Scenic Tarangire National Park lies some 120 km south of Arusha, along the ‘Great North Road’ highway, and is very popular for day trips from the town (though a couple of nights is really needed to do it justice). Tarangire offers a wide variety of wildlife in its area of 2,600 sq. km, but is renowned for its huge herds of elephants.

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As in all ecosystems, the vegetation and the types of animals you find are closely correlated. The principal features of the park are the flood plains and the grassland, mainly comprising of various types of acacia trees, and a few scattered baobabs, tamarind and sausage trees. The Tarangire River, after which the park is named, provides the only permanent water for wildlife in the area.

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When the Masai Steppes dry up with the end of the long rains in June, migratory animals return to the Tarangire River, making Tarangire National Park second only to Ngorongoro in the concentration of wildlife. This period stretches between June and November and it is the best season for game viewing in Tarangire, though the park can be visited year round.

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Wildlife in Tarangire National Park

The most common animals found in the park include zebras, wildebeest, lions, leopards, waterbucks, giraffe, elephants, gazelles, impala, gerenuk, lesser kudu and the beautiful fringe-eared oryx. You may be lucky to spot the tree-climbing python, for which the park is famous, or the kudu and the roan antelope which are rare species in northern Tanzania. Over 300 species of birds have been recorded in the Park.

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Safaris in Tarangire National Park

Game drives in search of wildlife provide the main activity in the National Park, though guided walking safaris are growing in popularity in the dry season in the outer conservancies. Whilst out game viewing enjoy a refreshing sunset sundowner and look for elephants bathing in the Tarangire River.​ Popular game drive routes include Lake Burungi circuit, the Lemiyon area, Kitibong Hill and the Gursi and Lamarkau grasslands in the south.