – country antelopes such as the stately fringe- eared oryx, long necked gerenuk, oryx, waterbucks, giraffes, dik-dik, impalas, elands, Grant’s gazelles, vervet monkeys, banded mongoose, olive baboons, honey badgers, greater kudus among others.
Birds in Tarangire national park
Tarangire national park is a haven to bird watchers hosting with a bird list of over 500 bird species including dry bird species of Tanzania such as the pied babbler and Vulturine guineafowl and migratory which arrive in the park from November to April.
Birds found in Tarangire national park include Yellow-necked spur fowl, Helmeted Guineafowl and Crested Francolin, Lilac-breasted rolers, Hoopoes, Hornbills, White-bellied Go-away-bird and Brown parrots, barbet and mouse birds, striped swallows and starlings, swifts, hammerkops, bee eaters, cordon bleus and owls plovers. Raptor species such as the Bateleur eagles, the Steppe Eagles (which migrate from Russia), the giant Lappet-faced Vultures and the tiny Pigmy Falcon among others.
Safari activities to do in Tarangire national park
Game viewing
Tarangire national park is a home to abundant wildlife and scenic landscape which is best explored during game drives, there are various game viewing trails used during game drive. these trails run through various sections offers visitors a chance to spot animals such as large herds of elephants, fringe- eared oryx, long necked gerenuk, oryx, waterbucks, giraffes, dik-dik, impalas, elands, Grant’s gazelles, vervet monkeys, banded mongoose, olive baboons, honey badgers, greater kudus among others.
Game viewing in Tarangire national park is offered in 34 categories that is morning game drive, afternoon game drive and full day game drives.
Bird watching
Tarangire national park is a birder’s haven hosting a huge bird population which making it a great Tanzania birding destination, birding in Tarangire national park is best during the wet season that is from November to December and March to May when migratory species arrive from Northern Africa and Europe and the residents show off their bleeding plumage.
Some of the birds to lookout for during bird watching activity in Tarangire national park include Yellow-necked spur fowl, Helmeted Guineafowl and Crested Francolin, Lilac-breasted rolers, Hoopoes, Hornbills, White-bellied Go-away-bird and Brown parrots, barbet and mouse birds, striped swallows and starlings, swifts, hammerkops, bee eaters, cordon bleus and owls plovers. Raptor species such as the Bateleur eagles, the Steppe Eagles among others.
Cultural visit to the Masai Village
Cultural visits to the Masai Village offer you another side of Tarangire national park, this experience takes you on a visit to the Masai Village surrounding the park, this experience offers visitors a chance to get an insight in the lifestyle of the local people such as dressing style, their origin, buy ornaments, practice in local activities such as rearing and milking cattle among others.
Nature walks
Nature walks in Tarangire national park offer visitors an opportunity to explore the park on foot, nature walks are done in company of an armed ranger following several trails running through the park.
Best time to visit Tarangire National Park
The best time to visit Tarangire national park is during the dry season from June to October, in this period the animals are at their most concentrated. The vegetation cover is also thin and animals gather around the Tarangire River which is the only remaining permanent water once in the region.
The dry season also coincides with the Great Migration which happens in Serengeti national park.
In Tarangire national park, the wet season is experienced in November to December and March to May. This time is the best period for birders as the summer migrant birds arrive in the park and resident species show off their bright breeding plumage. In the wet season, most of the big game have disappeared, there is heavy downpours and rampant mosquitoes.
How to get to Tarangire National Park
Tarangire National Park can be accessed by either road or air means, by road – using a private vehicle transfer is the best option. From Arusha to Serengeti national park it is a drive of approximately 4-5 hours.
By air – domestic flights are offered either Kilimanjaro International Airport or Arusha Airport to the Kuro Airstrip found in the southern section of Tarangire national park.
Where to stay in Tarangire National Park
Accommodation in Tarangire national park is offered by several accommodation options ranging from luxury, midrange and budget, these accommodation options are situated inside and along the borders of the park.
These accommodations include
- Tarangire Treetops
- Whistling Thorn Tented Camp
- Maramboi Tented Camp
- Tarangire Sopa Lodge
- Tarangire Safari Lodge
- Sangaiwe Tented Lodge
- Maweninga Camp
- Sanctuary Swala Camp
- Nimali Tarangire
