Tarangire National Park

The Tarangire National Park is one of the hidden jewels of Tanzania. This park is spread in an area of 2,600 Square Kilometers and boasts a concentration of wildlife second only to Ngorongoro Crater. It features an impressive amount and array of bird life and plant life. Situated only 160Kilometers from Arusha, the park is nestled to the south of the large open grass plains of southern Maasailand. It is named after the Tarangire River, which runs directly through the center of the park and is the only permanent water source for the animals. Along the banks of this river you will find herds of wildebeest (or gnu) and zebra, followed by Grant's Gazelle, Thomson's Gazelle and many others. Lurking in the background lion and leopard keep a watchful eye on a possible meal. The park offers views of grass and floodplains with impressive baobab and flat topped acacia trees scattered throughout. During the dry season the park may look quite ordinary, but activities continue even more earnestly due to the now increased competition.

Tarangire National Park is particularly well known for its large population of elephants. These graceful giants were poached heavily in the past in the Tarangire ecosystem, but there numbers are now dramatically rebounding. Approximately 3,000 elephants were counted during the last census. The elephant population has continued to rise at an increasing rate as Tarangire is currently experiencing an elephant ‘baby boom’. While out on safari, you will notice that a large proportion of the elephants encountered are less then 10 years old and baby elephants are abundant. Elephant viewing in Tarangire is outstanding and it is likely that you will see between 100 to 400 elephants in a single day depending upon the month visited. Set against stunning scenery, elephant viewing will undoubtedly prove to be one of the biggest highlights for a safari in Tarangire.