An overview
Tarangire National Park is referred to as the largest ecosystem outside the Serengeti national park in the Tanzania northern circuit. Tarangire National Park has located just about 115 km. southwest of Arusha city; this is about two hours’ drive.
The park is famous for harboring the largest herds of elephants, and it is nicknamed “the kingdom of Elephants and majestic ancient baobab trees”. During the game drive session, it is common to encounter herds of up to 300 elephants. When it is the dry season you may find elephants scratching the dry river beds for underground streams
Migratory wildebeest, buffalo, impala, zebra, gazelle, eland, and hartebeest crowd the shrinking ponds. Tarangire is one place in Tanzania where dry-country antelope such as the fringe-eared Oryx and odd long-necked gerenuk are frequently observed.
Dry or wet
It is during the dry season the park enjoys the largest number of wildlife concentrations that are outside the Serengeti ecosystem. Animals come from the nearest park in search of water on the Tarangire River.
When it is the rainy season, the seasonal visitors scatter over a 20,000 sq km (12,500 sq miles) range until they drain the green plains, and the river calls once more when it is the dry season.
On drier ground, you find the Kori bustard, the heaviest flying bird; the stocking-thighed ostrich, the world’s largest bird; and small parties of ground hornbills noisy like turkeys.
Tarangire’s packs of elephants are simply encountered, dry or wet. The swamps, touched green year-round, are the focus for 550 bird varieties, the most breeding species in one habitat anywhere in the world.
Birding
More enthusiastic bird-lovers might want to keep an eye open for screeching flocks of the spectacularly intriguing Yellow-collared lovebird, and the somewhat drabber Rufous-tailed weaver and ashy starling – all endemic to the dry savannah of north-central Tanzania.
Underground Kingdoms
In Tarangire, you will notice a number of termite mounds scattered all over the park. These mounds are often frequented by dwarf mongoose and pairs of red and yellow barbet; termites make the suitable food chain to these small creatures.
Astonishing Tree Climbers
Then there are pythons that climb trees, as well as leopards and lions, lazing on tree branches where the fruit of the sausage tree disguises the twitch of a tail.
Facts
- The greatest concentration of wildlife outside Serengeti Eco-system
- Easy to encounter mobs of Elephants all year round, wet or dry
- Large herds of Zebras, Wildebeests, hartebeests, and Elephants in particular
What to do
- Game drive
- Guided walking tours
- Day trips to Maasai and Barabaig villages
- Visit hundreds of ancient rock painting in the vicinity of kolo
Best time
All year round but dry season (June-September) for sheer numbers of animals
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