The fierce sun sucks the moisture from the landscape, baking the earth a dusty red, the withered grass as brittle as straw. The Tarangire River has shrivelled to a shadow of its wet season self. But it is choked with wildlife. Thirsty nomads have wandered hundreds of parched kilometres knowing that here, always, there is water. Herds of up to 300 elephants scratch the dry river bed for underground streams, while migratory wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, impala, gazelle, hartebeest and eland crowd the shrinking lagoons. It’s the greatest concentration of wildlife outside the Serengeti ecosystem – a smorgasbord for predators – and the one place in Tanzania where dry-country antelope such as the stately fringe-eared oryx and peculiar long-necked gerenuk are regularly observed.
During the rainy season, the seasonal visitors scatter over a 20,000 sq km (12,500 sq miles) range until they exhaust the green plains and the river calls once more. But Tarangire’s mobs of elephant are easily encountered, wet or dry.
The swamps, tinged green year round, are the focus for 550 bird varieties, the most breeding species in one habitat anywhere in the world.
About Tarangire National Park
Size: 2,600 sq km (1,005 sq miles).
Location: 118 km (75 miles) southwest of Arusha.
Getting there
Easy drive from Arusha or Lake Manyara following a surfaced road to within 7km (four miles) of the main entrance gate; can continue on to Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti. Charter flights from Arusha and the Serengeti.
When to go
Year round but dry season (June – September) for sheer numbers of animals.
Lodges and Camps serving Tarangire
Safaris visiting Tarangire
Tanzania North to South
From $8580 per person: A 9 Day flying safari to Tarangire, Ngorongoro, Serengeti and Ruaha parks visiting Oliver's Camp, The Highlands, Namiri Plains and Jabali Ridge.
Tanzania Classic North
From $6850 per person: An 8 Day flying safari combining Tarangire, Ngorongoro and the Serengeti parks in Northern Tanzania.
Tarangire, Ngorongoro, Serengeti Migration and Zanzibar
12 days flying safari to Tarangire, Ngorongoro, Serengeti and Zanzibar, visiting Arumeru River Lodge, Oliver's Camp, The Highlands, Ubuntu and Matemwe Lodge
Best of Asilia Northern Tanzania
10 Days safari to Tarangire, Ngorongoro and Serengeti in Tanzania, visiting Arumeru River Lodge, Oliver's Camp, Highlands Ngorongoro, Dunia and Sayari Camps
Tanzania’s Northern Circuit
7 Nights / 8 Days Flying safari to Tarangire, Ngorongoro and Serengeti in Northern Tanzania, staying at quality classic safari camps inside the parks.
11 Night Pure Canvas Northern Tanzania
A 12 day high-end safari visiting Serengeti, Maswa Game Reserve, Burunge WMA and Tarangire National Park. Exclusive-use low volume wildlife reserves combine with the best of Serengeti and Tarangire National Parks.
7 Night Northern Tanzania – Dry Season
From $5865 pp (based on 4 adults sharing) - Visiting Tarangire, Manyara, Ngorongoro and Serengeti.
21 Nights – Ultimate Tanzania
21 day ultimate Tanzania from US$19014 per person: Tarangire, Manyara, Ngorongoro, Serengeti, Katavi, Mahale, Ruaha, Selous.