Tarangire National Park is the sixth largest national park in Tanzania, located in the Manyara Region. The name of the park originates from the Tarangire River that crosses the park, and which is the primary source of fresh water for wild animals in the Tarangire Ecosystem during the annual dry season.
It covers an area of approximately 2,850 square kilometres (1,100 square miles). The landscape is composed of granitic ridges, river valley and swamps, and it lies 118 km (75 miles) southwest of Arusha.
The Tarangire River is the defining feature of the park and the reason its dry-season game viewing is so concentrated. As seasonal water sources across the wider ecosystem disappear, animals move toward the permanent river, drawing large numbers of grazers and the predators that follow them into a relatively small area.
Two lodges, one tented lodge, two luxury tented camps inside the park, another half-dozen exclusive lodges and tented camps immediately outside its borders. Several camp sites in and around the park.
Easy drive from Arusha or Lake Manyara following a surfaced road to within 7km (four miles) of the main entrance gate; the drive continues on to Babati and Dodoma. Charter flights from Arusha and the Serengeti are also available.
The drive from Arusha takes around two hours, which makes Tarangire the usual first stop on a northern-circuit safari and one of the few parks close enough for a comfortable day trip.
Tarangire is best known for its enormous elephant population, and for the ancient baobab trees that stand across its ridges and river valleys. Herds gather along the Tarangire River through the dry months, making it one of the most reliable places in northern Tanzania for close elephant sightings.
The park forms the centre of an annual migratory cycle drawing thousands of wildebeest and zebra in from the surrounding plains. Its swamps and riverine woodland also support a rich birdlife, making Tarangire a favourite among birdwatchers.
The park’s baobabs are among the largest and oldest trees in the region, and its termite mounds are a distinctive feature of the landscape — abandoned ones are often occupied by dwarf mongoose.
Tarangire’s swamps stay green well into the dry season and support an exceptional variety of birds, including large numbers of migratory species. The park is regularly cited as one of the best birding destinations in northern Tanzania.
Guided walking safaris. Day trips to Maasai and Barabaig villages, as well as to the hundreds of ancient rock paintings in the vicinity of Kolo on the Dodoma Road.
Game drives with a picnic lunch inside the park are the standard way to explore Tarangire, and its proximity to Arusha makes it a natural first or last stop on a northern-circuit safari.
June through October is the peak window, when the river concentrates wildlife and elephant sightings are at their most reliable. September and October are typically the driest and busiest months.
From November to May the herds disperse across the wider ecosystem and general game viewing is harder, but the park is green, uncrowded, and at its best for birds. The short rains in November and December rarely disrupt travel; the long rains from March to May are heavier.
Rates follow the same curve as the crowds. July through October is high season across northern Tanzania, with the sharpest premium in August and over the Christmas and New Year weeks; April and May are consistently the cheapest time to travel.
Because the park is only a couple of hours from Arusha, it also works as a short add-on at any time of year. Vehicle traffic concentrates near the main gate in the middle of the day, so an early start or a full day deeper into the park makes a noticeable difference in the busier months.
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