TANZANIA
Tarangire National Park
Home Of The Large Elephant Herds
GET TO KNOW THE PARK
Tanzania’s Best-kept Safari Secret
Considered by many safari aficionados as Tanzania’s best-kept safari secret, the Tarangire National Park was proclaimed in 1970, enlarging the area of its predecessor to incorporate more of the greater Tarangire ecosystem. Tarangire is Tanzania’s 6th largest national park, encompassing an area of some 2850 km² (1100 mi²), nearly the size of the state of Rhode Island (USA) or Luxembourg (EU).
It is named for the Tarangire River which runs from south to north through the reserve. ‘Tarangire’ is said to mean “winding river of warthogs” and while these are plentiful, there is much more to the park that makes it a worthwhile destination.
Overlooked by many as one has to detour slightly from the ever-popular Northern Safari Circuit, the Tarangire National Park is a vast haven for species also found in the more popular national. It has several species not found in the other locations, such as the fringe-eared oryx
It receives considerably fewer tourists, meaning that there is generally less congestion at wildlife sightings and visitors experience an enhanced sense of being in the wilderness.
Tarangire stands out among its peers thanks to an abundance of two of nature’s giants: African elephants and the peculiar baobab tree. Large predators and typical plains game are numerous throughout the dry season.
During the dry season, the perennial Tarangire river is the only reliable water supply, attracting vast herds of game and attendant predators. With the rains, the wildlife disperses and many roads become impassable.
Tarangire is a comfortable two-hour drive from Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA) and Arusha. Various charter flights are available direct to the airstrip in the north of the park, both from KIA and the other national parks.
Highlights
Elephants
Some 3000 elephants converge on Tarangire during the dry season, with herds up to 300 strong. Excellent sights year-round.
Baobab Trees
An abundance of these peculiar ‘upside-down trees’ are found within the park. Visitors can walk inside the “Poacher’s Hide” tree.
Bird-Watching
A bird lover’s paradise, with over 500 species, including rare endemic species and summer migrants.
Rock Paintings
Hundreds of these artworks from prehistoric man can be found, particularly in the Kolo district, outside of the park.
Mini-Migration
Tanzania’s second largest migration occurs when wildlife converges on the Tarangire River during the dry season.
Unusual Species
fringe-eared Oryx, the rare Coke’s hartebeests, long-necked gerenuk, dik-dik, grant’s gazelles, amongst others.
Predators
Very good sightings of lions, cheetahs, leopards, and spotted hyenas. Also the possibility of highly endangered African wild dogs.
Regions of the Tarangire
Northern Section
The main entrance, airstrip and park headquarters are found in this area. The entrance sits on a bend in the Tarangire River, giving arriving visitors their first glimpse of the park’s most important resource.
Entering the park the terrain is fairly flat, made up of grasslands with occasional woodlands. Standing out amongst the trees are the baobabs, unique for their bulbous trunks that can hold hundreds of litres of water and this is the northernmost limit of their range in Tanzania.
Progressing into the park, the terrain becomes quite hilly, with views of distant Lake Manyara and the Milima Mitatu peaks. During the wet season, Lake Burungi is home to good numbers of hippos, crocodiles and various species of waterfowl, while it sometimes dries completely in the dry season, revealing a sparkling bed of salt crystals. The Silale Swamps are home to a resident lion pride.
Tarangire River
Flowing from south to north through the park, the river can be considered the artery that brings life to the entire national park. As waterholes and seasonal rivers dry up after the rains, animals that had been dispersed for grazing outside the park converge on the river in what is regarded as Tanzania’s mini-migration.
The influx of wildlife into the area, while not on the scale of the Great Migration, is impressive in its own right. And like the scenes witnessed in the Serengeti, the arriving herds attract all of the large predator species.
Year-round, the river is home to a significant population of both hippos and some truly impressive crocodiles. The water and lush vegetation on the riverbanks are a haven for birdlife, and leopards are common in the thickets.
Western Section
The predominant habitat in this section of Tarangire is made up of the nutritious grassland found in the Gursi Plains, along with pockets of combretum and acacia woodlands. The two habitats are favourable for the presence of two of the park’s mega-herbivores, elephants and Cape buffalos.
Other herbivorous species also benefit from the excellent grazing and browsing, making this a good area to spot predators. Good sightings of lion and spotted hyenas are frequently had and the area is also considered the best place to see Africa’s second most endangered large carnivore, the African wild dog (also known as the painted wolf). These highly successful hunters are mostly seen near the Kitibong Hills
Southern Section
For those who truly wish to experience the wild wilderness of East Africa, the southern reaches of Tarangire are a haven of unspoilt remoteness. There is little in the way of infrastructure in this region, with only a few camps and minimal park facilities. Access to many of the roads is occasionally impossible in the wet season, due to the swamps and wetlands that form.
These limitations in human terms, mean that the south is the location for most of the walking safaris offered in the park. For the wildlife, the low number of tourists, along with lower populations of lions and hyenas, mean that cheetahs and ostriches are seen fairly frequently. The swamps and wetlands are also a haven for waterbirds until they dry up in the dry season.
ACTIVITIES
Be one with the nature at Tarangire.
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Game Drives
Setting out in the cooler hours of the day when the wildlife is most active, you will travel in a customized safari vehicle with an experienced guide in search of Africa’s big game. Full-day options are also available.
Night Game Drives
Permitted operators may offer night drives, where they will have the opportunity to view the park’s nocturnal species, such as civet and aardvark.
Walking Safari
Permitted operators may offer walking safaris, where participants learn more about the plants and other finer details of the ecosystem.
Maasai and Barabaig Cultural Experiences
Visit traditional homesteads for a fascinating glimpse into these ancient cultures.
Balloon Safari
Drift quietly over the unsuspecting wildlife below in an early morning adventure that is truly unforgettable.
Wellness Treatment
Extend your sense of relaxation under the caring hands of trained therapists, incorporating traditional African treatments and familiar massage techniques.
Bird-watching
With over 500 recorded species and numerous endemics and migratory visitors, the park is a bird lover’s paradise.
Rock Paintings
Take a day trip to the Kolo region nearby to view some of the hundreds of examples of prehistoric art adorning the rock formations.
The Wildlife
For wildlife-lovers who prefer to avoid the occasional traffic jams found at sightings at other Tanzanian national parks, Tarangire is a relative paradise. Not only are there fewer tourists vying for the best spot, but at certain times of the year, the wildlife seems as abundant and diverse as the best you might find elsewhere.
It should be noted that game-viewing in Tarangire is quite seasonal, and sightings will vary from the dry to wet season. When the rains fall, it means that numerous seasonal rivers and waterholes further afield allow the game to seek grazing away from the perennial Tarangire River. This dispersal is a valuable opportunity for the habitat adjacent to the river to recover from intensive grazing and browsing during the dry season.
As the rainwater dries up, and the grazing on the distant pastures is depleted, migration back to the river is necessitated throughout the dry season, and it is at this time that Tarangire’s wildlife sightings rival the best that Africa has to offer.
Of all species represented, most visitors will remember Tarangire for the huge elephant population. The park is said to be home to up to 3000 of these ponderous pachyderms, with herds occasionally numbering 300-strong. Of the other large herbivores, Cape buffalos are also plentiful, while the various waterholes and the Tarangire River offer a safe haven for hundreds of hippos in the heat of the day. Unconfirmed reports of black rhinos are also had on occasion.
Tarangire is also notable for having some species not found in the Serengeti or Ngorongoro Crater, such as fringe-eared oryx and the otherworldly gerenuk. Coke’s hartebeest, their numbers gravely impacted by habitat loss, also find sanctuary in the park. These aside, visitors will see healthy populations of typical east African plains game; including wildebeest, zebra, impala, warthogs, giraffe, and a variety of antelope. Olive baboons and vervet monkeys can often be seen enjoying a symbiotic relationship with the aforementioned species.
Despite the plentiful eyes and ears wary of predators, Tarangire boasts excellent sightings of all the region’s large carnivores. Large prides of lions vie for dominance of the food chain with clans of equally social spotted hyenas. Solitary leopards are also quite common in the park, if not easily seen. To the south of the park where lions and hyenas are less prevalent, the park’s cheetah population is said to be most concentrated. Arguably your best chance of seeing an African wild dog in Tanzania is within Tarangire. Some of the smaller predators represented are caracal, honey badger and serval.
Over 545 species of birds have been identified within the park. These are mostly resident species, although the diversity swells with the arrival of Summer migrants from November to April. Species endemic to the area include the yellow-collared lovebird, rufous-tailed weaver and the ashy starling. The river and numerous wetlands are host to a diverse array of waterbirds.
The Landscape
Tarangire reveals itself to visitors in a range of beautiful landscapes and habitats. The course of the Tarangire River is flanked by floodplains and stands of riverine forest. In the north of the park, rolling savanna gives way to hill country dotted with thick-trunked baobabs and expanses of mixed combretum and acacia woodland. Low-lying areas are inundated in the wet season, leaving verdant swamps and wetlands brimming with the buzz of insects and song of birds. On the grasslands, abandoned termite hills several metres high are modified as new homes for dwarf mongooses and other burrowing species. While after the rains Tarangire is lush green, it can get very dry. Between grasslands, granite ridges, valleys, swamps and forests, Tarangire is a complex system of habitats that appeals to humans and wildlife alike.
Weather and Climate
From June until October, the dry season offers the best game viewing, as animals migrate into the park and concentrate along the river. Vegetation is also sparse, improving the visibility of the animals.
During the wet season (November – May) some of the park may be inaccessible due to flooding. However, for bird-watchers, this is when they are at their most diverse and abundant.
Best Time To Go
June to February
A dry spell occurs after the short rains. The exact timing is difficult to predict.
March to May – Long Rains
Long Rains, On most days, rain occurs, although it rarely rains the entire day. Cloudy skies are common. Cold fronts commonly roll in during April and May causing temperatures to get much colder.
June To October
No Rain, Typically no rain with temperatures ranging between 26°C/79°F
and 14°C/57°
November To December
‘Short rains’, Unreliable wet season lasting up to four weeks, with brief showers each day. Daytime temperatures average 28°C/82°F, cooling to 16°C/61°F at night.
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Serengeti National Park
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Ngorongoro Park
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