A unique national park and one of Tanzania’s must-see locations, Tarangire National Park is situated in Manyara region, it is 118 kilometres from Arusha, the region’s principal city, and around 70 kilometres from Lake Manyara. Tarangire National Park is located in the Northern Safari Circuit and is conveniently located between Lake Manyara, Serengeti, and Ngorongoro Crater, making it an ideal layover location.
Located on 2,850 square km, Tarangire National Park is a home to a diverse biological system, including vegetation, animal life, bird life, and termite mounds. The magnificent Tarangire River, which runs through the park and divides it in two, gives the area its name. Tarangire National Park was first established in 1957 as a national reserve and was later designated a national park. The topography of Tarangire National Park is peppered with the well-known sun-blistered termite mounds, grassy savannah plains, and wetlands. Tarangire River, the park’s sole permanent water supply, feeds the ecosystem and park itself. Thousands of animals, including over 3,000 elephants, wildebeests, zebras, impalas, and gazelles, flock to Tarangire River to drink water, especially during the dry season (June to November). These animals travel to the river in quest of both water and green pasture.
Tarangire National Park is home to over 58 species of large mammals that may be easily discovered in different parts of the park. During the dry season (June to November), the area also undergoes an annual elephant migration. Over 3000 elephants migrate into the park in search of green grass and water; this spectacular event is witnessed on the plains of the park and along the Tarangire River as they meander beneath baobab trees. As wildebeests, hartebeests, elands, impalas, zebras, and buffalo swarm into drying lagoons in quest of water, Tarangire National Park also hosts the highest number of species outside the Serengeti environment. Leopards, lions, cheetahs, elands, impalas, wild dogs, antelopes, fringe-eared Oryx, grant’s gazelles, vervet monkeys, banded mongoose, olive baboons, larger kudus, and many other animals can be found at Tarangire National Park.
One of Tanzania’s most significant birding regions, Tarangire National Park is home to more than 550 different bird species. Birds in the park typically congregate among wetlands, forests, and the Tarangire River’s banks. These birds include Ashy starling, Great white pelican, Bare-faced go-away bird, Ostrich, Northern pied babbler, Pink-breasted lark, Mouse-coloured penduline tit, Hoopoes, hornbills, yellow-necked spur fowl, Donaldson Smith’s nightjar, stripped swallows, swifts, Slate-coloured boubou, Von der Decken’s hornbill  cordon bleus, owl’s plovers, bee-eaters, starlings, Bateleur eagles and many more.
The beautiful Baobab trees, one of the biggest trees on earth and known by a variety of names, are the reason Tarangire National Park is so well-known worldwide. Locally, Baobab trees are referred to as Mbuyu in the Swahili language. They are also known as bottle trees, rat trees, and monkey-bread trees. The entire Baobab tree in Tarangire National Park grows to a height of 30 metres, with trucks exceeding 11 metres in diameter, and has a life expectancy of 6000 years. It has an unusually thick robust trunk with stunted root-like branches.
Safari activities to do in Tarangire national park.Â
Game drives.Â
There are five routes that can be utilized for game drives in Tarangire National Park: the Lemiyon route, the Gursi route, the Lamarku route, the western Lake Barungi route, and the Kitibong hill route. The park is home to a large concentration of animals. Game drive safaris in Tarangire national park are offered during morning, afternoon and evening game drive, on this experience you are to spot numerous animals such as leopards, lions, cheetah, elephants, buffaloes, wildebeests, hartebeests, elands, impalas, wild dogs, antelopes, fringe-eared Oryx, grant’s gazelles, vervet monkeys, banded mongoose, olive baboons, greater kudus and many more without forgetting the various numbers of the bird species.
Bird watching.
More than 500 different bird species, both migratory and permanent, can be found at Tarangire National Park, making it a great place to go bird watching. In Tarangire national park the best spots for viewing birds are savannah woodlands, swamps along Tarangire River and Lemiyon triangle situated in the northernmost end of the park, birds spotted on this safari experience include Ostriches, martial eagles, Von der Decken’s hornbill, Bateleur eagles, Yellow-collared lovebird, spotted eagle owls, Northern pied babbler, Mouse-coloured penduline tit, tawny eagles, Pink-breasted lark, Ashy starling and many more.
Nature walks.Â
The picturesque environment and different vegetation zones of Tarangire National Park always require a wonderful nature walk experience. The park offers nature walks in the morning and evening that lasts between one and three hours. The magnificent baobab trees, a variety of birds in swamps like hoopoes, hornbills, yellow-necked spur fowl, crested francolin, lilac-breasted rollers, stripped swallows, swifts, and a variety of animals like elephants, antelopes, lions, and many more can all be seen by tourists during this safari experience along the Tarangire River’s banks.
Sightseeing.Â
One of the most memorable safari activities is sightseeing in Tarangire National area, which offers breathtaking views of the surrounding natural environment, including the numerous swamps like Silale Swamp and the majestic Baobab trees that dot the area. A fantastic place to go sightseeing in the park is the 30 square kilometre Silale Swamp, which is home to a variety of wildlife including zebras, gazelles, elephants, and other bird species. Tarangire River, which is encircled by enormous baobab trees and wetlands, is another spectacular site to see in Tarangire National Park.
Cultural tours.
 The Maasai tribal people and their own culture, norms, and traditions are fascinating to discover during cultural trips in Tarangire National Park. On cultural tours, you may learn about the nomadic lifestyle of the Maasai people and see those producing beaded necklaces, anklets, earrings, and bangles as well as other local goods. The Maasai settlements can be found along the park’s borders and the park itself is located next to a Masai valley. When doing cultural tours, you will come across the Maasai people, who have a distinctive way of building their homes that are in circular shapes. They also have a stunning clothing code of colorful, colorful shukas.
How to get to Tarangire national park.
Tarangire national park provides a wide range of accommodation establishments offering bed and other services to tourists on a safari in the park, these are grouped as Luxury, midrange and budget and they include Nimali Tarangire tented camp, Acacia Tarangire luxury camp, Sanctuary Swala camp, Lemala Mpingo ridge lodge, Ecoscience Science center and luxury lodge, Tarangire safari lodge, Tarangire Sopa lodge, Ang’ata Tarangire camp, Kikoti tented camp, Sangaiwe Tented lodge, Tarangire Osupuko Lodge, Maramboi tented lodge, Kirurumu Tarangire lodge, Whistling thorn tented camp and many more.
Where to stay in Tarangire national park.
The majority of safaris to Tarangire national park originate from Arusha city, and both road and air methods of transportation are used to reach to the park. Tarangire national park is situated on the northern safari circuit and readily visited through routes connecting to Ngorongoro crater and Serengeti national park. Public and private transportation are available from Arusha City to the park, and chartered flights are available from Arusha Airport to Kilimanjaro International Airport.