Tarangire National Park

Tarangire National Park is located in northern Tanzania. It is among the most sought after for Tanzania safari. The park is part of the Tanzania Northern Safari circuit which also includes the Serengeti, Ngorongoro, and Lake Manyara National Parks, among others.

Tarangire National Park covers a total area of 2,850 sq. km making it the sixth largest park in Tanzania. The park is divided into two game-controlled regions, and wildlife is free to roam throughout. Tarangire gets its name from the Tarangire River. During the yearly dry season, the Tarangire River is the principal source of fresh water for wild animals in the Tarangire Ecosystem. Tarangire boasts remarkable terrain made up of granitic mountains, river valleys, marshes, acacia forest, Combretum woodland, periodically flooded grassland, and baobab trees.

Tarangire National Park has some of Tanzania’s greatest wildlife concentrations and beautiful sceneries. Thousands of animals congregate in Tarangire National Park during the dry season from adjacent wet-season dispersion and calving sites. Tarangire National Park is home to one of Africa’s highest elephant populations, and its sparse vegetation, scattered with baobab and acacia trees, makes it a lovely and unusual habitat to explore.

Aside from its enthralling elephant populations, Tarangire is also famous for the animal movement that takes place here throughout the dry season. Though it is not as large as Serengeti Park’s Great Migration, the animal migration in Tarangire is a spectacular spectacle.

Attractions in Tarangire National Park

Wildlife

Tarangire provides habitat for a variety of animals, including zebras searching for concealed streams in dry river beds, herds of elephants, several migratory wildebeest, gazelle, impala, eland, hartebeest, kudu, rhino, buffalo, and other smaller species; which congregate around the decreasing lagoons. In addition, a range of dry country antelopes such as the long-necked gerenuk and fringe-eared Oryx is also frequently seen in Tarangire National Park. Numerous mongoose colonies can be spotted in abandoned anthills, whereas the park’s primary predators are concealed in the dense forest; though they are seen on rare occasions.

The Wildlife Migration in Tarangire

During the dry season, much of the Tarangire area is entirely dry, with only a few remaining water sources, and River Tarangire as the primary source. As a result, vast herds of various species flow into the park, drawn by the waters of the Tarangire River. This massive animal movement, though not as vast as the more popular Great Annual Wildebeest Migration, sees a considerable number of elephants, wildebeests, hartebeests, gazelles, and zebras, as well as various predators including lions and leopards, cross the threshold to the park. With its sparse and arid vegetation, Tarangire National Park provides extraordinary game viewing. This Park should be on your bucket list of Tanzania safari destinations.

Birdlife

Tarangire National Park is the fine place for birders. The park features around 550 recorded bird species which include plovers, bustards, ostriches, bee-eaters, babblers, starlings, eagles, go-away birds, mousebirds, and Hamerkop and many migratory bird species among others. Embark on a bird-watching safari this stunning park.

The wetlands

Wetlands in Tarangire National Park are made up of a vast network of marshes that are mostly located in the park’s southern and eastern regions. The wetlands are home to a wide range of birds and animals, including tree-climbing pythons, silale-swamp lions, cape buffaloes, elephants, and African wild dogs to mention but a few. Tarangire’s wetlands are the best place to spot bird species such as the Donaldson nightjar, Great white pelican, Smith’s Vulturine Guinea fowl, Yellow-collared lovebird, White-faced Whistling-Duck, Mouse-colored penduline tit, Rufous-tailed weaver and Fulvous Whistling-Duck and so on.

The Kolo Rock Art

The Kolo rock handicraft site is worth exploring while visiting Tarangire National Park. The site is located on the fringes of the park and is listed as a world heritage site for the magnificent displays of outdated rocks and antiquities left behind by the area’s inhabitants. Tourists visit Tarangire National Park for the many attractions found in the park and while visiting the Kolo Rock Art, travelers may take time to marvel at the beauty of this unique rock art.

The Ancient Baobab

Tarangire National Park is known for its old baobab trees that tower above the savannah meadows. Many travelers to the park are often captivated by the Baobab trees, which provide great shade and food for the numerous wildlife. There’s one particular ancient baobab tree, commonly known as the Tree of Life – this tree is another distinguishing feature of Tarangire National Park. The ‘giant’ tree can hold between 300 and 1000 liters of water in its trunk and has been in the park for more than 100 years. This tree provides a large source of food for a variety of animals, who eat on its edible seed. These remarkable baobab trees can live up to 600 years. They are mostly depended on by Tarangire’s elephants for feeding and also sharpening their massive tusks on the bark of these trees. According to myths, these trees could easily migrate across the African continent, but their aimless movement irritated God, who chose to install them upside down to prevent them from moving again. They are no wonder also known as the “Upside down Trees”

The Lemiyon Triangle

The Lemiyon Triangle in Tarangire National Park is a pristine area located at the park’s northernmost end, forming a triangular-shaped zone. The triangle encompasses the most striking form of vegetation, including the impressive Baobab trees that loom alongside the road with their colossal silvered trucks and mass of gnarled branches. The Lemiyon Triangle is a superb birding spot in Tarangire, with large flocks of red-bellied quelea birds and raptors.

The Poacher’s Hide

This is located southwest of Tarangire Hill, approximately 100 meters west of the park’s main north-south track. The Poacher’s Hide is a magnificent old baobab with a slightly concealed entrance and an internal cavern that was once used as a hideout by poachers. This baobab tree has a diameter of around 10 meters and is thought to be over 300 years old; it is one of the park’s biggest baobab trees. There is a little opening within the baobab tree that is utilized to move through the tree; the vast interior is said to have previously been used for refuge for up to 20 hunter-gatherers in the past.

Activities in Tarangire National Park

Game Drives

Game drives in Tarangire National Park are very popular and should not be missed on your Tanzanian African safari. Game drives are conducted early in the morning or evening, when the animals are most active, or at night when nocturnal creatures can be seen. The game drives are conducted in comfortable 4WD open-roof safari vehicles with a trained driver guide who will assist you to spot the various animal species. You will travel along routes such as Lemiyon, Kitibong Hill, Lamarku, Western Lake Barungi, and Gursi which provide excellent views of wildlife species such as elephants, giraffes, wildebeests, zebras, buffaloes, elands, impalas, greater and lesser kudus, and warthogs, among others. Predators to expect on your safari game drives include lions, leopards, hyenas, wild dogs, and cheetahs among others. You will also get to spot a variety of bird species such as ostriches, yellow-collared lovebirds, and Kori bustards among others.

Bird-watching

Tarangire National Park is teeming with countless bird species and its avian diversity records over 550 bird species; which makes the park one of the best safari destinations in Tanzania for bird-watching. Some of the bird species you could see include Kori bustards, hornbills, ostriches, rufous-tailed weavers, and harsh starlings, to mention but a few. Migratory birds from all over the world may be also found in Tarangire National Park, and you may see some of them while exploring the marsh floodplains. Bird-watching in Tarangire National Park can be done on a game drive or a nature walk with an experienced bird guide who will assist you in spotting different bird species.

Safari Walks

With its spectacular landscape, Tarangire National Park offers breathtaking safari walks and the Tarangire River stands out as a significant element in the park with plenty of wildlife. The park’s dense vegetation includes acacia bushes and mixed woods, even when it is quite dry. Furthermore, the massive baobab trees that are strewn throughout make your safari journey unforgettable. Even though the park is secluded and relatively unknown, there are various opportunities to explore the region on walk safaris.

Safari Walks in Tarangire provide an in-depth learning experience about the wilderness and a better means of spotting the animals up close without disturbing them. Moreover, experience another world by visiting a Masaai or Barabaig hamlet with several antique murals near Kolo on the Dodoma route.

Visit the Maasai Village

This is a fascinating cultural experience in which travelers take time to visit the Maasai village and mingle with the native Maasai – Africa’s most influential cultural tribe. During the cultural tour, you will be able to interact with the Maasai people, visit their homesteads, and learn about their history, culture, foods, taboos, and way of life. You will also participate in making some of their African crafts such as baskets, mats, and beads. In addition, enjoy traditional performances, and visit the Maasai local schools and health centers.

When to go to Tarangire National Park

Although Tarangire National Park can be visited any time of the year, the best time to visit the Park is during and at the end of the dry season, which lasts from June to October. This is the best time to enjoy game viewing since numerous can be found congregating around the Tarangire river and other water holes. Because there is little rainfall at this time of year, it is the optimum period for game viewing.

The low season, on the other hand, occurs in March, April, and May, when the park is experiencing the rainy season. This season is the best time to go for birding as they are in breeding plumage at this time in May. More so, migratory birds are present from November to April.

Getting to Tarangire National Park

Tarangire National Park is part of the famed northern safari circuit, which also includes the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater and the majority of safaris to this region depart from Arusha. By road, the journey to Tarangire is a pleasant two-hour drive from Arusha to the entrance gate, with just the last 7 kilometers on unpaved roads. It is also a short drive to Lake Manyara of about 100km – another 2-hour drive and approximately 180km from the Ngorongoro Crater which is about a 4-hour drive.

However, the most convenient way to get to Tarangire National Park is to fly from Kilimanjaro International Airport (KLI) or Arusha Airport. It is also feasible to travel from Dar es Salaam’s Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR)

Where to Stay in Tarangire National Park