Intro
About Tarangire National Park
Activities
Wildlife

Elephants and baobabs

Tarangire National Park is known for its high population of elephants and beautiful ancient baobab trees.

The park is named after the Tarangire river that flows through the park. Here, the fresh water attracts many animals for a drink.

Surface 2.850 km2
Best travel seasonAll year round
Spring rain season Around April/May
Fall rain seasonAround November

About Tarangire National Park

Tarangire National Park has a varied, beautifully rough and hilly terrain around a winding river where many animals come to drink.

In addition, the park is famous for its huge baobab trees, yellow acacias, small swamps and palm trees.

Landscape of Tarangire National Park

Tarangire National Park has the most varied landscape of northern Tanzania. With both majestic baobabs, many sunlit termite mounds as well as grassy savannas and extensive swamps.

The park is split in two by the meandering Tarangire River, with steep river banks in some places. This river is the main lifeline for the wildlife in the area during the dry season. During this annual dry period, itinerant ungulates gather here to feed, drink and breed, with the predators in their wake.

After the dry period, a period of short rains follows. The park transforms into a green oasis. At this time, the animals move on and spread over an area ten times larger than the park.

Climate and season

The weather in Tarangire National Park is moderate and pleasant. During the year, it rarely gets too hot during the day, but it cools off at night and in the morning.

June to October
In this dry period the afternoon temperatures are around 26 degrees. The days are clear with blue skies. At night, temperatures drop to about 14 degrees or sometimes lower, to the freezing point in a cold front. The animals are now flocking to the Tarangire River in search of water.

November and December
During this period, rain falls for about 30 days. But your safari will not experience much disruption because it never rains all day. It’s about 29 degrees during the day and about 17 degrees at night.

January and February
This is the dry season between two green season, large groups of elephants can be found in the park.

March to May
During this period, there are a lot of clouds and there will be showers on most days, but it never rains all day. The average temperatures are around 27 degrees during the day and 17 degrees at night and sometimes even a lot cooler due to the folds.

Interesting facts

1. “In the years we lived in Arusha, I regularly spent my weekends in Tarangire National Park with my parents and sister and we enjoyed the beautiful nature and many animals.” said Marjolijn Pronk, owner of Explore Tanzania, about her beloved park.

2. The heights in the Tarangire National Park vary greatly from 985 to 1,528 meters.

3. Tarangire National Park can be reached via a paved road south of Arusha city, in less than two hours. Lake Manyara National Park is a 70 km drive away.

4. The oldest known elephant (57), mother to a healthy twin, lives in Tanrangire National Park.

5. Tarangire National park is also famous for the termite mounds that occur in the landscape. Termite mounds, with an extensive system of tunnels and corridors that also serve as a ventilation system, can sometimes be up to 30 meters in diameter.

6. A termite population consists of workers (blind and without wings, to feed and care for the others), soldiers (who protect the others against intruders with their poisonous saliva) and the king and queen (up to six times the size of the rest and takes care of breeding).

7. Baobab trees reach a height of 5 to 30 meters and have a trunk with a diameter of 7 to 11 meters. Baobab trees can store up to 120,000 liters of water in their trunk to withstand severe droughts. But despite that, they seem to be slowly losing the battle against global warming.

8. Elephants eat the soft bark of the baobab trees and baboons and other monkeys eat its fruits. Hence the name monkey bread tree.

Activities

Tarangire National Park is calm and relatively unknown.

A safari in Tarangire National Park is an absolute must!

Safari

A jeep safari in Tarangire National Park is gorgeous! Either as a short safari, or as part of a safari tour in the north of Tanzania. During the safari you travel, with a private safari guide in a private Toyota Landcruiser. During all safari days you have the same car and guide.

During this safari, you decide on the day program in consultation with the safari guide. His goal is to show you as much as possible. You could for example start the safari at sunrise, or after a quiet breakfast. It’s up to you.

You can enjoy the safari until sunset, or you may want to drive back a little earlier for a quiet afternoon at the lodge. You have all the time to yourself.

Balloon flight

Experience Tarangire Tanzania from a great height. Tarangire National Park offers breathtaking scenery to fly over.
Depending on the season, let yourself be carried away by the wind and experience Tarangire National Park from the air!
The hot air balloon takes off early in the morning from the northwest corner of the Silale Swamp to watch the magnificent sun rise over the Tarangire River. You enjoy the view of the Lolkisale hill and the vast Silale swamp. After a flight of about an hour, a delicious champagne breakfast awaits you – in the middle of the wilderness, between the towering baobab trees.
A great way to start your day!

Night Safari

You can also go on safari at night in the Tarangire National Park.
A night safari is a very special experience. You travel in an open 4WD jeep. From the jeep you will see many types of animals, including elephants, zebras, lions and baboons. You will also hear the special night sounds of Tanzania and learn more about the African stars.
At the beginning of the evening you will drive with the guide – from your lodge – through the Tarangire National Park. You start at dusk, but by 7 p.m. it is dark in Tanzania.

The night safari lasts approximately 3 hours.