Baobab country south of Arusha, where the Tarangire River draws some of northern Tanzania's largest elephant gatherings in the dry season, along with oryx, lesser kudu and a long bird list.
Tarangire National Park lies south of Arusha, off the road towards Dodoma, and it looks nothing like the Serengeti. Grey baobabs, some of them centuries old, stand over dry grassland and acacia scrub. The Tarangire River winds through the north of the park, and in the dry months it's the only dependable water for a long way around.
That river is what makes Tarangire. As the surrounding country dries out, animals move in from well outside the park to drink, and from about July the riverbanks get busy.
Elephant are the reason most people come. In the late dry season Tarangire holds some of the largest elephant gatherings in northern Tanzania. You can sit by the river and watch family herds dig in the sandy bed for water still flowing underneath.
The river also draws buffalo, wildebeest, zebra and giraffe, and with them lion. Leopard rest in the trees along the banks, though they're harder to find here than in the Serengeti. Keep an eye out for animals that are scarce elsewhere on the northern circuit, such as fringe-eared oryx and lesser kudu.
Birders love it. The yellow-collared lovebird and the ashy starling, both found mainly in Tanzania, are common, and hornbills, barbets and raptors turn up on every drive.
In the south of the park, Silale Swamp stays green when the rest of Tarangire is brown. It often holds elephant and lion, and few day visitors get that far.
One night is common as the first stop on a northern-circuit route: an afternoon drive on arrival and a full morning before you move on. Two nights give you time to reach Silale Swamp and the quieter south.
Tarangire is about 2 to 3 hours from Arusha, which makes it a natural first stop after an arrival night. From there it's roughly another 2 to 3 hours to Karatu and the Ngorongoro highlands.
The 3-day Tarangire and Ngorongoro safari and the 4-day northern circuit safari both start here. If your time is tight, see our short safaris.
Best months to visit: June, July, August, September, October
Dry season
The Tarangire River becomes the main water source and wildlife moves in from the surrounding country. Elephant gatherings usually peak from August to October. Hot afternoons, dusty tracks.
Dry season: June, July, August, September, October
Green season
Rain spreads the herds across the wider landscape, so game is thinner, but the park is green, quiet and excellent for migrant birds. The long rains in April and May can close some tracks.
Green season: January, February, March, April, May, November, December
A short private safari for travellers with three days to spare. You get an afternoon and a morning with Tarangire's elephants, a night on the cool Ngorongoro highlands, then a day in the crater before the drive back to Arusha.
Yes, especially from June to October. Tarangire's baobab landscape and its dry-season elephant herds are different from anything you'll see in the Serengeti, and it adds species such as fringe-eared oryx and lesser kudu. It also breaks up the drive from Arusha. In the green season the game is thinner, and Lake Manyara can be the easier choice on a tight route.
Usually in the late dry season, from about August to October, when the Tarangire River and Silale Swamp are the only reliable water for a long way. Herds move in from the surrounding country and gather along the riverbanks. The exact timing depends on when the rains ended that year, so a dry July can be just as good.
They can be a nuisance in the wooded parts of the park, particularly on warm days. Their bite is sharp but brief. Wear khaki, olive or beige rather than dark blue or black, which attract them, and keep long sleeves handy. Your guide may close the windows when driving through woodland where they're active.
Guided walks with an armed ranger can be arranged where permitted, either in designated areas of the park or in the wildlife areas around it, subject to availability. Walks usually start early in the morning and last a few hours, focusing on tracks, birds and plants as much as big animals. Age limits usually apply, so mention children when you enquire.
Tell us when you would like to travel and what matters to you. We will suggest how long to give Tarangire National Park and what to pair it with.
