Tarangire

About Tarangire

The Tarangire National Park is located to the South of Arusha and is often missed by visitors enjoying Tanzania's Northern Circuit which is a real shame as the park offers fantastic game viewing, especially from July to October. However, the fact it is less celebrated means that you can enjoy this wonderful park without the high visitor numbers that you get in Lake Manyara and the Serengeti. 

Accommodation is varied here, with tented camps, traditional lodges and our favourite, the unique Tarangire Treetops, which, as the name suggests, is elevated up in the tree canopy overlooking the park and offering a superb spot for some ad hoc afternoon game viewing. Oliver's Camp offers a wonderfully traditional safari experience and is a real throwback to tented camps of yesteryear, whilst the beautiful Chem Chem and Little Chem Chem are ideally located between Tarangire and Lake Manyara and allow visitors to explore both parks from one base.

The main drawcard of Tarangire is it's famed elephant migration and, whilst the park can very much be regarded as a year-round destination, it is best visited between July and October when the dry conditions result in animals congregating around the Tarangire River making for some extraordinary sightings. Leopard and cheetah sightings can be very good here, although like all cats they can be elusive - but patience in searching for them is richly rewarded. This is a great spot if you are looking for somewhere quiet and scenic, but still offering good game viewing in the peak months and it gets a lot fewer visitors than the nearby Lake Manyara. It is also an excellent spot for birding enthusiasts.

Tarangire is fast becoming a must-do on Tanzania's Northern Circuit and becoming more and more popular with visitors. We would always recommend a trip here and the sooner the better so you can enjoy the tranquillity and low visitor numbers of this hidden gem of a park.

For more information, why not speak to one of our experts on +44 (0) 20 7843 3500 or email info@africatravel.co.uk

Seasons

• January to March - Warm and dry, the animal numbers in the park are still quite low, but it is a wonderfully quiet time to be in the park and to enjoy the beautiful scenery.
• April and May - The long rainy season when many camps in Tarangire close - a time of year we would recommend avoiding.
• June to October - A peak time for game viewing in Tarangire, but still with low visitor numbers. Superb game viewing and the chance to see the famed elephant migration. The best time of year to be here.
• November and December - Still a good time of year to be here, but with slightly lower animal numbers. November can see some rain but it is not too heavy.

Wildlife

African elephants can currently be found in 37 African countries

African Buffalos have a symbiotic relationship with many African birds such as the Oxpecker

The fastest land animal in the world, a cheetah can reach 70 miles per hour in 3 seconds

Giraffes can run as fast as 35 miles per hour

The wildebeest weighs between 300 and 600 pounds

Leopards can see seven times better in the dark than humans

Kudu's horns can reach 72 inches in length

Africa's crocodiles can grow to 20 feet wide & weigh up to 1,650 pounds

In The Know

• Tarangire Treetops is one of the most beautifully appointed lodges in East Africa and we highly recommend a stay here, a fantastic lodge
• July to October is the optimum time to visit here, but if you are looking for a quiet wilderness experience then November to March is great too as very few people visit at this time of year
• Staying outside of the park at somewhere like Chem Chem will allow you to enjoy night drives
• Champagne bush breakfasts can be arranged as a surprise for your travelling companions and are a wonderful way to round off a morning on safari