Tarangire National Park is situated North of Tanzania and a popular safari destination for Wildlife Safaris in Tanzania as it offers travelers unique encounters with wildlife. The park is prominently known to have vast elephant populations, divers terrain landscapes and hidden gems. The park covers an area of 2,850 square kilometers requiring travelers about 120 kilometers to transfer from Arusha. The Park is in between the Masai Steppe to the South and the Great Rift Valley to East. It is at the base of the Tarangire Mountains that form a natural border along the Southern edge.

It includes beautiful terrain landscapes i.e Savannah, acacia Woodlands, boabab dotted plains and the Tarangire River that flows through the park.

With varying wildlife and ecosystems, Tarangire National Park consist of large concentration of wildlife animals that are watched during the dry season. The animals you watch include; large elephant herds,  predators, herbivores and numerous bird species.

Tarangire National Park has high populations of elephants in Tanzania that are watched at the Tarangire River during the dry months. Other than the elephants, the park comprises of vast ancient boabab trees that provide food for the elephants as they transfer from one point to another in the park.

Other wildlife animals can be seen in the park and these include; lions, cheetahs, leopards, buffalo, giraffe,  zebras, wildebeest, hyenas, impala, waterbucks, baboons, mangabey monkeys, bat eared foxes etc.

Bird watching in Tarangire

Tarangire National Park is a birders’ gem for all travelers interested in watching the various unique bird species. The Park inhabits more than 500 species which are watched during the dry season i.e pelicans, egrets, flamingos, raptors, African Fish Eagles, vultures, weavers and sun birds etc.

Things to Do in Tarangire National Park

1. 1. Game Drives

Game Drives are the most prominent safari adventure carried out in the park and include transferring from one track to another watching wildlife wander around their natural habitat. The Game Drives are scheduled Morning, Afternoon and Evening and are chosen according to the preferences of the travelers. The wildlife animals you watch include; wildebeest, zebra, eland, Coke’s hartebeest, gazelle, buffalo,  elephant, giraffes, hartebeests, waterbucks, hyenas, lions, cheetah, warthogs, elands, long-necked gerenuk, fringe-eared oryxes and the very rare African wild dogs.

               2. Walking Safaris

Tarangire National Park offers remarkable guided nature walks around the varying trails in the park with knowledgeable park ranger guides. On these safaris, travelers explore the terrain landscape on foot with experienced rangers who inform you about the park, wildlife animals, activities to do as well as when to visit. While on the walks, enjoy views of the ecosystem, flora, insects as well as take many photos.

               3. Birdwatching

Bird watching in the park is exceptional to do as travelers et to watch both migratory and resident species as they fly around their natural forest habitat. You shall explore various habitats and the birds you watch include; i.e pelicans, egrets, flamingos, raptors, African Fish Eagles, vultures, weavers and sun birds etc.

             4. Photography

Tarangire National Park is awesome for travelers on Photographic safaris as they take nice photos of the beautiful terrain landscapes consisting of iconic baobab trees and large elephant herds. The park has dramatic light, especially at sunrise and sunset which make it exceptional to visit.

          5. Masai Cultural Visits

While the Maasai are more commonly associated with other areas of northern Tanzania, you may have the opportunity to visit Maasai communities living near the park. These visits allow you to learn about Maasai culture, traditions, and their relationship with the land.

Best Time to Visit Tarangire

The dry season in the months of June to October is the best time to visit Tarangire National Park, as animals gather around the Tarangire River, making wildlife sightings more frequent and easier. The weather is also more comfortable, with warm days and cooler evenings.