Tarangire National Park
Overview
Tarangire National Park is famous for its giant baobab trees as well as the thousands of elephants and giraffes feeding along the banks of the Tarangire River. It is home to large lion pride and boasts around 500 bird species. Tarangire has the largest termite mounds in Tanzania, some of which reach up to fifteen feet in height. Many of Tarangire’s animals migrate out of the park during the wet season; thus Tarangire’s best game viewing is during the dry months of July through November when wildlife congregates around the Tarangire River. Bush walks and night drives are permitted from some camps in Tarangire.
The best time to go on safari in Tarangire National Park is towards the end of the dry season (September to November) when animals from the surrounding ecosystem concentrate in large numbers near the Tarangire River, which is the only permanent water source in the area. There are two rainy seasons, the short rains which generally occur in November and December, and the long rains, from mid-March to the end of May. Although many visitors are anxious about the rains this can be a great time to visit the park. Dramatic skies and fabulous sunsets are not uncommon. Rain showers are usually heavy but short, allowing plenty of time to get out and see animals indulging on the flush of verdant grass.
What to do?
Tarangire National Park is noted as a safari destination for its elephant population and spectacular baobabs of every shape and color. The parks name is derived from the Tarangire River, the parks only source of permanent water. In the dry season, this river is the lifeline, attracting much of the game. Huge herds of elephant, Zebra, buffalo, wildebeest and rhino and lion enjoy this terrain and are frequently seen. The Tarangire Park is also synonymous with two of the rarer game species; The greater kudu and the Fringe-eared Oryx. In addition, leopard and tree-climbing pythons often inhabit the trees. Due to the low volume of traffic in the park, the game is wild, being unaccustomed to vehicles, this offers a truly unique experience for guests on the Full Game Package, two game viewing drives in open-topped 4WD vehicles are included in the package. Large herds of antelope of all sorts including eland, lesser kudu, Kongoni, Impala, Zebra, gazelles, buffalo, wildebeest, leopard, elephant, rhino and lots of smaller mammals.