Location of Tarangire National Park
Tarangire National Park is located in Northern Tanzania, just South of Lake Manyara National Park and a short drive from Arusha. It is a popular stop for visitors traveling through the Northern Tanzanian safari circuit, especially en-route to Ngorongoro and the Serengeti because it remains sometimes off the typical tourist path. Tarangire National Park is divided into two areas. The areas, long the Mto Wa Mbu region, comprise the park’s ecosystem. Little off the beaten path. The park is also situated between the Masai steppe meadows to the South East and the Great Rift Valley lakes to the North and the West. The permanent River Tarangire is located in the Northern portion of Tarangire which is recognized as the park lifeline especially during the dry season when most of the region is completely dry.
It covers an area of approximately 2,850 square kilometers and was gazetted in 1970. and is the sixth largest park in Tanzania. The park is also known for its enormous elephant herds, tree-climbing lions, impressive wildlife diversity, amazing spectrum of birds, red termite mounds, and many beautiful baobab trees. The landscape is composed of granitic ridges, river valley, and swamps. Vegetation is a mix of Acacia woodland, Combretum woodland, seasonally flooded grassland, and baobab trees.
Tarangire National Park Weather and Climate
The weather in Tarangire National Park is generally comfortable and mild. The park experiences two main rainy seasons: the “Long rains” from March to May and the “Short rains” from November to December. Rainfall typically occurs in the afternoons and is infrequent throughout the day. Temperatures rarely rise to uncomfortable levels, but the mornings and evenings tend to be cooler, making warm clothing advisable for early game drives.
From June, July, August, September and October are the dry month. The temperature in the afternoon is 26⁰c (79⁰c F). The days are clear and the sky is tranquil. It cools down at night with temperatures around 14 degrees Celsius (57⁰c F).
Wildlife and Activities
Tarangire National Park is renowned for its large herds of African elephants, which can often be seen congregating around the Tarangire river, particularly during the dry season. These majestic creatures, some of which have tusks that touch the ground, provide excellent opportunities for wildlife photography and viewing. Tourist visiting from June to November will also have the chance to encounter with large herds of wildebeest, zebras and buffalo. Other wildlife you might expect to see in this stunning national park includes bush elephants, lions, hippos, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, giraffes, African wild dogs, bat-eared foxes, warthogs, jackals, hartebeest, kudus, fringe-eared oryxes, common elands, waterbucks, gerenuks, impalas and dik-diks among others. You can also expect see primates such as olive baboons, vervet monkeys, banded and dwarf mongooses, honey badgers and ground squirrels while in the park.
The wildlife in this stunning park differ depending on the season. it is also linked to the fact that Tarangire National Park is just a part of the bigger landscape. Many wildlife move from the park during the months of November to may. The zebras as well as the spectacular wildebeest move into the northwestern direction towards the rift valley floor amongst the large number of wildlife that spread across the large open area of the Maasai steppe.
Tarangire National Park is a great bird-watching site with more than 500 species recorded. The park harbors several dry-country species at the extremity of their range, such as the northern pied babbler and vulture guineafowl.! Many of the birds, like flamingos and hornbills, are drawn to the park for its lake and numerous swamps. Other notable bird species includes African grey flycatcher, ashy starling, bare- faced go-away birds, Donaldson smith’s nightjar, great white pelican, mouse-coloured penduline tit, norther pied babbler, nohern white-crowned shike, ostrich, pink-breasted lark, rufous-tailed weaver, slate-coloured boubou, von der Decken’s hornbill, vulturine guineafowls and yellow-collared lovebird among others.
Activities: Tarangire National Park
Tarangire national park offers variety of remarkable and memorable safari activities to visitors during their visit. Some of the activities to do here includes game drives, nature walking safari, long walking safaris, camping, birdwatching, bush meals, night guided game drives, Balloon Safaris, filming, hiking and picnicking among others.
How to access the park
Getting to Tarangire National Park is quite straightforward, and there are a few different ways to make the journey. You can choose to travel by air or by road, depending on your preference. If you prefer air transport, several airstrips serve Tarangire National Park, with the Tarangire airstrip being a popular option. You can book a flight through local airlines that offer routes directly to the park. For those who would rather drive, you can easily reach Tarangire from Arusha. The road is well-traveled and offers some scenic views along the way, making it an enjoyable trip for visitors.
Best time to visit Tarangire National Park
The best time to visit Tarangire National Park is during the dry season from June to October. These are the best months, thousands of zebras and wildebeests migrate to the park. They’re drawn by the waters of Tarangire River, which flows through the middle of the park.
Where to stay.
Tarangire National Park offers a wide range of accommodation facilities designed to cater to all types of tourists during their Tanzania safari in this remarkable park. These accommodations are available both inside and outside the park, spanning from luxury options to mid-range and budget-friendly choices. Some of these accommodations include Tarangire Simba Lodge, Tarangire Safari Lodge, Tarangire Sopa Lodge, kiruruma Tarangire Lodge, Tarangire Osupuko Lodge, Roika Tarangire Tented Lodge, Chem Chem Lodge and Eco-science Center and Luxury Lodge among others.
Contact our trusted tour operators for more information about a Tanzania safari in the Tarangire National Park including the location and travel us at African Vacation Safaris who offer the best tour packages while on you are in the country.