Tarangire
Elephants, baobabs and the river. The dry season park: elephant herds in the hundreds along the Tarangire river, under baobab trees, two hours from Arusha.
Elephants, baobabs and the river
Tarangire is the northern circuit's dry season park. From June to October the Tarangire river is the only permanent water for a long way, and elephant come to it in herds of a hundred or more, along with buffalo, zebra and wildebeest from the surrounding rangelands. Lion and leopard follow. The park is known for its baobabs, thousands of them, and for birds: more than five hundred species have been recorded, with the swamps in the south drawing them in the wet months.
It is the closest of the big parks to Arusha, so our drive-in trips start here on the first day. In the green months the herds spread out and the game is quieter, but the park is empty of other vehicles and the light is beautiful; we will tell you which you are getting.
- Best months
- Jun to Oct, when the herds come to the river
- Getting there
- Two hours by road from Arusha, the first park on the northern circuit
- How long
- One or two nights
- What it costs
- From $897 per person, group of 5 or more, green season in our 4 day Quick safari: Tarangire & Lake Manyara trip.
Tarangire has the same per person park fee as the other northern parks and no extra vehicle fee, and it is reached by road rather than by air, which makes it the least expensive park day on the circuit. Where you sleep, inside the park or just outside its gate, is the main variable.
The reasons people come
- Elephant herds along the river from June to October
- Baobab trees, some over a thousand years old
- Lion and leopard hunting along the river line
- Over five hundred bird species, including the huge kori bustard
- The Silale swamp and its buffalo in the south of the park
- Far fewer vehicles than the Serengeti or the crater
Experiences here: Photography safaris.
- 1Tarangire
Ready-made, adjustable
Every one of these visits Tarangire. Each bends to your dates, group and budget.
Quick safari: Tarangire & Lake Manyara
Short safari escape: Tarangire & Ngorongoro
Drive in, fly out: Serengeti short safari
Wildlife & tribes: Tarangire, Lake Eyasi & Ngorongoro
Tarangire & Ngorongoro with a guided bush walk
Compact five days: Tarangire, Manyara & Ngorongoro
Where we sleep in Tarangire
The places our itineraries here book, by standard. Every one can be swapped.
Tarangire Elephant Springs
Stone cottages and a pool near the park gate, with a spring the elephants visit.
One of our trips sleeps here
The Whisper Tarangire
A small, quiet lodge in the Tarangire area for the long three-night stays.
One of our trips sleeps here
Conserve Safari Tarangire
A tented camp on the edge of the park for the last Tarangire days of the long immersive safari.
One of our trips sleeps here
Lake Burunge Baobab Tented Lodge
Tents among the baobabs above Lake Burunge, on Tarangire's western edge.
One of our trips sleeps hereWhat people ask about Tarangire
Why go in the dry season?
Because the river is the only water and every animal in the ecosystem comes to it. June to October is when the elephant herds are biggest and the grass is short enough to see the cats. In the wet months the animals spread out and the park is quiet.
Are there tsetse flies?
Yes, in patches of woodland, and their bite is a nuisance rather than a danger here. Wear neutral colours, not blue or black, and keep a long sleeved shirt in the vehicle.
Can I do Tarangire in half a day?
You can, on the way to Manyara or the crater, and many of our trips do. A full day reaches the southern swamps, which the half day does not.
Tell us your month and how many days you have, and we will say what Tarangire can be.
We reply within 4 working hours. No deposit to ask.