Why Visit Tarangire National Park

Located just 2 hours drive from Arusha, Tarangire is a charming National Park to visit on a northern Tanzania safari.

We include Tarangire NP on our Northern Tanzania itineraries and it is one of our favourite parks in East Africa. Many people either miss out Tarangire altogether or they only venture into the park for a quick morning or afternoon game drive into the northern areas. A longer stay in Tarangire means that the southern reaches can be explored away from the crowds where it offers a much quieter safari experience than other parks in northern Tanzania.

Tarangire is a generally considered a seasonal reserve and the long dry season (June - October) is the best time to visit. During the short rains of November and the long rains of April-May the game mostly disperses into the Maasai Steppe; however, as the landscape dries the wildlife returns, drawn back by the Tarangire River.

During these dry months the park offers spectacular wildlife viewing opportunities. You’ll see all the big African game, including large herds of elephant (sometimes up to three hundred strong) that congregate along the riverbanks. The concentration of game is exceptional. Large populations of wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, giraffe, eland, impala and warthog all go in search of water. Lions and spotted hyenas follow accordingly. Lions and leopards can be found throughout Tarangire, however cheetahs are mostly found in the open areas of the south. Wild dogs sometimes pass through the park, although sightings of them are rare.

Elephants in Tarangire National Park

Tarangire National Park is also famed for its ancient baobab trees, as well as its prolific birdlife. Yellow-billed and saddle-billed storks are often found in the Tarangire River, and orange-bellied parrots and red-and-yellow barbets are spotted in the acacia woodland. Over 500 species have been recorded in the park, including ashy starlings and large flocks of yellow-collared lovebirds, both of which are endemic species to Tanzania.

If you’re visiting the park between November-May you likely won’t see such high concentrations of game, but we can still recommend visiting, especially if you want to avoid the crowds or if you have a particular interest in birdlife.

We mainly use two fantastic properties within the park. For our ‘boutique’ option our clients stay at the Tarangire River Camp, and for clients who have selected our ‘luxury’ option we use Tarangire Treetops which is regarded as one of Tanzania's most beautiful and unique properties. With both the ‘boutique’ and ‘luxury’ option our client’s will have a private 4x4 vehicle for safari game drives and a local English speaking guide. Other accommodations are also available to be booked and our specialists will match you to the most suitable accommodation for your requirements and sense of style.

If you'd like to plan a holiday to Tanzania, call our Luxury Travel Specialists for a chat about your dream trip or fill out our no-obligation enquiry form.