Tarangire National Park is considered one of the most scenic safari destinations in Africa. The diverse landscapes, granite ridges, woodlands, and grassland make the park unique.
Lion and other predators are frequently spotted and it is also famous for its massive population of elephants. The landscape is of particular interest too, due to the high number of scenic baobab trees.
The Tarangire National Park is known as a wonderful birding destination and also features large numbers of game, particularly during the dry season, when the Tarangire River is the only source of water in the area.
African wild dogs have been seen towards the southern part of the park and seeing that the numbers of these efficient hunters are dropping, spotting them can be a real treat.
But it is not only mammals you need to look out for while in Tarangire National Park as the park also boast with 550 different bird species.
The most commonly seen birds include yellow collared lovebirds, red billed hornbills, southern ground hornbills, lilac breasted rollers, ostriches, many kinds of raptors as well as several kinds of water birds just to name a few.
The Tarangire River flows all year round and it is an important life line for many of its residents, especially in the dry months. The river flows into Lake Burunge which is situated in the northwest.
The south of the park is dominated by marsh land, which is impassable in the wet season but tends to dry out completely in the dry season. The vegetation within the park is extremely diversified and includes open grasslands, savannah, Baobab trees and thick acacia bush as well as palm trees and swamps full of tall elephant grass in the south. Walking safaris are also offered in the southern part of the park.
The park’s dominant feature is the Tarangire River. Although it gets very dry, the park is relatively thickly vegetated with acacia shrubs and mixed woodland. Most memorable are the huge baobab trees dotted around in big numbers. The south and east of the park has a big seasonal swamp network, which is an important water catchment area.
Best time to visit
In the wetter months (November to May) tourists are fewer and the local wildlife more dispersed, with water easily found around the park. The animals are much easier to find during the Dry season (June to October), as they head to the area’s remaining water sources. Pack plenty of warm clothes for early-morning game drives at this time of year, as it’s cold when the sun is low in the sky.