Tarangire National Park
Tarangire National Park received its name from the Tarangire River that flows through the northern portion of the park. The river becomes the primary source of water for the animals residing in the park during the dry season.
Tarangire National Park is the 6th largest National Park In Tanzania. It covers an area of 2,850 square kilometers. It lies between the meadows of the Masai Steppe in the southeast and rift valley lakes in the north and west.
Tarangire’s landscape is made of granite ridges, river valleys, and swamps. Its vegetation is a mix of woodlands, seasonally flooded grassland, and baobab trees.
Labelled as one of the seasonal parks in northern Tanzania, Tarangire National Park sees a lot of migratory movement within its vast and varied ecosystem.
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Tarangire Safari Quick Facts
Location: Northern Tanzania
Area: 2,850 square kms
Established: 1970
Number Of Visitors: 161,792 per year
Famous For: Elephant & Birding Population
Country: Tanzania
Region: Africa

Tarangire Maps
This map of Tarangire National Park in wet season and in dry season provides the feeling of wilderness experienced in the park. Shows vegetation density, road conditions, game-drives and landmarks. The average locations of the wildlife migration are indicated on the wet season side of the map.

Tarangire National Park Location
Tarangire National Park is located 118 km (75 miles) southwest of Arusha town and is just a few hours’ drive away. In recent times it has become a popular stop for visitors traveling through the northern circuit safari on their way to Ngorongoro and the Serengeti.
Nestled in the Manyara region, Tarangire National Park is only 70 km away from Lake Manyara National Park.
The park stretches into two game-controlled areas allowing wildlife to move freely throughout without any kind of interference.
It is home to the largest Elephant population and animals like zebras, impalas, lions, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes, etc. are also seen.

How to Reach Tarangire National Park?
Tarangire by Road
- Located not too far from Arusha town, Tarangire National Park can be comfortably reached by road. The drive from Arusha to Tarangire is nearly 140-kilometer-long which generally takes around two to three hours.
- Slightly offbeat, a safari to this park can be tagged along with Serengeti and Ngorongoro crater visit.
Tarangire by Air
Tarangire is equally well approachable by air. There are daily flights connecting Arusha and Serengeti to Tarangire.
- Flying into Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA) situated just adjacent to Arusha town, will take you to the starting point of the northern circuit Safari In Tanzania.
- Another way is to land at Dar es Salaam’s Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) and then fly to Arusha Airport by domestic flight.
- Domestic flights can be booked with any domestic airline operating between the two airports. Major Service providers on the route are Air Tanzania, Precision Air, Regional Air, Auric Air, Flight link, and Coastal Aviation.
- Tour operators or your Safari organizer will book your flight tickets according to your Tanzania Safari Packages.
Tarangire Climate & Weather
Tarangire National Park experiences a tropical savannah climate with dry winters.
- January, February & March -A three-month dry spell occurs after the short rains. The exact timing is difficult to predict. Temperature varies between 16°C (60.8°F) and 30°C (86°F).
- April & May – It is a period of long rains for Tarangire National Park. On most days, rain occurs, although it rarely rains the entire day.
- June, July, August, September & October - The end of rain marks the beginning of the dry season which prevails from June through October in Tarangire National Park. Afternoon temperatures are close to 26°C/79°F.
- November & December - Time of 'Short rains' – October through December brings about four weeks of rain, the start of which is unpredictable.
Temperatures are expected to fall during the early morning and late evening Cloudy skies are common. Temperatures throughout the day vary between 17°C (62.6°F) and 25°C (77°F).
Days are clear with calm skies. It cools down at night with temperatures dropping to about 14°C/57°F. Best time for game drives with excellent game viewing!
It is expected to put no effect on your safari tour as it is rare to rain the whole day. During this time Afternoon temperatures remain close to 29°C/84.2°F, and night temperatures are around 17°C/62.6°
Best time to Visit Tarangire
Tarangire offers unparalleled game viewing during the dry season. Months from June through October offer incredible opportunities for wildlife spotting.
The river Tarangire is an important source of water for animals in the Tarangire ecosystem. A large number of animals can be seen moving to this part of the park from the surrounding wet-season dispersal and calving areas.

Wildlife spotting during the wet season becomes difficult due to thicker and longer grasses making the dry season the most favorable time for Safari in Tarangire National Park.
Reasons to visit Tarangire National Park
- The number one reason is Tarangire National Park has the highest concentration of elephants which is more than 3000.
- After Serengeti Tarangire National Park is famous for having the second largest number of wildlife.
- Perfect place for Bird watching. This park is home to over 500 bird species.
- The most unique thing here you can spot tree-climbing lions.
- Tarangire is close to Arusha town which is 2 hours away. This means you can also visit the nearest parks Lake Manyara and Serengeti National Park.
- Here you will see 300 years old Baobab trees, famously known as trees of life.
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Tarangire National Park Highlights
The major attractions that you can witness on a Tarangire National Park Safari are-
The Swamp
The varied ecosystem that co-exists in Tarangire National Park supports a wide range of vegetation, bird, and wildlife making it all the more alluring for the visitors. And one such distinct feature of Tarangire is the distant Silale swamp.
During the wet season, the swamp tends to soak up water like a big sponge and slowly releases it during the dry season acting as a water source.
This wetland is visited by huge herds of herbivores and thus attracts predators like lions, leopards, and wild dogs. The swamp is even home to a good number of cape buffaloes and elephants.
Some of the bird species found here include Donaldson-nightjar, Smith’s vulturine guinea, etc.
The Giant Baobab Tree
Another distinct feature of Tarangire is the huge number of baobab trees found on its land. These trees are actually succulents that are capable of holding a large amount of water in their trunks during the wet season.
The high water content allows them to produce nutrient-rich fruit during the dry season. Which is like a savior for birds and animals flourishing in the park when everything else goes dry and barren. Thus, justifying the name “The tree of Life”.
These trees have a vast life expectancy of nearly 600 years and their trunks are huge that can retain up to 300 liters of water. The seeds of these trees are nutritious and are a constant source of food for the various animals inhabiting the park.
Birding
Tarangire’s unique and diverse bird species are a major attraction. The huge damp marshlands of the park attract a large number of bird species into its vicinity. With over 550 varieties of bird species, Tarangire National Park is a bird lover's haven.
Some of the unique bird species that tend to attract visitors’ attention include hornbills, bee-eaters, starlings, vultures, hammerkops, ostriches, plovers, and many more.
Wildlife Migration
A good number of migratory movements characterize Tarangire National Park. The seasonal nature of the park facilitates wildlife migration within its ecosystem.
During the dry season, the whole of Tarangire dries out. Large herds of herbivores can be seen making their move toward the limited water sources available within the park.
River Tarangire continues to be a lifeline for its inmates during the dry spell. Various animals do migrate into the park in search of water. It is quite common to see herds of elephants, wildebeests, gazelles, zebras, and hartebeests as well as predators like lions, leopards, wild dogs, etc. invade the park in great numbers.
Mark this park into your Safari In Tanzania destination list and we bet you won’t regret it!
Elephant Population
Tarangire National Park has some of the highest-density of elephant populations as compared to anywhere in Tanzania. As the dry season approaches in the month of June through October, large herds of nearly 300 elephants can be seen digging the dry river beds in search of underground streams of water.
It is quite obvious to spot elephants during your safari to Tarangire National Park due to their presence throughout the park in large numbers.
Poacher’s Hide
There is this huge old baobab tree located a few hundred meters west of the main north-south track through the Tarangire National Park with a concealed entrance on one side – leading into a hollow chamber inside its bark.
This served as a hiding place for poachers until the mid-90s. The poachers used this as a hideout from the animals and patrolling rangers. Though now these are inhabited by the occasional bees or animals.
Today, you can visit and see those epic hideouts on your Safari In Tarangire National Park.
Lemiyon Triangle
Lemiyon Triangle is found in the northernmost part of the park. It is bordered by Burunge circuit on the west, Lake Burunge, and the Tarangire River on the east of the road.
The area forms a triangular-shaped zone with huge baobab trees along both the sides of the road and also includes different types of acacia trees. The Mahogany trees and the toothbrush bushes also flood the region.
Nature seems surreal with the presence of a variety of bird species both prey and predator birds. The park offers good raptor viewing. Some of the raptors seen here include; the tawny eagle, the martial eagle, long crested eagle as well as the fish eagle. The prey birds that are seen in this area are the bateleur eagle.
Both the zebras and wildebeests can be seen grazing over this pristine land.
Tarangire River
The great Tarangire River that flows through the park serves as the lifeline for the bird and wildlife of Tarangire National Park.
During the dry season which prevails from July through October, the park attracts many animals that roam far-off places, the reason being the water supply of the Tarangire River and seasonal swamps which retain a good amount of water to support life forms.
Zebras, wildebeests, impalas, gazelles, giraffes, buffalos, hartebeests, and herds of elephants come to this river to cool off. As a result, predators like lions, leopards and wild dogs, etc. are also drawn toward the riverfront.
Many birds, both local and migratory, also flock to this wonderful water source to quench their thirst.
Matete Woodlands
The northwest region of Tarangire is home to Matete Woodlands and the Matete Bridge which is also called Engelhard Bridge named after the patron whose family helped so much with the preservation of the park.
The Matete woodland is a unique land consisting of tall elephant grass and acacia woodlands. A good number of baobab trees are also found towering over the vast flora and fauna found in the region.
The Matte Woodlands and the grasslands provide habitat for many types of animals and birds find an ideal resting space on them.
The vervet monkeys and the baboons are also common in this area, Lion being the major predator inhabiting the woodland.
Kitibong Hill
The Kitibong region of the park surrounds Kitibong Hill in the Tarangire National Park. The landscape here is enticing and consists of acacia parkland in the eastern territory and Dalbergia woodland in the western area.
With mamire swamps and Gursi Swamps towards the southern and south eastern sides respectively, this area serves as an important water source for wildlife during the dry season.
Herds of buffaloes are seen across the acacia plains of the area and interesting sightings of the rare African hunting dogs in groups of 6-20 can also be seen.
The common bird that is found here is the Ground hornbill. They spend most of their time on the ground and are sometimes seen flying slowly to put their weighty bodies in the tree.
The Burunge Circuit
This Burunge circuit is found in the western region of the park and is made of dense woodland candelabra trees and doum palms.
The circuit also consists of a variety of flora and fauna. Beautiful and unusual-looking antelopes, Kudu can be seen hiding beneath the thick bush that covers Tarangire land. Massive elands can also be seen in this region of the park.
Burunge Lake, a natural soda lake, also forms a part of the Burunge Circuit.
Tarangire Wildlife
Wildlife in Tarangire National Park is magnificent and offers some of the best game drive experiences in the whole of Tanzania. The park forms an important part of the northern circuit safari and is in close proximity to Serengeti National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, and Ngorongoro crater.
Animals in Tarangire national park include leopards, lions, cheetahs, elephants, buffaloes, wildebeests, hartebeests, elands, impalas, wild dogs, antelopes, fringe-eared Oryx, grant’s gazelles, vervet monkeys, banded mongoose, olive baboons, greater kudus and many more.
A huge population of elephants, zebras, wildebeest, and impalas flood the great savannah plains of Tarangire during the dry season in search of water and green pastures.

Things To Do In Tarangire National Park
Game Drives
Game drives in Tarangire offer extensive opportunities to visitors for wildlife sightings. One can go on safari at different times throughout the day.
Morning game drives give a good sighting of animals active during the day that includes elephants, buffalos, giraffes, zebras, elands, impalas, wildebeests, hartebeests, cheetahs, waterbucks, and many more.
Full-day game safaris include driving throughout the national park in search of various wildlife species throughout the day starting in the morning.
Bird Watching
With over 550 bird species including residents and migrants, Tarangire national park is a perfect destination for bird watching.
The regions including savannah woodlands, swamps along the Tarangire River, and the Lemiyon triangle are most suitable for birding.
Some of the bird species that are seen during Safari in Tarangire National Parks include martial eagles, bateleur eagles, long-crested eagles, spotted eagle owls, fish eagles, ostriches, great white pelicans, tawny eagles, white-faced whistling ducks, superb starlings, white-headed babblers and many more.
Nature Walks
Nature walks or walking safaris are also equally engaging and enticing. It involves tourists taking a stroll through the park without disturbing the natural setting and environment of the wildlife. They are mostly guided tours in the company of a ranger guide.
The visitors along with the guide follow different routes for ensuring close encounters with the bird and wildlife species present in the park.
Tourists also get to explore the natural scenic beauty that the park has to offer. Common animal encounters include zebras, elephants, impalas, waterbucks, and bird species like ostriches, etc.
Cultural Visits
Cultural tours in Tarangire National Park offer an amazing experience. It ensures an encounter with the people from the Masaai tribe and learning about their unique culture and traditions.
The Masaai communities are commonly found along the boundaries of the park as the park itself is situated near Masaai steep. The nomadic lifestyle of the Masaai people looks impressive and their art of making beaded earrings, bangles, anklets and necklaces keeps the tourist captivated.
The unique style of constructing their houses which are in circular forms also grabs a lot of attention. The Masaai people are mostly dressed in colourful and vibrant attires. They can be seen wearing their traditional dresses and shukas which you will encounter while on cultural tours.
Balloon Safaris
Balloon safaris are run by tour operators in the Tarangire National Park. Go for a hot air balloon ride over the Tarangire and enjoy the view as you soar over the treetops to enjoy an exceptional perspective of wildlife viewing and bird watching.
Note - Apart from Game Drive, all other activities come under additional activities and you have to pay a separate cost.
Tarangire National Park Accommodations
There are some very beautiful properties to choose from while planning a Safari In Tanzania.
You can choose from several different types of accommodation, ranging from tented camps to five-star lodges, and each one offers a very different experience. Most importantly decide on the budget and you are good to go as we have something or that suits every price range.
Let us find out some of the budget-friendly options to check in during your Tarangire Safari….
Budget Accommodations |
Budget Accommodations |
Ang’ata Tarangire Camp |
Bougainvillea Safari Lodge |
Let us find out some of the Mid range options to check in during your Tarangire Safari….
Midrange Accommodations |
Midrange Accommodations |
Serena Lodge |
Acacia Tarangire Luxury Camps |
Tarangire Sopa Lodge |
Tarangire Safari Lodge |
Let us find out some of the Luxury options to check in during your Tarangire Safari….
Luxury Accommodations |
Luxury Accommodations |
Lemala Camps and Lodges |
Nimali Tarangire Lodge |
Honeyguide Tarangire Camp |
Tarangire Kuro Treetops Lodge |
Elewana Tarangire Treetops |
|
Your Adventure
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Tarangire National Park Entry fee
The Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA) is responsible for managing the national parks and also promoting conservation activities in these parks. They formulate entry fees and other guidelines to be followed by the visitors visiting the parks in Tanzania.
Entrance fees |
In High season |
In Low Season |
Residents |
$29 |
$26 |
Non- Residents |
$59 |
$53 |
Children (5 to 15 age) Residents |
$8 |
Same price as the high season |
Children (5 to 15 age) Non- Residents |
$17 |
Same price as the high season |
From our clients
Tyler D
Canada
WOW! Such an incredible trip, full of animal sightings. Our experience was overall fantastic from start to finish. African scenic safaris is a GREAT choice to do your safari tour!
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See the Tarangire for yourself
Tarangire National Park is known for its exclusivity which no other National Parks in Tanzania have. At the same time what makes it spectacular is its abundant wildlife.
So if you are planning a Safari In Tanzania, do not forget to add Tarangire National Park to your bucket list.