Tarangire National Park

Tarangire National Park is known for its majestic Baobab trees. These can grow to an enormous size and have a unique shape. The Park is also famous as it has the largest concentration of elephants in the world! You can see herds of up to 300 elephants around the Tarangire River. The River is the primary source of fresh water for the animals. In the dry season, they come here to drink or just to enjoy a bath to cool off from the hot sun. During the end of dry season, elephants dig into the riverbed to reveal underground water, or are looking for Baobab trees to slake their thirst.

Elephant paradise

Apart from elephants, Tarangire is a paradise for bird lovers. From parrots, hornbills, lovebirds and lilac breasted rollers to Kori bustards, eagles and vultures. The swamps in Tarangire National Park have one of the largest number of breeding bird species in the world. In the area around these swamps you can also see lions, leopards, cheetahs and even tree-climbing pythons.

Authentic atmosphere of Tarangire

Tarangire is one of the lesser known parks in Tanzania, but it still has an authentic safari atmosphere. The hilly landscape scattered with huge Baobab trees against the blue sky is breathtaking.

Check the Tanzania Safaris to see how Tarangire National Park can be incorporated into an itinerary.

Excursions and activities in Tarangire National Park

• Walking safari (if you stay at Ang’ata Tarangire or Tarangire Safari Lodge)
• Night game drive (if you stay at Ang’ata Tarangire or Tarangire Safari Lodge)
• Visit Maasai village
• Hot air balloon safari
• Visit Hadzabe tribe
• Cultural tour Mto wa Mbu
• Mountainbike tour Lake Manyara

Travel time to Tarangire

• Arusha to Tarangire National Park: 2.5 hours
• Tarangire to Lake Manyara National Park: 1 hour
• Tarangire to Ngorongoro Conservation Area: 2 hours
• Tarangire to Serengeti National Park: 4 hours

Travel tip from our experts about Tarangire National Park

My name is Mark, and I have been a guide for 15 years at Tarangire National Park. Our guests love Tarangire mainly due to the abundance of elephants and huge Baobab trees. Tarangire is fairly huge and there is a lot to see. I would recommend spending one day in the north and one day in the remote south of the park

Best time to visit Tarangire

Tarangire is a great year round park for game viewing. Especially during the dry season (June – October) when animals gather around the main water source in the area, the Tarangire River. Lots of animals migrate out of the park during the rainy season (April-May) due to the black cotton soil that’s bad for their hoofs.

Video worth watching about Tarangire National Park