Tarangire National Park | East Africa Travel Company
Tarangire National Park is known as a wonderful birding destination and also features large numbers of game, particularly during the dry season,
Tarangire National Park
Tarangire National Park - Vegetation of the Tarangire
This park was named after the Tarangire River, which is the park’s most dominant feature.
There are still large swamps that feed off of some of its tributaries.
Most of them are dry, but they become impassable during the rains. Tarangire is usually quite dry, indeed drier than the Serengeti.
Its vegetation, however, is much greener thanks to elephant grass, vast acacia woodlands, and some wonderful ribbons of the aquatic forest, not to mention the giant baobab trees that can live up to 600 years, storing up to 900 liters of water each.
Tarangire National Park - Migration of the Tarangire wildlife
There is an annual wildlife migration in Tarangire during the dry season from June to November that isn’t as dramatic as the Serengeti Wildebeest Migration, but it attracts a large number of animals. As much of this part of the country is dry, the Tarangire River is the only source of water.
A large number of wildebeest, elephants, gazelles, zebras, hartebeests, and buffaloes, as well as various predators like lions, come to drink and graze at the river’s banks.
Zebras and herds of wildebeests move towards the Rift Valley floor between November and May, among the greater number of animals moving across the Masaai Steppe and dispersing all the way to Lake Manyara during the rainy season.
Tarangire National Park - The wildlife of Tarangire National Park
Because Tarangire is a season-based park, the wildlife differs based on the season and because it is part of a bigger ecosystem.
Throughout the dry season, you have the best chance of seeing a wide variety of wildlife in Tarangire. With several herds of up to 300 elephants per herd, this park is home to one of the largest elephant populations in Africa.
There are also many impalas, elands, buffaloes, giraffes, the Bohor Reedbuck, Coke’s Hartebeest, Walks and game drives:
The primary activity in this park is game driving, however, for people who live outside of the park boundaries, there may be opportunities to take a walk. Night safaris are also available.
Currently, Oliver’s Camp organizes walking tours as well as fly camping safaris.
Night Game Drives: one would wonder, are night game drives allowed in Tarangire? Well, Night Game Drives are allowed in the park however, not all accommodations offer these tours.
Only those that have properly established all the requirements and regulations offered by TANAPA such as Swala and Oliver’s camp are allowed to conduct these walks.
Enjoy a hot air balloon ride over the Tarangire while soaring over the treetops of the Tarangire to experience an exceptional perspective of wildlife like lions and ungulates below.
Tarangire National Park - Bird Watching
Bird watching is another common activity in the Tarangire, and devotees will be able to spot various species of birds while doing so.
The Tarangire National Park portal provides all information on wildlife, attractions, Tarangire activities, safari accommodation, when to go, how to get there, Tarangire Safaris & Tours, the Cost of Tarangire Safari, and a travel blog.
With an area of 2,600 square kilometers, the Tarangire National Park is Tanzania’s 6th largest national park, known for its large elephant herds and mini-wildlife migrations that occur during the dry season, when about 250,000 animals enter the park.
This park lies off the popular northern Tanzania Safari Circuit, between the meadows of Masai Steppe to the southeast and the lakes of the Great Rift Valley to the north and west. In the northern part of Tarangire lies the permanent Tarangire River, also known as the lifeline of the park, especially during the dry season when most of the region is completely dry.
In the northwestern corner of the park, the river exits the park and empties into Lake Burungi.
The south has a number of wide swamps that turn green during the dry season.
You are highly recommended to stay for a few days in Tarangire, especially in the south of the park where you’ll have a less crowded safari experience and have an opportunity to enjoy an authentic African feel.