Best Jun–Oct
Tarangire River
The heart of the park and where most game drives go. In the dry season elephants, buffalo and antelope gather along its banks.
Tanzania safari
Tarangire
Baobabs, big elephant herds and far fewer vehicles — the nearest northern park to Arusha.
Baobabs, big elephant herds, and a fraction of the vehicles.
Tarangire is the nearest of the northern parks to Arusha and the most underrated. In the dry season the Tarangire River is the only water for miles, and the animals come to it.
- Area
- About 2,850 km²
- Status
- National park
- From Arusha
- About two hours by road
- Worth
- One to two days
Where to stay
The parts of Tarangire
Most visitors only see the north, around the river. The south is wilder and takes longer to reach.
Year round
Baobab country
Rolling woodland studded with enormous baobab trees, many of them centuries old. The landscape people remember Tarangire for.
Best Jun–Oct
Silale swamp
A seasonal swamp that holds water long after the rest of the park dries out, drawing elephants, buffalo and the predators that follow.
Dry season
The southern park
Remote and far less visited. It needs more time, and it rewards it with a sense of having the park to yourself.
Experiences
What to do in Tarangire
Game drives
Along the river and through the baobab woodland. Close enough to Arusha to be the first afternoon of a safari.
Walking with a ranger
Guided walks are possible in some areas with an armed ranger. Ask us where, and whether it suits your dates.
Birding
Tarangire has a very long bird list, and in the wet months migrant species arrive. Good even for people who did not think they liked birds.
Why people come
Elephants, in numbers that surprise people, against a landscape of baobabs that looks like nowhere else on the circuit.
Away from the vehicles
Far fewer vehicles than the Serengeti or the crater, and the south of the park is quieter still.
Something to think about
Timing. In the wet months many animals leave the park, so it is at its best from June to October.
When to go
Month by month
Tarangire changes more with the seasons than any other northern park: packed in the dry months, spread out and green in the wet ones.
- Dry, usually easiest for game
- Short rains or changing
- Long rains
January
Green season
Animals are spread out beyond the park. Lush, quiet, and good for birds.
February
Green season
A drier break between the rains, but game is still dispersed. Excellent birding.
March
Long rains
The long rains usually begin. Some tracks become difficult.
April
Long rains
Typically the wettest month and the quietest in the park.
May
Rains easing
The rains ease late in the month and animals start returning towards the river.
June
Dry season begins
Water sources dry up and animals move back towards the Tarangire River.
July
Dry season
Elephant numbers along the river build steadily.
August
Dry season
Often excellent: dry, clear, and large herds concentrated near water.
September
Peak dry season
Frequently the best month for elephants. Dusty and hot in the afternoons.
October
Late dry season
Very dry, with game at its most concentrated before the rains.
November
Short rains
The short rains arrive and animals begin to disperse again.
December
Short rains
Green, quieter, and migrant birds in good numbers.
Wildlife
What you are likely to see in Tarangire
No guide can promise a sighting. These are the animals the park is best known for.
Elephant
Large herds, especially in the dry season
Baobab
Throughout the northern woodland
Buffalo
Along the river and swamps
Lion
Resident; sometimes seen resting in trees
Giraffe
Woodland throughout the park
Birds
A very long list, best in the wet months
Tarangire
Frequently asked questions
How long should I spend in Tarangire?
One full day covers the river area well, and it is close enough to Arusha to start straight after the climb and a rest night. Two days lets you reach the quieter parts of the park.
When is the best time to visit Tarangire?
June to October, when the animals gather along the Tarangire River. In the wet months it is green and beautiful, but many animals move out of the park.
Is Tarangire worth it if I am also going to the Serengeti?
Yes. It feels quite different — baobabs, woodland and elephants rather than open plains — and it is far less busy.
Can I combine Tarangire with the Ngorongoro Crater?
Yes. Tarangire and the crater together make the two-day safari we think is the minimum worth doing after a climb.
Are there tsetse flies?
In some wooded areas, yes, particularly in the warmer months. Neutral-coloured clothing helps; dark blue and black attract them.