TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK
TANZANIA SAFARI INFORMATION
Located 120km from Arusha, Tarangire is the sixth largest park in Tanzania. The beautiful Tarangire National Park stretches southeast of Lake Manyara around the Tarangire River. It is just a few hours drive from the town of Arusha, Tarangire is a popular stop for safaris travelling through the northern circuit on their way to Ngorongoro and the Serengeti. It is the vast number of Baobabs that first capture the eye as you enter Tarangire national park. The gently rolling countryside is dotted with these majestic trees, which seem to dwarf the animals that feed beneath them.
The Park owes its name to Tarangire River, which flows across the area. It is characterized by dense vegetation of acacia and mixed woodland, the area around Tarangire River however, is dominated by huge baobab trees and old doum palm trees to a lesser prominence, as well as black cotton grass.
Tarangire also has regions of quite dense bush, but with high grasses and huge old baobab trees instead of the green forests of Manyara. The land is hilly and dominated by the impressive valley of the Tarangire River, which attracts good numbers of migrant animals during the dry months, especially between July and September.
Wildlife Safari Attractions In Tarangire:
The unique aspect of this Park is the annual animal immigration that takes place during the dry season. Tarangire National Park has some of the highest population density of elephants anywhere in Tanzania, and its sparse vegetation, strewn with baobab and acacia trees, makes it a beautiful and special location. The park extends into two game controlled areas and the animals are allowed to move freely throughout.
During the dry season, particularly between August and October, Tarangire has one of the highest concentrations of wildlife of any of the Country’s parks. Large herds of zebras, wildebeest, hartebeest and in particular, elephants can be found here until October when the short wet season allows them to move to new grasslands.
Tarangire offers unparalleled game viewing, and during the dry season elephants abound. Families of the pachyderms play around the ancient trunks of baobab trees and strip acacia bark from the thorn trees for their afternoon meal. Breathtaking views of the Masaai Steppe and the mountains to the south make a stop at Tarangire a memorable experience.
Safari Activities in Tarangire
Game Drives: Tarangire is part of an extended ecosystem through which animals roam freely, and it’s possible to do walks and spot lit game drives in the border areas. Tarangire is beautifully unspoilt, and safari drives through the park enjoy wide views to distant variously purpled formations of volcanic mountain ranges. You can enjoy a variety of game activities such as foot safaris, night drives and mountain bike trails.
Bird watching: Throughout the year there are always a fantastic number of colourful birds swooping and strutting along the rough paths in front of your vehicle, with likely spots including the Paradise Whyder and endearing Yellow-collared lovebirds. The swamps, tinged green year round, are the focus for 550 bird varieties, the most breeding species in one habitat anywhere in the world. On drier ground you find the Kori bustard, the heaviest flying bird; the stocking-thighed ostrich, the world's largest bird; and small parties of ground hornbills blustering like turkeys. More ardent bird-lovers might keep an eye open for screeching flocks of the dazzlingly colourful yellow-collared lovebird, and the somewhat drabber rufous-tailed weaver and ashy starling – all endemic to the dry savannah of north-central Tanzania.
Guided walking Safaris:
Day trips can be made to Maasai and Barabaig villages, as well as to the hundreds of ancient rock paintings in the vicinity of Kolo on the Dodoma Road.
Getting there:
Easy drive from Arusha or Lake Manyara following a surfaced road to within 7km (four miles) of the main entrance gate; can continue on to Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti. There are Charter flights from Arusha and the Serengeti.
When to go:
Year round but dry season (June - September) for sheer numbers of animals.
Tanzania Safari Lodges and Campsites
Kikoti Tented Camp:
On a ridge overlooking Tarangire National Park, seasonal home to one of the densest concentrations of wildlife in Africa, Kikoti is a haven fit for the most discerning traveller.
Tamerind Tented Camp:
A luxury tented camp situated in the bush just beyond the actual boundaries of the park, sitting neatly in a clearing surrounded by dense bush.
Olivers Camp:
In its own wilderness, the camp is set outside the boundaries of the park. Vast and ancient boulders nearby provide a good vantage point for sunset watchers, and attract admirably agile rock climbing klipspringer antelope, which are impressively small and quick
Swala Tented Camp:
Nestled in a remote pocket of Tarangire National Park, Swala is sited in a copse of majestic acacia trees at the edge of the Gurusi wetlands and the unfurling savannah beyond.
Tarangire Sopa Lodge:
The lodge is built as a low profile structure, nestled into a wooded hillside valley overlooking Tarangire Hill.
Tarangire River Camp:
This is a semi permanent luxury tented camp overlooking the Tarangire River, offering stunning views of the meandering river, the vast plains across the park, Lake Manyara, the rift valley and the Ngorongoro highlands.
Tarangire Treetops:
Tarangire Treetops is an exciting and luxurious safari lodge located on the eastern border of Tarangire National Park. It is famous for its renowned treehouse architecture. It provides superb unusual accommodation in comfortable, wooden-thatched treehouses around old Baobab and Mopani trees.
back to top Tanzanian Tour packages
safaris to ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti and Lake Manyara, (5 days)
Tanzania safari to Kilimanjaro NP (6 days)
tour To Lake Manyara Ngorongoro crater Serengeti (6 Days)
