Tarangire National Park is among the prominent Northern Tanzania safari destinations. The park is located about a 4 hours drive from Arusha, the biggest city in Northern Tanzania. Tarangire National Park covers a land area of 2,850 square kilometers of open savanna grasslands and woodlands. It is traversed by River Tarangire which is also the major water supply to the park.
The park was established in 1970 and it is some savanna’s finest safari animals and other wildlife species. Tarangire, Serengeti National Park, the Ngorongoro Crater, and Ndutu Conservancy form the prominent northern Tanzania tourism circuit.
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Discovery Journeys To Tarangire National Park
Wildlife in Tarangire National Park
Tarangire National Park is most famous for its elephant herds. The park is the best place in Tanzania where you can journey up close with the land’s largest mammals. Tanzania is known for its highest lion population and Tarangire National Park also has many of them.
Hippos, buffaloes zebras, wildebeests, and giraffes are among the commonly seen safari animals in Tarangire. Leopards, cheetahs, and wild dogs are present though rarely seen.
There is an animal migration that takes place in Tarangire National Park involving hundreds and thousands of wildlife. This is unique and different from the renowned wildebeest migration and it Is limited within the park. It is not as popular are the wildebeest migration which makes it exclusive.
Tarangire has over 500 bird species making it among the best Tanzania birding destinations.
Activities in Tarangire National Park
Game Drives
These are the commonly done safari activities in the park. The difference is that they are truly rewarding and enable you to get up close to wildlife. It is always recommended to start your game drives early morning preferably 6:00 am to catch up with the nocturnal and early risers. Big cats including lions and leopards are most active in the night and early mornings and you must wake up early to see them.
Evening hours are also great times for game drives and sundowners. You get to enjoy the sunset over the far horizons and can capture these moments on camera. On hot days animals gather around the river and can easily be spotted cooling down.
Birding Discovery Journeys
A birding safari is one you can do separately or combined with a regular game drive. Thanks to Tarangire’s bird diversity, you can enjoy birding Discovery Journeys in the park.
Notable birds in the park include the Tawny eagle, red and yellow barbet, and the Ashy Starling which is also endemic to Tanzania. Birding safaris are doable year-round but the wet months from November to May have migratory birds visiting the region. This is therefore the best time for birding.
Balloon Safaris
Balloon safaris give a panoramic view of the wildlife and are highly recommended. They are also done early morning or late evening to be able to fully capture the wildlife. It is also easy to manage the balloon equipment during this time because of limited pressure interruptions.
Nature walks
There are well-developed trails where guided nature walks are done. The fact that the park is full of wild animals, nature walks are done escorted by an armed ranger guide.
The best times for these nature walks are also mornings and evenings. Important to note is that there are particular places where you can not have these walks for your own safety. You are required to follow the guidelines and instructions from the driver and ranger guides at all times.
Photography Safaris
With the diversity and wildlife numbers in Tarangire National Park, photography safaris are a must. There are professional wildlife and nature photographers who book their safaris for pure photography. Tarangire is one of those wildlife destinations where you can have the best of your photography safari.
Lighting is crucial in photography as sharp light cannot enable you to capture quality photos. For best photography safari moments you are therefore also recommended to wake up early. The evening golden hour moments are also great for photography and an evening game drive can do you justice.
Accommodation In Tarangire
A prominent destination like this has a number of accommodation options that you can choose from. They range from budget camping facilities to high-end luxurious safari lodges. A number of them are near the park and very convenient to access the park for activities.
Examples you can look at include Tarangire Sopa Lodge, Tarangire Treetops, Sanctuary Swala Camp, and Nomad Kuro among others. These get busy and fully booked in the peak tourist season and it is therefore important to make your bookings in advance.
Getting there
Road transport is the main form of transportation used to access the park. It takes at least a 4-hour scenic drive from Arusha to the park. In case you were already exploring other northern circuit destinations this time varies.
There is an option of flying to Kuro Airstrip which is near the park. From the airstrip, you can then connect to your lodge by road.
Best time to Visit
Safaris in Tarangire National Park are doable any time of the year. The best experiences are however enjoyed in the dry season. This ranges from June to September and from mid-December to early March.
There is an option of flying to Kuro Airstrip which is near the park. From the airstrip, you can then connect to your lodge by road.
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