Elephant lovers, rejoice! This is the park for you! Just imagine a herd of elephants walking beside you, against a backdrop of mysterious baobab trees. It doesn’t get more magical than that! Although often overlooked next to its famous neighboring parks, Tarangire is a paradise in its own right. Named after the Tarangire River that runs through the park, the river attracts all manner of wildlife. It is home to all Tanzania’s most iconic wildlife, excluding only the black rhino. Lucky safari goers will also get a chance to see three endangered species that can only be found in this park; the fringe-eared oryx, the greater kudu and the ashy starling. Tarangire’s most notable inhabitants are however the elephants! The park is home to one of the largest concentration of elephants in Africa, with herds of up to 300 elephants roaming the plains. Bird watchers will also find joy here with over 450 species of birds to be spotted. In this park, you can enjoy walking safaris, game drives, and visits to neighboring villages.
Size: 2850 sq km.
Highlights:
The Elephants– without a doubt the biggest draw is the large elephant population.
The Migration- Between June and November each year, Tarangire National Park hosts an impressive migration. Zebras, gazelles, wildebeest, hartebeest, lions and leopards all gather around the river as it becomes the only source of water in the park during the dry season.
The Swamps – In the wet season, you can enjoy watching elephants, cape buffalo, lions, pythons, African wild dogs and over 500 species of birds come to wallow in the cool swamps.
Birdwatching – Due to its varied terrain, Tarangire is home to more than 550 species of birds making this park a birdwatchers paradise.
The baobabs trees – the silhouette of the baobab tree has become synonymous with the East African skyline. Ancient trees that live up to 600 years, it’s no wonder that these trees are shrouded in mystery and paranormal energy.
Kolo Rocks art site – on the outskirts of the park, this proposed world heritage site shows ancient rock art created by long gone hunter gathers of the region. There are also fascinating prehistoric rock shelters to explore.
Species: Here you will find wildebeest, hartebeest, zebra, common eland, gazelle, buffalo, giraffe, hippo, lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena, wild dog and elephant as well as rare animals such as the fringe-eared oryx, the long-necked gerenuk and HUGE pythons!
