Visit the Tarangire national Park in Tanzania

TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK

- Tarangire National Park -
A true hidden gem in the dazzling Tanzanian safari circuit.

Due to its close proximity to Arusha, Tarangire National Park – like Lake Manyara Park – is often one the first parks to be visited on the Northern Tanzanian safari circuit, though it isn’t always included. Many tourists give this park a miss altogether or do a 2-hour game drive in the easily accessible and very touristic northern section. At the Travel Cafe we strongly recommend including a visit to the park but suggest an overnight stay in the southern sector where you will be far from the day tripping hordes and minibuses.

Tarangire covers an area of about 2,600km2, about the size of Luxembourg, and is a true hidden gem in the dazzling Tanzanian safari circuit. During the dry season, it actually becomes the park with the densest animal population outside the Serengeti.

The reason for this is the Tarangire perennial river, the only source of water in this region during the dry months. It is not uncommon on safari game drives to gaze at 300-strong herds of elephant, large groups of buffalo, lions and leopards, wild dogs, wildebeest, zebra impala and many more. Due to water shortage, they all head to Tarangire during dry season.

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While many animals leave again once November arrives with its rain showers, the park offers many attractions year-round and is well worth a visit. For starters, Tarangire is one of the only parks in Tanzania to allow both night drives, where you will see the nocturnal animals, as well as game walks, which allow you to experience this unexplored savannah in a much more intimate and setting. The scenic beauty alone is staggering, with grassy plains and majestic ancient baobab trees dotting the horizon. In Tarangire you can discover colonies of mongoose frolicking on top of imposing abandoned termite mounds, take in the sight of your fist sausage tree, watch elephants take a muddy bath in the river, or with some luck you may catch a quick glance at a python before it flees into the safety of a tree. Tarangire adds a great additional facet to any Tanzanian safari.

If you fancy something other than game viewing, Tarangire boasts for more varied activities including hundreds of ancient rock paintings in the vicinity of Kolo, or you can enjoy a daytrip to one of the surrounding villages. Tarangire National Park is one of the most versatile destinations you will encounter in Tanzania, and it should be easy to see why it’s a firm favourite with the Travel Cafe Team.

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Each region is unique!

Click on the different regions below to find out more about the unique beauty each offers, and when the best time is to visit.

Lake Manyara National Park

Tarangire National Park

Kilimanjaro National Park

Zanzibar Island

- Best time to go to Tarangire National Park -

Winter (June - September): The best time to go to Tarangire National Park is during the dry season from June to September. The Tarangire River is perennial and flows throughout the year, but during the dry season of winter, it becomes the only source of water in the entire region. Animals arrive from all neighbouring parks, drawn by this precious water source, and for these months Tarangire boasts the densest animal population outside the Serengeti ecosystem with spectacular wildlife sightings. Daytime temperatures remain very mild and will not dip below ±15°C / 60°F, with daily highs around 25°C / 77°F.

We recommend you pack warm clothes for your safaris, as dawn and dusk are the times when you will most notice the cold.

Summer (January - March): January to March are the proper summer months and our second favourite time to visit Tarangire National Park. The average temperatures are around 27°C / 80°F, and rain is extremely rare. Wildflowers are blooming due to the spring rains and baobabs experience a few weeks of foliage, making summer a magical time to experience this park.

Spring (November - December): The arrival of spring brings short rain showers, which peak in November. Rain is mostly contained to short late afternoon showers, so this does not truly impact your game viewing. Temperatures are lovely and pleasant, but it does get humid, which can be mildly uncomfortable. While the migratory animals leave the park around November, plenty of territorial animals remain, such as lions and elephant bulls, making for decent game watching.

Autumn (April - May): Autumn is our least favourite time for a visit to Tarangire National Park as this is when the “long rains” arrive. While of course these rains are crucial to the survival of both animal and plant, they do not offer the best safari conditions. Not only do the autumn months bring plenty of rain, but nature rejuvenates itself to such a wonderful extent, that grasses grow meters tall and anything smaller than an elephant can be hard to spot. On the plus side, however, rates are at their lowest during this season, and the habitual hordes of tourists are nowhere to be seen, so you do benefit from a much more intimate experience.

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