About Tarangire
Considered by many safari aficionados as Tanzania’s best-kept safari secret, the Tarangire National Park was proclaimed in 1970, enlarging the area of its predecessor to incorporate more of the greater Tarangire ecosystem. Tarangire is Tanzania’s 6th largest national park, encompassing an area of some 2850 km² (1100 mi²), nearly the size of the state of Rhode Island (USA) or Luxembourg (EU).
It is named for the Tarangire River which runs from south to north through the reserve. ‘Tarangire’ is said to mean “winding river of warthogs” and while these are plentiful, there is much more to the park that makes it a worthwhile destination.
Overlooked by many as one has to detour slightly from the ever-popular Northern Safari Circuit, the Tarangire National Park is a vast haven for species also found in the more popular national. It has several species not found in the other locations, such as the fringe-eared oryx
It receives considerably fewer tourists, meaning that there is generally less congestion at wildlife sightings and visitors experience an enhanced sense of being in the wilderness. Tarangire stands out among its peers thanks to an abundance of two of nature’s giants: African elephants and the peculiar baobab tree. Large predators and typical plains game are numerous throughout the dry season. During the dry season, the perennial Tarangire river is the only reliable water supply, attracting vast herds of game and attendant predators. With the rains, the wildlife disperses and many roads become impassable.
Tarangire Tours
Experience thrilling safaris, captivating cultural encounters, and breathtaking landscapes on our meticulously crafted tours.
Lemosho is considered the most beautiful route on Kilimanjaro and grants panoramic vistas on various sides of the mountain. On this 8 day Lemosho route, the trek from Barranco to
Machame, known as the “Whiskey” route, is a popular route to the mountain. Compared with Marangu, the days on Machame are longer and the walks are steeper. It is considered
This safari takes you through the highlights of renowned parks of northern Tanzania. The tour starts at Tarangire, famous for its dense wildlife population then to Ngorongoro crater, which supports..
5 Days Tanzania Wildlife Safari
From$1,676.00Drive to Tarangire National Park for a full day game drive with packed lunch. Late in the evening, we drive to the camp for the dinner and overnight.
The Hadza, or Hadzabe are indigenous ethnic group in north-central Tanzania. They live in Lake Eyasi in the central rift valley and in the neighboring Serengeti Plateau.
4 Days – Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire
From$1,190.00Start a beautiful journey across the Great Rift Valley to Lake Manyara for a full day game drive. Although small in dimension (205 sq miles), the park has breathtaking scenery and is well famous
Different areas of the Tarangire
The main entrance, airstrip and park headquarters are found in this area. The entrance sits on a bend in the Tarangire River, giving arriving visitors their first glimpse of the park’s most important resource. Entering the park the terrain is fairly flat, made up of grasslands with occasional woodlands. Standing out amongst the trees are the baobabs, unique for their bulbous trunks that can hold hundreds of litres of water and this is the northernmost limit of their range in Tanzania. Progressing into the park, the terrain becomes quite hilly, with views of distant Lake Manyara and the Milima Mitatu peaks. During the wet season, Lake Burungi is home to good numbers of hippos, crocodiles and various species of waterfowl, while it sometimes dries completely in the dry season, revealing a sparkling bed of salt crystals. The Silale Swamps are home to a resident lion pride.
Flowing from south to north through the park, the river can be considered the artery that brings life to the entire national park. As waterholes and seasonal rivers dry up after the rains, animals that had been dispersed for grazing outside the park converge on the river in what is regarded as Tanzania’s mini-migration. The influx of wildlife into the area, while not on the scale of the Great Migration, is impressive in its own right. And like the scenes witnessed in the Serengeti, the arriving herds attract all of the large predator species. Year-round, the river is home to a significant population of both hippos and some truly impressive crocodiles. The water and lush vegetation on the riverbanks are a haven for birdlife, and leopards are common in the thickets.
The predominant habitat in this section of Tarangire is made up of the nutritious grassland found in the Gursi Plains, along with pockets of combretum and acacia woodlands. The two habitats are favourable for the presence of two of the park’s mega-herbivores, elephants and Cape buffalos. Other herbivorous species also benefit from the excellent grazing and browsing, making this a good area to spot predators. Good sightings of lion and spotted hyenas are frequently had and the area is also considered the best place to see Africa’s second most endangered large carnivore, the African wild dog (also known as the painted wolf). These highly successful hunters are mostly seen near the Kitibong Hills.
For those who truly wish to experience the wild wilderness of East Africa, the southern reaches of Tarangire are a haven of unspoilt remoteness. There is little in the way of infrastructure in this region, with only a few camps and minimal park facilities. Access to many of the roads is occasionally impossible in the wet season, due to the swamps and wetlands that form. These limitations in human terms, mean that the south is the location for most of the walking safaris offered in the park. For the wildlife, the low number of tourists, along with lower populations of lions and hyenas, mean that cheetahs and ostriches are seen fairly frequently. The swamps and wetlands are also a haven for waterbirds until they dry up in the dry season.
Landscape
Tarangire reveals itself to visitors in a range of beautiful landscapes and habitats. The course of the Tarangire River is flanked by floodplains and stands of riverine forest. In the north of the park, rolling savanna gives way to hill country dotted with thick-trunked baobabs and expanses of mixed combretum and acacia woodland. Low-lying areas are inundated in the wet season, leaving verdant swamps and wetlands brimming with the buzz of insects and song of birds. On the grasslands, abandoned termite hills several metres high are modified as new homes for dwarf mongooses and other burrowing species. While after the rains Tarangire is lush green, it can get very dry. Between grasslands, granite ridges, valleys, swamps and forests, Tarangire is a complex system of habitats that appeals to humans and wildlife alike.
Weather and Climate
January & February – A dry spell occurs after the short rains. The exact timing is difficult to predict.
March – May – ‘Long rains’ – On most days, rain occurs, although it rarely rains the entire day. Cloudy skies are common. Cold fronts commonly roll in during April and May causing temperatures to get much colder.
June – October – Typically no rain with temperatures ranging between 26°C/79°F and 14°C/57°
November – December – ‘Short rains’ – Unreliable wet season lasting up to four weeks, with brief showers each day. Daytime temperatures average 28°C/82°F, cooling to 16°C/61°F at night.
