Tarangire National Park

It's breathtaking to watch herds of up to 300 elephants charging through the savannah! Picking leaves straight from the tree for food or digging for water veins in the dry riverbed? Experience the gray giants of Africa more impressively than ever before. In the dry season between June and October, you can observe particularly large numbers of elephants on the banks of the Tarangire. It is not uncommon to see the fascinating trunked animals in large family groups.

But that's not all. In addition to elephants, wildebeest and impala, giraffe, buffalo, zebra and monkeys also gather at the refreshing water sources. Flanked by big cats of prey such as lions, cheetahs and leopards, they are part of the species-rich wildlife. The view towards the horizon is not only worthwhile because of the impressive tree population. Tree pythons and exotic birds can also be seen hiding in the branched canopy.

From the herds of wild animals in the north to the seasonal marshlands in the south: Tarangire National Park offers maximum variety. Over 500 bird species make the hearts of amateur ornithologists beat faster. Brightly feathered parrots meet long-legged ostriches, circling eagles and vultures meet colorful fork-tailed rakes. In addition to birds, hippos also prefer to frolic in the remote swamps.

Classic safari activities such as game drives in open off-road vehicles form the heart of the tourist offer in Tarangire National Park. You can join these discovery drives both in the early hours of the morning and after dark. Knowledgeable rangers will guide you unerringly to the best spots for wildlife sightings of all kinds. A romantic balloon ride over the beautiful hilly landscape with its baobab trees is also unforgettable.

Would you like to get even closer and train your eye for detail? Safari tours in the southern sections of the park give you the opportunity to get to know the rich birdlife. For safety reasons, solo walks are not permitted.

Good to know: The safari camps and lodges in Tarangire National Park are not fenced. Individual wildlife sightings are therefore also possible in the immediate vicinity of the accommodation.

Visiting the locals

The bordering areas around Tarangire National Park are home to the nomadic Maasai people. Get to know the locals during visits to the local communities. There you will learn interesting facts about livestock farming and agriculture, customs and traditions.

A decisive advantage of Tarangire National Park over other safari destinations is the year-round availability of water. This means that the area attracts large populations of wild animals, especially in the dry season. In the middle of the barren landscape around the Tarangire River, you can easily spot elephants, wildebeest and the like. The dry season usually lasts from June to the end of October and December to February.

If you are not afraid of the rainy season, you can also see numerous pachyderms from March to May and in November. The loamy soil is too soft for many other hoofed animals at this time of year - they only return during the dry season.

Good to know: The tsetse fly is widespread throughout the park area. You can protect yourself against possible bites by wearing suitable clothing and using insect repellent.

Thanks to its convenient location on the Northern Circuit, Tarangire National Park is ideal for safari tours in northern Tanzania. It is only a two-hour transfer from Arusha. The snow-capped peak of Kilimanjaro is also within sight. With the Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara, further safari highlights are just a few hours' drive away.

The Serengeti National Park can be reached after a four-hour drive. Be there live when thousands of wild animals cross the savannah during the great migration and cross raging rivers. This annual natural spectacle can only be seen here: Welcome to the home of the famous Big Five!