Tarangire National Park: Amazing Facts You Should Know.
Nestled in the Northern region of Tanzania, the park known as Tarangire National Park was named after the Tarangire River that crosses through the park.
Tarangire River is a major source of fresh water for wildlife in the Tarangire Ecosystem especially during the annual dry season. The word Tarangire means ‘river of warthogs.
The Tarangire Ecosystem is characterised by the long-distance migration of wildebeest, Gazelles, Antelopes and zebras. In the dry season numerous wild mammal species tend to concentrate in the park by the Tarangire River to access fresh water.
The park spans over an area of 2,850 square kilometres. The landscape is characterised by granitic ridges, river valley, and swamps. Vegetation is a mix of Acacia woodland, Combretum woodland, seasonally flooded grassland, and beautiful ancient baobab trees.
Wildlife in Tarangire National Park
The park is renowned as a wonderland teeming with abundant wildlife including its high population of Elephants, large herds of zebras, wildebeest and cape buffalo.
Other wild animals that inhabit the park include waterbuck, giraffe, dik dik, impala, eland, Grant’s gazelle, vervet monkey, banded mongoose, and olive baboon whereas predators that call the park home include lion, leopard, cheetah, caracal, honey badger, and African wild dog.
Tarangire is as well a home to over 550 bird species making it a haven for bird enthusiasts. You get to spot the
Activities to do in Tarangire National Park
Game drives
Game drive is one of the thrilling activities to do in Tarangire National Park where you explore the vast landscapes by vehicle. Game drives offer incredible opportunities to encounter elephants, giraffes, kudu, wildebeests, gazelles, lions, buffalos, zebras, waterbucks, dik dik, elands, impalas, warthogs and monkeys among others.
The park offers both morning, evening game and full day game drives where you sight a variety of wildlife species as they transverse the breathtaking landscapes of the savannah plains.
Bird watching
Tarangire National Park is a home to a wide variety of bird species making it a birder’s paradise. Bird species in the park include ostriches, kori bustard, hornbills, rufous tailed weavers, ashy starlings, yellow collared lovebirds, barbets, parrots, yellow necked spur fowl, striped swallows, hammerkops, bee eaters, eagles and many others.
This is an awe-inspiring activity that connects you to nature and is best done in the wet season (months from November to March) during the breeding of local birds and the also migrant bird species can be sighted here.
Nature walks
Another exciting activity to do in Tarangire national park is partaking in nature walks. During the activity, you get a wildlife viewing experience on foot and a close encounter with the natural surroundings as well as different bird species.
Accompanied by ranger guides, there are specific trails you can follow as you explore the savannah plains in the park.
Cultural visits
Cultural visits to the Maasai villages are also an extraordinary activity in Tarangire National Park.
Here you get to interact with the local community as well as learning about their way of life plus participating in a various activities including visiting the homesteads of the Maasai, engaging in traditional dance performances, and visiting the local market.
Hot Air Balloon Safaris
Partake in hot air balloon safaris where you gently ascend up in the air and float by the morning winds.
During the flight, you have a stunning and incredible view of the park with the sighting of the different animals like troops of elephants and giraffes as they roam the breathtaking landscapes.
Best time to visit Tarangire national park.
Tarangire National Park normally experiences two main seasons which include the wet and dry seasons. It is also important to note that the park is open for tourism all year long.
During the dry season that runs in the months of June to October is the best time to visit the park. This is when animals gather around the Tarangire River, and this is a rewarding season where you encounter numerous mammal and bird species in Tarangire National Park.
There is relatively little rainfall during this time of the year thus the best time for game viewing because the routes are less slippery and more navigable. This period is also known as the peak season with so numerous tourists flocking the park.
On the other hand, the low peak season comes in months of March, April and May. This is when the park experiences heavy rains, and cold winds. During this time, routes for game drives are slippery, muddy and less navigable thus making the safari less exciting.
How to get to Tarangire national park?
Tarangire National Park can be accessed by different means of transport which include air and road transport means.
By Road
Tarangire National Park is approximately 140 km from Arusha, and it takes about 3-hours’ drive to access the park.
However, people see a safari to Tarangire as a loner Safari, but visiting the park during the dry season offers you unforgettable wildlife views mostly when you explore the southern part of the park.
Tarangire is part of the well-known northern safari circuit which includes Serengeti and the Ngorongoro crater. Arusha town is the best starting point to many people in safaris to this circuit.
By air
A Flight from Kilimanjaro International Airport is the best option to get to Tarangire National Park.
It is located, 46 kilometres from Arusha whereas another option is to fly into Julius Nyerere International Airport close to Dar es Salaam and then taking a domestic flight at Arusha Airport.
Where to stay
Tarangire National Park holiday accommodation offers facilities ranging from budget, mid-range to luxury lodges and luxury tented camps, despite of your budget, you surely get a place to stay.
Luxury accommodation in Tarangire National Park include Tarangire treetops, Nimali Tarangire, Sanctuary Swala Camp, Maweninga Camp
Mid-range Accommodation include Sangaiwe Tented Lodge, Tarangire Safari Lodge, Tarangire Sopa Lodge, Maramboi Tented Camp
Budget Facilities include Whistling Thorn Tented Camp.
In conclusion, Tarangire National Park is a natural wonderland that offers extraordinary wildlife encounters from large herds of Elephants to unique and beautiful ancient baobab trees. Explore Tanzania with Nata Adventures today.
