Tarangire is the surprise package on the Northern circuit! Often overshadowed by the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire has huge concentrations of animals in the peak months and a fraction of the visitor numbers of any of the other Northern parks. From July through to October safaris here are superb, and the atmosphere and habitats are completely different from other parks. Tarangire is surprisingly large, giving visitors the quietest game viewing environment of all the parks in the region. The South of Tarangire is especially quiet, and lodges such as Swala and Oliver’s Camp are the perfect place to explore this remote area and to really get away from any other travelers.

With a game viewing area that is roughly ten times the size of nearby Manyara National Park and a concentration of game that is exceptional from July through to October, this seasonal Tanzania safari park is a little gem on the Northern safari circuit, especially if you love elephants!

Located slightly off the main safari route, Tarangire National Park is a lovely, quiet park in Northern Tanzania. It is most famous for its elephant migration, birding, and authentic safari atmosphere. The majority of travelers to the region either miss out on Tarangire altogether or venture into the park for a matter of hours – leaving swathes of Tarangire virtually untouched! Overall, a superb  park that offers great value compared to its neighbors and is a seriously great option for getting away from it all.

Tarangire National Park safari – The Wildlife

During the dry months, the concentration of animals around the Tarangire river is almost as diverse and reliable as in the Ngorongoro Crater. However, the ecosystem here is balanced by a localized migration pattern that is followed by the majority of the game that resides in and around the park. As a result, Tarangire is superb in the season but questionable the rest of the year. Elephants are the main attraction, with up to 3,000 in the park during the peak months. Peak season also sees good numbers of wildebeest and zebra as well as giraffe, buffalo, Thompson’s gazelle, greater and lesser kudu, eland, leopard, and cheetah. The real prizes in the park are dwarf mongoose, oryx, and generuk – but viewings are very rare. Tarangire is one of Tanzania’s finest birding destinations.

Tarangire National Park – Activities

Tarangire safaris are the main activity, however, staying outside the park makes walking and night safari a possibility. There are no boat safaris on the rivers here but Oliver’s Camp offers adventurous fly-camping trips and very good walking safaris. Both Oliver’s Camp and Swala have recently started night safaris within the park itself. Ask us for more information as the regulations here seem to change every year!

Does our night drive allow in Tarangire?

Night drives are allowed in Tarangire. Some lodges don’t offer it though due to not having set it up with TANAPA. Also, if your particular lodge is outside the National Park then it will not offer night drives. It is worth checking whether the lodge you are looking at offers it or not before booking if this is something on your hit list!

Tarangire – When to go

The game viewing from July through to October is exceptional but for the remainder of the year, the majority of game migrates out of the park, onto the floor of the Rift Valley, and to the grazing grounds of the Masai steppe. As a result, we would advise visitors not to expect high concentrations of game in the off-season months, but would still recommend traveling here to those who want to avoid the crowds.