Tarangire National Park

Tarangire National Park is one of northern Tanzania’s most rewarding and least crowded parks. It lies a short drive from Arusha, making it an easy first stop on any safari. The park is famous for two things above all: enormous herds of elephants and the giant baobab trees that dot its landscape. It offers a wilder, quieter safari away from the busier crowds.

Land of Elephants

Tarangire is home to some of the largest elephant herds in Tanzania. During the dry season, it is common to see groups of a hundred or more moving across the plains. The Tarangire River is the heart of the park. As other water sources dry up, animals gather here in huge numbers, creating some of the best game viewing in the country.

Ancient Baobab Trees

The baobab is often called the “upside-down tree” because its branches look like roots reaching for the sky. Tarangire is covered with these giants, some over a thousand years old. They give the park a magical, timeless feel. Elephants sometimes strip their bark for moisture, and the trees store water inside their huge trunks.

Wildlife and Birds

Beyond elephants, the park holds lions, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes and zebras. Look for unusual dry-country animals like the fringe-eared oryx and the long-necked gerenuk. Tarangire is also a birding hotspot, with over 500 species recorded. That is more types of breeding birds than anywhere else in the world.

Best Time to Visit

The dry season, from June to October, is prime time here. Wildlife crowds along the river in spectacular numbers. The green season is quieter, with lush scenery, newborn animals and excellent birdwatching. Tarangire rewards visitors in every month of the year.

Where to Stay

We offer a wonderful choice of lodges and camps around Tarangire. Sleep inside the park at Tarangire Kati Kati for dawn game drives with no gate queues. For lakeside comfort with walking safaris and night drives, choose Burunge Tented Lodge or Sangaiwe Tented Lodge. For ultra-luxury, Chem Chem Lodge and Little Chem Chem sit on a private concession nearby.