Overview–tanzania

Tarangire National Park

Tarangire National Park is located in northern Tanzania, approximately 120 kilometers southwest of Arusha. It covers an area of about 2,850 square kilometers (1,100 square miles) and is named after the Tarangire River, which flows through the park and serves as a crucial water source for wildlife during the dry season. The park is part of the larger Tarangire Ecosystem, which includes seasonal migrations of wildebeest and zebras.

Wildlife Diversity
Tarangire National Park is renowned for its high density of elephants, with some estimates suggesting that it hosts more elephants per square kilometer than any other national park in Tanzania. During the dry season, large herds of elephants can be seen congregating around the Tarangire River. Other common wildlife include Cape buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, dik-diks, impalas, and various antelope species such as Grant’s gazelle and eland. Predators like lions, leopards, cheetahs, caracals, honey badgers, and African wild dogs are also present.

Bird Watching Opportunities
The park is a paradise for bird enthusiasts with over 550 recorded bird species. This diverse avifauna includes both resident birds and migratory species that can be spotted throughout the year. Notable birds include ostriches, kori bustards, hornbills, vultures, eagles, and various weavers.

Flora Characteristics
The vegetation in Tarangire National Park consists mainly of acacia woodlands interspersed with open grasslands dotted with iconic baobab trees. These trees not only provide shade but also serve as important habitats for various wildlife species.

Activities Available for Visitors
Visitors to Tarangire can engage in several activities including game drives during different times of the day—morning drives tend to yield higher wildlife sightings due to animal activity levels. Bird watching is another popular activity given the rich diversity of avian life in the park. Guided walking safaris offer an immersive experience in nature while cultural visits allow tourists to interact with local Maasai communities.

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Rates

From: $152 to $651 pp/day

Best Time to Go

From: July to November (Animals come to the Tarangire River)

High Season

From: June to October (The park is full of visitors)

Size

From: June to October (The park is full of visitors)

Wildlife & Animals

From July to November the Tarangire River is a magnet for migratory animals such as wildebeest, zebra, eland, Coke’s hartebeest, gazelle, buffalo, and elephant – of which there are more than you can imagine. Lions are quite easily spotted at this time, as well.

Wildlife Highlights

Tarangire National Park is home to several dry-country antelope species, such as the rare fringe-eared oryx and the peculiar, long-necked gerenuk. The swampy areas in the park's south offer some interesting wildlife-viewing opportunities. Wallowing elephants and buffalo are a given, but you might also be lucky to see the Silale Swamp lion pride and sometimes even wild dogs.

Best Time for Wildlife Viewing

July to November, when most of the water in the bush has dried up, is the best time for wildlife viewing. Large herds of animals migrate to the park from the surrounding areas. Animals are easier to spot because vegetation is thinner and wildlife gathers around the Tarangire River. From about December, many animals migrate out of the park again, and wildlife viewing is not as good.

General Wheather

The park’s landscape features a mix of granitic ridges, river valleys, swamps, and various woodlands dominated by Acacia and Combretum species. The climate is characterized by two wet seasons: long rains from March to May and short rains from November to December. The dry season lasts from June to October when temperatures can reach around 26°C (79°F) during the day but drop to about 14°C (57°F) at night.

Dry Season–June to October

It is sunny and it hardly ever rains. It gets dustier and the sky gets hazier as the season progresses.

June, July & August – Afternoon temperatures are close to 24°C/75°F. Days are clear with blue skies. It cools down at night with temperatures dropping to about 14°C/57°F.
September & October – It is very dry and daytime temperatures rise to about 28°C/82°F. The first showers at the end of October come as a relief.

Wet Season–November to May

Afternoon temperatures are usually around 28°C/82°F, and night-time temperatures are around 17°C/63°F.

November & December – 'Short rains' – October through December brings about four weeks of rain, the start of which is unpredictable. It will rarely hurt your trip, as it would be unusual to rain all day.
January & February – A dry spell occurs after the short rains. The exact timing is difficult to predict.
March, April & May – 'Long rains' – There is rain most days, although it rarely rains the entire day. Cloudy skies are common. Cold fronts usually roll in during April and May causing temperatures to get much colder.

Prons

Superb wildlife viewing, including the annual wildebeest migration in Serengeti
Off-the-beaten-track safaris in Katavi and Ruaha National Parks
Several wildlife-viewing circuits for repeat visits
Best chimp trekking in Africa in Gombe and Mahale Mountains National Parks
Beach holiday extensions in Zanzibar
Traditional cultures

Cons

Relatively expensive safari destination
Some popular parks can be crowded

How To Get There

Tarangire National Park is part of the popular Northern safari circuit and is typically visited together with Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater. Most safaris start from the town of Arusha. The best way to get there is to fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), which is 50km/31 mi from Arusha. It is also possible to fly into Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) in Dar es Salaam and on to Arusha Airport (ARK) or Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO).

There are regular flights from Arusha and Serengeti to Tarangire, but driving is a good option too. It is a comfortable 2-hour* drive from Arusha to the park entrance gate, of which only the last 7km/4 mi is not tarred. Moving on, it is an easy drive to Lake Manyara National Park (100km/60 mi in about 2 hours*) or the Ngorongoro Crater (180km/110 mi in about 4 hours*).

*Driving times are only a rough indication. You should always consider the possibility of significant delays.

Airlines & Ticket Prices

Please check Skyscanner to see which airlines can take you to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) or Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR), and what tickets would cost.

www.skyscanner.com

Domestic Flights

Domestic and charter flights between parks are usually booked by tour operators as part of the tour package. Domestic flights can be booked with several local carriers: