TANZANIA DESTINATIONS
TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK
Highlights
Tarangire National Park is known for having one of the largest elephant populations in Tanzania. Its open landscapes dotted with baobab and acacia trees give the park a unique and scenic character. Conveniently located just a few hours from Arusha, it is a common stop for travelers heading toward Ngorongoro and the Serengeti on the northern safari circuit.
Before the rains, large herds of wildebeest, zebras, gazelles, and giraffes move into Tarangire’s plains in search of the remaining grazing areas. The park offers exceptional wildlife viewing, especially during the dry season when elephants gather in great numbers, feeding around towering baobabs and acacia woodlands. The panoramic views of the Maasai Steppe and the southern mountain ranges make Tarangire an unforgettable destination.
It’s also a quite large the national park and covers an area of approximately 2,850 square kilometers (1,100 square miles.) Tarangire National Park derived its name from the long serving river that crosses the park in the middle called the ‘Tarangire River’. The river acts as the primary source of water for wildlife in the park, which is also one of the reasons of the large variety in the parks ecosystem.
In the park you might encounter good numbers of wildebeest and zebra as well as giraffe, buffalo, Thompson’s gazelle, greater and lesser kudu, eland, leopard and cheetah. It is also the only place in Tanzania where the oryx and gerenuk are regularly spotted
Tarangire is also home to nearly 500 species of birds. Among which the most famous are the lovebirds that are yellow collared, Kori bustard, the stocking-thighed ostrich, the shy starlings are in plenty and widespread in Tanzania.
Wildlife
Witness a lot of migratory movement of elephants joined with other animals with greater Tarangire ecosystem. Many chances to explore plenty of wildlife like zebras, searching for underground streams in the dry river beds, flocks of up to about 300 elephants and many more. Enjoy spotting a large batch of colorful and exclusive bird species.
Tarangire River
The river is fed by seasonal sand rivers originating to the East and South-eastern parts of the park. It flows northward along the park and empties into Lake Burunge. Within the park, the river is linked to/with Silale, Gurusi and Larmakau swamps.
It is undoubtedly that Tarangire River with its associated permanent swamps serves as critical dry season water sources for thousands of migratory animals in dry seasons, thus offering a fantastic game drive experience.
Time to visit Tarangire
The best time to visit Tarangire National Park is during the dry season, from June to October. During this period, wildlife is concentrated around the Tarangire River, the park’s main water source, making it easier to spot large herds of elephants, wildebeest, zebra, and other animals. The dry season also offers better road conditions and fewer mosquitoes. However, the wet season, from November to May, provides lush green landscapes, fewer tourists, and excellent birdwatching, although wildlife is more dispersed
