Tarangire National Park

Why visit Tarangire National Park

Tarangire National Park is one of the best places in Africa to see elephants and one of the most underrated parks in Tanzania. Covering about 2,850 square kilometres, it is shaped by the Tarangire River, the only permanent water source in the area, along with seasonal swamps, open savanna and some of the largest and oldest baobab trees in the country.

In the dry season, from around June to October, wildlife from the surrounding ecosystem gathers along the river. Herds of several hundred elephants are not unusual, and game drives regularly bring sightings of giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, buffalo, impala and fringe-eared oryx, together with lion, leopard and, more rarely, cheetah and wild dog. With more than 550 recorded bird species — including the yellow-collared lovebird and the ashy starling, both found almost only in Tanzania — the park is also excellent for birders.

When to go and how to visit

Tarangire is at its best from June to October, when the wildlife is concentrated around the river. The green season, from November to May, brings fewer vehicles, lush scenery and superb birdlife, although the animals are more spread out.

The park is about two hours by road from Arusha, which makes it a natural first stop on a Northern Circuit safari or an easy full-day trip. It combines well with Lake Manyara, the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti. See our Tarangire day safari and Northern Circuit safaris.