Tarangire National Park
Elephants by the hundred, giant baobabs and a dry-season river that draws in the wildlife.
- Elephants
- Baobabs
- Tarangire River
- Walking safaris
- Night drives
- Birdlife
Our view
Tarangire is often treated as a quick stop on the way to Ngorongoro and the Serengeti, and I think that undersells it. In the dry season it is one of the best places in Tanzania for elephants.
From June to October the Tarangire River is the only reliable water for a long way around, and the wildlife comes to it: large herds of elephant, buffalo, zebra and wildebeest, and the lion and leopard that follow them. The landscape is quite unlike the open Serengeti, with huge baobabs, river valleys and swamps.
The park itself is for game drives, but the community wildlife areas on its edges add things the park cannot: walking, night drives and smaller camps. Chem Chem in Burunge to the west and Olkeri in Randilen to the north-east are good examples, and a night or two there makes Tarangire a destination in its own right.
In the green season the animals spread out over a much larger area and the park is quieter, but the birdlife is excellent and the elephants are rarely far away.
Areas within the park
Tarangire River and the north
The main game-viewing area, where the herds gather along the river in the dry season. Most camps are here.
Silale swamp and the south
Quieter, with swamps that stay green all year and some of the park's largest elephant herds.
Burunge and the Chem Chem concession
Community land on the park's western edge, between Tarangire and Lake Manyara, home to the private Chem Chem concession with walking and night drives.
Randilen Wildlife Management Area
Community land to the north-east, with very few camps, walking and night drives.
When to go
Where to stay
Tarangire, Tanzania
Burunge Tented Lodge
$123 – $166
Tarangire, Tanzania
Chem Chem Lodge
$1,560 – $2,000
Tarangire, Tanzania
Kuro Tarangire
$1,000 – $1,560
Tarangire, Tanzania
Little Chem Chem Camp
$1,505 – $1,930
Tarangire, Tanzania
Mpingo Ridge
$1,066 – $1,827
Tarangire, Tanzania
Oliver's Camp Tarangire
$950 – $1,390
Tarangire
Olkeri Camp
$608 – $769
Tarangire, Tanzania
Tarangire Treetops
$1,191 – $1,411
Safaris that go here
9 Nights Chem Chem, Ngorongoro and Northern Serengeti
Arusha › Burunge WMA › Lake Manyara › Tarangire › Ngorongoro › Northern Serengeti
2027 rates on request
A private-guided safari through three of northern Tanzania's most distinct landscapes, travelling by road through the north and flying to the far northern Serengeti
9 Nights Tarangire, Serengeti and Masai Mara
Arusha › Tarangire › Southern Serengeti › Masai Mara
From US$13,450 pp · 2026 rate
A flying safari across one great ecosystem and two countries: Tarangire's elephants, the Serengeti migration and the Masai Mara, staying at three camps chosen for their wildlife
Passage to Kusini – 7 Days
Tarangire › Randilen WMA › Ngorongoro › Southern Serengeti
2027 rates on request
This 7 Day Privately Guided Safari to Northern Tanzania, visits Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro Crater and Southern Serengeti National Park. Your skilled guide will collect you from Kilimanjaro airport and…
Northern Tanzania Through Kusini – 9 Days
Tarangire › Randilen WMA › Ngorongoro › Northern Serengeti
From US$8,745 pp · 2026 rate
This 9 Day Privately Guided Safari to Northern Tanzania, visits Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro Crater and 2 locations in Serengeti National Park. Your skilled guide will collect you from Kilimanjaro…
Legendary Flying Safari – 8 Days
Arusha › Burunge WMA › Central Serengeti
2027 rates on request
Legendary Expeditions and Chem Chem Safaris have partnered to create the ultimate northern Tanzania safari experience. This exclusive offer includes complimentary flights and transfers, ensuring seamless travel between their luxury…
Tanzania Under Canvas – 8 Days
Arusha › Burunge WMA › Tarangire › Central Serengeti › Grumeti
2027 rates on request
Tarangire’s Iconic Landscape Discover the breathtaking beauty of Tarangire National Park, where ancient baobab trees dominate the skyline and overlook shimmering Lake Burunge. To the southwest, the Babati mountain range…
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Questions
When is the best time to visit Tarangire?
June to October, when the Tarangire River draws in large numbers of elephant and other wildlife. The green season from November to May is quieter, with good birding.
How many nights should I spend in Tarangire?
Two nights in the park is a good minimum. Add one or two in Burunge or Randilen if you want to walk or go on night drives.
Can I walk in Tarangire?
Walks are possible from some camps, and the neighbouring wildlife management areas offer walking safaris and night drives, which are not allowed in most of the park.
Is Tarangire worth visiting before the Serengeti?
Yes. It is only about two hours from Arusha and offers a very different landscape, with more elephants than almost anywhere else on the northern circuit.
Plan a safari to Tarangire
Tell us roughly when and how you would like to travel, and we will reply with ideas and a detailed quote within one working day.