Overview
At Tarangire National Park, the relentless sun scours the cloudless skies, desiccating the landscape and turning the earth into a dusty, red expanse while parching the grass to brittle strands. Despite the Tarangire River’s reduced size from the wet season, it remains a vital oasis, drawing a multitude of wildlife seeking water in this arid environment.
In this dramatic setting, herds of up to 300 elephants scratch the dry riverbed in search of underground streams, joined by migratory wildebeests, zebras, buffaloes, and various other species congregating around the diminishing lagoons. Renowned as the greatest concentration of wildlife outside the Serengeti ecosystem, Tarangire National Park provides an abundant feast for predators and a rare sighting spot for dry country antelope like the fringe-eared Oryx and the unique long-necked gerenuk.
Encompassing an area of 2,850 square kilometers (1,096 square miles), Tarangire National Park sits 118 kilometers (75 miles) southwest of Arusha. Easily accessible by road from Arusha or Lake Manyara National Park, visitors can travel by surfaced road within 7 kilometers (four miles) of the main entrance gate. Additionally, the park’s proximity allows for potential continuation to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority and Serengeti National Park based on individual preferences.
While Tarangire National Park welcomes visitors year-round, the dry season, particularly from June to September, showcases a higher volume of animals, notably elephants and zebras, making it an optimal time for wildlife sightings.
