Tarangire National Park
Karibu Tarangire National Park in Tanzania
Tarangire National Park is situated in Manyara area and it features as the 6th largest protected area in Tanzania. This park derived its name from River Tarangire which crosses through this national park. This River serves as the main source of fresh water for wildlife in the Tarangire ecosystem, especially during the dry season.
Elephants in Tarangire National Park Tanzania
The Tarangire Ecosystem is well known for its migratory wildebeests and zebras that roam during the dry season. This park covers an area of about 2850 square kilometres and it features the most spectacular landscape that consists of the granitic ridges, swamps, river valleys with its vegetation comprising of acacia woodland, Commiphora combretum woodland, and seasonally flooded grassland and baobab trees.
This park is popular for its large numbers of elephants, baobab trees and if you pay a visit to this park from June to November, expect to encounter mostly wildebeests, cape buffaloes, zebras as well as cheetahs, caracal, honey badger, African wild dogs, African lion, leopard, banded mongoose, olive baboons, grant’s gazelles, vervet monkeys, waterbucks, giraffes, dik-dik, impalas, Oryx, gerenuk, elands, ant-eating aardvark, and many more.
This park also refuges the oldest famous elephant that gave birth to twins. Besides, over 550 species of bird thrive within this park making it one of the birders paradises in Tanzania. The notable birds at this park include red and yellow barbets.
This park is situated in northern Tanzania and it is most popular for its elephant migration, game viewing especially from July to October, walking safaris, fly camping tours at Oliver’s camp, bird watching and many other remarkable safaris.
Accommodation in Tarangire National Park
Tarangire National Park features several safari lodges in and around it and the notable ones include the Oliver’s and Swala camp as well as Tarangire Treetops that is situated outside the park. Tarangire Tented and Bush camps are designed in such a way that they offer less effect on its local ecology.
The other camps include Kikoti safari camp a deluxe moderate accommodation, Lake Burunge Tented Camp and Maramboi Tented Camp. There is also the Eco Science Centre and Luxury Lodge that has connections to ecological research, with Belgian cuisine and the grand piano in the lounge, as well as Tarangire Safari Lodge and many more.
Getting to Tarangire National Park
Tarangire National Park is situated about 120 Kilometres away from Arusha capital and can be reached from Kuro airport using a small aircraft to Arusha and Serengeti. By road, the park can be accessed through the paved road south from Arusha within 2 hours’ drive. Lake Manyara National Park is situated about 70 kilometres away from Tarangire and a 4×4 Safari Vehicle is ideal for your safaris to this national park.
When to visit Tarangire National Park
For adventure enthusiasts, Tarangire National Park is best visited from the month of June to October especially during the dry season when most migrant wildlife species flock into most of the swamps and the Tarangire River Valleys.
Game Viewing in Tarangire National Park – Tanzania
These months are characterized by little rain or even no rain between July and August. Throughout the year, the Tarangire remains warm and dry with daytime temperatures ranging from 24 to 30 degrees Celsius and reduce from 13 to 18 degrees Celsius at night.
From October to April, the temperatures at this park are warmer and May to September it is cooler. Short rains take place between November and December while long rains are experienced from mid-March to May.
In conclusion, Tarangire National Park features among the most unusual destinations in Tanzania. It is credited for its huge concentration of migrant elephants offering the best spot for visitors on game viewing safaris in Tanzania.
