Tarangire National Park: Paradise of elephants

MANYARA: TARANGIRE extends cordial welcome. The staff are always thrilled to see tourists, both local and foreign there and appreciate their visits. Whether you are visiting here for a day trip or having an overnight, Tarangire has something for everyone.

The park is impressively splendid for its famous concentration of wild animals especially the elephants and it is also one of the finest birding destinations in East Africa.

The name of the park originates from the Tarangire River that crosses the park and covers an area of 2,850-kilometre square.

Getting there

The Park can be accessed by road or air.

Road: The park is 121km through a tarmac road from Arusha city.

Air: The park can be reached by flight from Kilimanjaro International Airport which is 46km from Arusha. Charted flights are also available from Arusha to Kuro Airstrip located inside the park.

Attractions

The Park has remarkable attractions with large groups of Elephants, spectacular natural beauty of savanna landscape and magnificent majestic Baobabs. Over 550 different bird species have been recorded in the park, of which several are threatened or endemic.

Wildlife

Tarangire is noted as a safari destination for its large concentration of wildlife population. Animals like elephants, eland, giraffe, lions, buffalo, cheetah, leopards and zebra are easily spotted when you are in four-wheel drive.

Birds

Enjoy spotting a large batch of colourful and exclusive bird species. Over 500 different species are housed with swamps that are spread all over Tarangire. This makes an area to be amazing destination for bird lovers. One wouldn’t mii to see breeding species of birds found in Tarangire than anywhere else on the planet.

Baobab trees

They can live up to 300 years and can grow trunks reaching more than 100feet in circumference. They have spent quite sometime on the planet and seen a lot of history. So if only they could talk, they would surely be interesting storytellers!

Tarangire River

Is the only sources of water for thousands of animals in the dry season thus offering a fantastic game driving experience.

Termite mounds

The mounds built of mud from underground and held together by termite saliva are always seen and they provide observation points for animals. It’s also a home to dwarf mongoose when abandoned.

Activities

Tarangire National Park has different activities that can be done once you have arrived at the park. These activities include day game drive, night game drive, walking safari, filming and photographing, bush-meal, hot air balloon safari, bird watching and picnicking.

Walking safari

This gives you a more learning experience about animals within the bushland and a better way of spotting animals within the bushland and a better way of spotting animals at a close range. It is mostly done in the morning and evenings and brings about a different scope and sense of adventure. It also conveys a different dimension in the whole safari experience.

Day game drive

This is an adventure that entails viewing wildlife while in a car. Tarangire offers tourist an opportunity to explore the large herds of elephants alongside animals like giraffe, Oryx, starling, greater kudu, gazelle, heartbeats, wildebeest, zebra, lions, leopards and tree climbing pythons.

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Night game

Going with a blanket sitting in an open vehicle under an African sky with the pretty stars is a moment to remember. The bush is completely a different world at night. You wouldn’t miss a night drive in Tarangire!

Balloon safari

Balloon air flight in Tarangire will give you a different experience. Gliding across Tarangire river on your tour as the sunrise stains the plains pink, the golden grassland dotted with giant baobab trees, the silver ribbons of the rivers and animals congregate in their hundreds in the early morning; all these make you be park of the natural world.

Bird watching

Tarangire is a great bird watching site with more than 500 species recorded. Bird lovers should keep an eye open for flocks of dazzlingly colourful yellow –collared lovebirds and the somewhat drabber Rudous – tailed weaver and Ashy starling.

Bush meal

Visitors can enjoy taking their meals at the middle of the bush after a short or long day game drive.