Tarangire National Park

Quick Facts on Tarangire National Park

• Area : 2,850 sq. km. (1,100 sq. miles)
• Established in : 1970
• Coordinates : 4.0057° S, 35.9788° E
• Opening Hours : 6 am to 6 pm (open every day)
• Famous For : Large elephant herds & Iconic Baobab Trees
• Activities : Guided Walking Safaris, Day Game Drives, Birdwatching

Getting to Tarangire National Park

Tarangire National Park is part of the renowned Northern Safari Circuit of Tanzania and most safaris here start from the town of Arusha. The park is just a couple of hours away from Arusha. Below are the different ways you can access the park:

Getting to Tarangire by Air

This is the best way to get to Tarangire National Park. You can fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), which is just 46 km. away from the town of Arusha.

• Another option is to fly to Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) in Dar es Salaam.
• And, then book a domestic flight to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) or Arusha Airport (ARK).

Or you could go a different way and book a charter flight, though it’s a long process. You’ll first hop on a flight from Arusha then to Serengeti National Park, and finally to Tarangire.

Getting to Tarangire by Road

From the town of Arusha, it takes around three hours to drive to Tarangire National Park. This route is popular among visitors because of the great sceneries along the way plus access to other Tanzania Safari destinations like the Serengeti and Lake Manyara National Park.

Tarangire National Park

Weather and Climate of Tarangire

The weather in Tarangire National Park is mild and nice all year. There are two parts to the wet season: short rains from November to December and longer rains from March to May. January and February are usually drier months, with only a few rains here and there. It rains most of the time in the afternoon and rarely all day. The weather is comfortable and not too hot during the day, but it can get cool in the mornings and nights. Especially for early morning game drives, it's smart to bring warm clothes.

Time Of The Year	Average Temperatures	Description
January and February	Afternoon: 28°C (82°F) Night time: 16°C (61°F)	The dry spell (just after the short rains)
March, April, and May	Afternoon: 28°C (82°F) Night time: 16°C (61°F)	The period of the long rains Cloudy skies with overhead conditions are the norm.
June to October	Afternoon: 26°C (79°F) Night time: 14°C (57°F)	Clear skies and pleasant daytime temperatures. Chilly temperatures during the night.
November and December	Afternoon: 28°C (82°F) Night time: 16°C (61°F)	The period of the short rains. Four weeks of rain is common in this period.

Rainfall Period

The wettest month in Tarangire National Park is April and the driest months are July and August. The following is a monthly breakdown of the amount of rainfall Tarangire receives:

When To Visit Tarangire National Park

The Best Time to Visit Tarangire National Park is during the middle and towards the end of the dry season (from late June to October). These months have the perfect conditions for game viewing.

During the wet season, much of Tarangire’s wildlife moves to other regions, making game viewing more challenging. However, this time of year is excellent for birdwatching, with migratory species adding to the diversity.

When Is The Best Time To Visit Tarangire National Park

Wildlife of Tarangire National Park

If you’re a wildlife enthusiast, then you’d be delighted to learn that the biodiversity of Tarangire’s wildlife is on another level. During the dry season, the river from which the park gets its name is a magnet for different animals.

The following are some animals that you’ll have no trouble seeing inside the premises of Tarangire National Park:

Tarangire National Park

Birdlife of Tarangire National Park

Tarangire is a birdwatching hotspot of Tanzania Safaris. The park contains more than 550 different species of birds. Its population of birds are some of the most diverse in the African continent.

Birds like hornbills and flamingos are drawn to the park for the numerous swamps and lakes. While other species enjoy the plentiful acacia trees because the trees’ long thorns offer a great foundation for building nests.

Here are some of the different types of bird species you can spot on a Tarangire National Park Safari:

Common Bird Species	Endemic Bird Species	Near Endemic Bird Species	Migrant Species
Great White Pelican	Ashy Starling	Northern Pied babbler	Common House Martin
African Grey Flycatcher	Rufous-tailed weaver	Eastern Crested Guineafowl	Aquatic Warbler
Ostrich			White-rumped Sandpiper
Vulturine Guineafowl
Yellow-collared lovebird

Reasons To Visit

Want a bunch of reasons why Tarangire National Park has a special spot in the heart of several visitors on Safaris in Tanzania? Then, we’re here to clear things up, here are some reasons why you should consider visiting Tarangire:

• Extraordinary game viewing opportunities (particularly in the dry season).
• Enormous herds of elephants go upwards of 300 in number.
• Frequent sightings of lions (with the possibility of seeing them on top of acacia trees).
• The perfect birdwatching destination with more than 550 bird species.
• Gorgeous sceneries on the backdrop of rich habitats.
• One of the few places where you can see the giant, ancient trees of life – Baobabs.

Attractions of Tarangire National Park

Now that you’re familiar with the reasons to visit Tarangire National Park, let’s take a closer look at its important attractions. The following section outlines each highlight in more detail.

Tarangire National Park

Silale 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.

• 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 Trees

Another distinct feature of Tarangire is the huge number of baobab trees found on its land.

• These trees are 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 saviour 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 litres of water. The seeds of these trees are nutritious and are a constant source of food for the various animals inhabiting the park.

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.
• The Tarangire River 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 Tanzania Safari Packages 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. In the present day, you can visit and see those epic hideouts on your Tarangire National Park Safari

Lemiyon Triangle

Lemiyon Triangle is found in the northernmost part of the park. It is bordered by the 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 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, the 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 is 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.
• These woodlands provide habitat for many types of animals and birds find an ideal resting space on them.
• Vervet monkeys and baboons are also common in this area and Lions are 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.

Things To Do In Tarangire National Park

Want to know what makes Tarangire tick with the most popular Tanzania Safari destinations and tours? Then, nothing more can convince you than the variety of activities that are on offer in the park, we know you can’t wait to find out what these are, so here’s a comprehensive list:

Spectacular game viewing

Visualize yourself on Tanzania Safari Tours surrounded by a wide expanse of habitats including ancient baobabs, acacia and sausage trees. All on the backdrop of large herds of elephants marching forward or just relaxing by the rivers and lakes. Don’t you want to experience this too?

We assume that you certainly want to experience exactly this. Thus, simply choose from our range of Tanzania Safari Packages that include this marvellous destination and you’ll be all set.

Birdwatching

Tarangire National Park isn’t just overflowing with an abundance of birds. It is also home to some of the most diverse birdlife in Tanzania. With this much avian life, Tarangire National Park Safaris are guaranteed to turn even the most uninterested into full-fledged birding enthusiasts.

Cultural Tours

Who would’ve thought that enjoyment on your Tanzania Safari Tour goes hand-in-hand with creating an impact? Well, it’s us for sure! We at African Scenic Safaris put a special emphasis on conducting sustainable and responsible tours as well as fun.

And, you can also experience these impactful experiences by immersing yourself in the native cultures on cultural excursions to the villages of the local communities.

Nature walks

Set off on a guided nature walk in Tarangire National Park toe-to-toe along with one of the park rangers, and experience the beauty of the park on foot. This allows for an even more authentic safari adventure as you’ll be able to get up close with the wildlife and learn fascinating pieces of informational tidbits from your guide.

Tarangire National Park

Our Recommended Tarangire Tours

We know you can’t contain your excitement and are probably thinking about experiencing the wonders of Tarangire National Park right away. So, we’ve decided to assist you further in the process, here are a couple of our recommended Tanzania Safari Tours that’ll help you out:

Get Connected With The Best Tanzania Safari Operator

A long day of exceptional wildlife viewing just demands a blissful night of sleep and Tarangire National Park doesn’t fall short in that regard. We want to assist you in finding the perfect accommodation, so here are some hand-picked recommendations:

Tarangire Accommodations

Name Of The Accommodation(S)	Rating	Amenities And Highlights
Tarangire Safari Lodge	4-Star (Mid-Range)	Charming and spacious rooms overlooking some incredible landscapes Convenient location: inside the park itself, and set close to the Tarangire River. Open-sided design makes for a more immersive experience (both the landscapes and wildlife).
Elewana Tarangire Treetops	5-Star (Luxury)	Spacious rooms with personal outdoor decks. The setting overlooks a watering hole, where you can spot plenty of wildlife drinking water. Top-notch luxury experience.
Nimali Tarangire	5-Star (Luxury)	Located in a private concession, adjacent to a riverbed. Gorgeous surroundings with nearby acacia and baobab trees. An exclusive and private luxurious experience.

So, gear up to enjoy refreshing sundowners from your outdoor deck while overlooking a watering hole where a family of elephants are lazing about, drinking water or getting their cleanliness on, while gentle breezes sway the giant baobabs! This is the charm and essence of Tarangire National Park Accommodations.

Tarangire National Park Entry fee

The Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA) is responsible for managing the parks and promoting conservation activities in all Tanzania National Parks. They formulate entry fees and other guidelines to be followed by the visitors visiting the parks in Tanzania.

Tarangire National Park PDF

Uncover what makes Tarangire special with our free PDF. Learn about giant baobabs, elephant herds and seasonal wildlife in this peaceful Tanzania safari park.

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Tarangire’s Claims To Fame

There are a bunch of reasons why Tarangire National Park should be on everyone’s Tanzania Safari Packages. The following are the distinguishing features that set Tarangire apart from others:

• Has one of the largest concentrations of elephants in the whole African continent. Old tuskers are also present, these are elephants with hugely impressive tusks.
• One of the few Tanzania National Parks where walking safaris are permitted.
• Extensive biodiversity and high population of different wildlife species (especially during the dry season – from June to October).
• Even though it’s not as massive as the Great Wildebeest Migration in the Serengeti, Tarangire still sets the stage for a dry season migration, where many animals migrate to the Tarangire River.
• The park is also known for its huge termite mounds that are dotted throughout the landscapes. Mounds that have been abandoned are home to dwarf mongooses.

See The Kingdom Of Elephants And Baobabs Yourself!

The characteristic skyline of Tarangire, framed by the giant branches of baobab trees is the background of superb and exclusive wildlife viewing. By and large, this is the core of Tarangire National Park Safaris. And that’s without touching on the fact that walking safaris are the picture-perfect activity that Tarangire offers safari lovers.

Thus, see the awe-inducing wonders of Tarangire National Park yourself by opting for one of our set of tailored Tanzania Safari Packages.

Tarangire National Park FAQ'S