tours_through_tarangire_national_park.jpg "Tarangire Safari Guide")
tours_through_tarangire_national_park.jpg "Tanzania Safari in Tarangire National Park")
This beautiful game park's unspoiled grasslands, floodplains, and woodlands provide sanctuary to diverse wild animals and an abundance of birds.
- Abundance of elephants—herds of up to 300 elephants
- Tree-climbing lions, leopards, and pythons
- A huge number of baobab trees and termite mounds dot its hills
- One of the highest number of breeding bird species in any habitat on earth
Tarangire hosts a good variety of predators with sizable populations. Frequent predator sightings in Tarangire include tree-climbing lions, leopards, and spotted hyenas. Cheetahs are sometimes sighted in the southern region of the park, and wild dogs have been seen on rare occasions.
Elephants are common and can be sighted year-round. In the larger Tarangire ecosystem of 20 000 km2, there are approximately 2500 elephants. The game park is home to lots of zebras and wildebeest, as well as plenty of giraffes, buffalos, waterbucks, elands, and impalas. A variety of other antelope species are also found in the park, including greater and lesser kudu, Thompson's gazelle, hartebeest, and reedbuck. The park is the only place in Tanzania where unusual gerenuks with their long necks, and fringe-eared oryx, are regularly spotted. Dwarf mongooses and red-and-yellow barbets are often seen inhabiting old termite mounds.
The dry season in Tarangire is an animal seeker's dream come true. The Tarangire River serves as a life source during this time, luring in migratory animals such as wildebeest, zebra, eland, hartebeest, and more. The park's elephant population, which is already impressively dense, can be described as "mind-blowing" during the dry season. Top that off with sightings of big cats like lions, and you have an incredible wildlife experience.
Tanzania’s Tarangire National Park has become renowned for its walking safaris—a unique opportunity to see wild animals up close and to take in the beauty of the African savanna. It's one of the few wildlife parks in Tanzania where walking safaris are permitted.
Tarangire National Park is situated in the Manyara Region of northern Tanzania, in Easter Africa. It takes about two hours (120 km) to drive to Tarangire Park from Arusha, near Mount Kilimanjaro.
Tarangire lies southeast of Lake Manyara National Park, and the Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti National Park are further northwest. Together, these top game parks are known as Tanzania's Northern Safari Circuit. They are located close to Kenya's southern border. Of the game parks on the Northern Tanzania Safari Circuit, Tarangire is the most uncrowded, especially in the southern part of the park.
Tarangire hosts a good variety of predators in sizeable populations. Frequent predator sightings in Tarangire include lions, leopards, and spotted hyenas. Cheetahs are sometimes sighted in the southern region of the park and wild dogs have been seen on rare occasions.
Elephants are common and can be sighted year-round. There are about 2500 elephants in the larger Tarangire ecosystem of about 25 000 km². The game park is home to lots of zebras and wildebeest, as well as plenty of giraffes, buffalos, waterbucks, elands, and impalas. A variety of other antelope species are also found in the park, including greater and lesser kudu, Thompson's gazelle, hartebeest, and reedbuck. The park is the only place in Tanzania where unusual gerenuk with its long neck and fringe-eared oryx, are regularly spotted. Dwarf mongoose and red-and-yellow barbet are often seen inhabiting old termite mounds.
The swamp areas of Tarangire remain relatively green throughout the year, attracting over 500 different bird species. These swamps host what is considered to be the largest number of breeding bird species worldwide. Common sightings include yellow-collared lovebirds found in the riverine vegetation along the Tarangire River. Rufous-tailed weavers and ashy starlings are also endemic to this part of Tanzania. In the drier areas, Kori bustards, ostriches, and ground hornbills are often sighted.
The best time for Tarangire safaris is in the dry season, from June to October. Animals congregate along the Tarangire River and in its swamps in search of food and water. The dense bush of the game park also thins out in the dry season, making for better game viewing.
Since the Tarangire River is the only source of water in this area of the country, which is mostly dry, a significant number of wildebeests, elephants, gazelles, zebras, and hartebeest, as well as numerous predators like lions, come to drink and graze along the river's banks.
The weather in Tarangire is the perfect combination of enjoyable and temperate, with average temperatures ranging from 23.8 °C (74.8 °F) in July to 29.9 °C (85.8 °F) in February. The two wet seasons, March to May (long rains) and November to December (short rains), provide some relief from the heat, usually in the afternoon.
Tarangire National Park offers an unforgettable safari experience and African Budget Safaris features the best affordable Tarangire safari packages, as well as tailor-making Tanzania safaris to Tarangire at excellent prices. Our partners provide short Tarangire safari at reasonable prices, making it a great option for smaller groups looking to save on safari costs. Prices range from 185 USD per person (group of 7 people) to 380 USD per person (booking for two). Get in touch with us if you have any questions about this experience or need help booking your Tarangire safari.
A longer Tarangire safari can cost up to 1250 USD per night in luxury safari lodges, or roughly 300 USD per person per day.
The Tarangire National Park is part of the popular northern safari circuit. The best way to get there is by flying into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), which is conveniently located only 46 km (29 mi) from Arusha. An alternative may be finding a domestic flight to either Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) in Dar es Salaam or Arusha Airport (ARK) before transferring over to JRO. Regardless of how you make your way there, it will certainly be worth the 2 hours drive from Arusha, followed by an untarred 7km stretch leading up to the park’s entrance gate.
As mentioned above, the trip to Tarangire National Park consists of both flights and a little driving. Depending on your accommodation of choice, you can either make use of a shuttle service or rent a vehicle from the nearest town. Since the road to the park’s gate is untarred, opting for a 4x4 vehicle is advised.
Safari packages include transport, making your trip through the Tarangire easy—all you have to do is show up and enjoy the beautiful view. If you prefer the self-drive option, be sure to follow the park rules and regulations.
If you're planning a trip to Tarangire National Park, African Budget Safaris offers different packages, making it easy to find one that matches your unique budget and style of travel. Whether you are looking for an exclusive budget experience, would like to rough it on a budget camping safari, or prefer something in between, we have you covered!
Traveling in Tanzania is very safe. You don't have to worry about crime against tourists in the Tarangire National Park; it is nearly unheard of. All that's left are the normal travel precautions, such as checking with your local doctor or travel clinic before you leave and remembering to use mosquito repellent and wearing long sleeves and pants after dark to keep insects at bay.
When it comes to predicting weather and the movements of wild animals, we strive to be as accurate as possible. However, weather patterns always shift unpredictably. Animals have their own mysterious rhythms that no one can quite predict.
January to March is Tarangire's gorgeous green season. The vegetation provides an inspiring backdrop as you cruise through the park. It also happens to be the best time of year for birders, with over 500 species of birds flocking to the region, both permanently and just passing through. You may even spot some of the more extraordinary creatures like crested francolins, bateleur eagles, and lappet-faced vultures during your stay. With all these incredible sights—and lower rates due to it being the low season—rewarding experiences await during your safari in Tarangire.
April and May are interesting times for the Tarangire National Park. On one hand, these months see the heaviest rainfall of the year, on the other, there is an elevated risk of malaria. The low cost of accommodation during this period is alluring enough, but quieter roads and more space to find animals in their natural habitat make the wet season in Tarangire even more attractive to adventure seekers. So if you can brave a little bit of rain, then this is definitely the perfect time to take a trip to Tarangire.
June to October come with plenty of sunny days and a depleting water supply, triggering a "watering hole" effect that brings animals in droves to the river’s edges. Under these conditions, it’s far easier to spot some of East Africa’s most majestic creatures. You can expect to see lions, leopards, wildebeest, giraffes, zebras, spotted hyenas, and the emblematic elephants—all without swatting away pesky mosquitoes since there are very few when it's dry.
November and December are often seen as the long-awaited beginning of Tarangire National Park's "green season." As the first rains of the year arrive, so do lush vegetation and new life. This transforms the normally dry African scrubland into a wonderland filled with beautiful sights and sounds.
Located 120 kilometers from Arusha and only a two-hour drive away, this 2 850 km² (1 100 square miles) reserve is nothing short of majestic. Home to huge baobab trees, the park takes its name from the Tarangire River, which runs through it. While the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater may be more well-known tourist destinations in Tanzania, Tarangire National Park serves as a refuge for elephant herds, making it a highlight for anyone looking to get up close and personal with them.
The Tarangire National Park was declared a game reserve back in 1957 as a measure to protect the animal species from the area's dry season. In 1970, the government of Tanzania recognized it as a national park.
Fun fact: The Tarangire Nation Park gets its name from the Tarangire River that runs through it.
Proudly carrying on their ancient traditions, the Maasai people have been herding their cattle throughout the Serengeti and Ngorongoro for thousands of years. They take pride in living in extended families in Tanzania, where men are responsible for the security and build kraals out of acacia thorns as protection from lion attacks. The boys act as herdsmen while women and girls build houses or Inkajijik, collect wood and water, and prepare food for their families.
Nowadays, however, there has been a great shift in ambition. Both boys and girls are looking to learn trades such as cooking, housekeeping, artistry, and teaching roles, with some even utilizing their bush knowledge to become safari guides or camp managers around East Africa.
African Budget Safaris is your best choice for an affordable Tarangire Safari in Tanzania.
Our experienced travel consultants can craft custom safaris tailored to your unique needs and budget. Contact African Budget Safaris today if you’d like some assistance planning and choosing the perfect trip.
Use the Google map to explore Tarangire National Park.