Tarangire National Park lies to the south of a large open grass plain in southern Masai land, few hours drive from Arusha town.With some of the highest population density of elephants in contrast to other national parks in Tanzania, its sparse vegetation, strewn with baobab, acacia trees and abundant birdlife , makes it a beautiful and distinctive location to visit. It is the sixth largest national park in Tanzania.
Tarangire Wildlife Migration
Every year during the dry season which is from June to November Tarangire hosts a wildlife migration which is not as dramatic as the Wildebeest Migration in the Serengeti, but receives a rather large number of animals.
As most of this part of the country is dry, the Tarangire River remains the only source of water and there for attracts large numbers of wildebeests, elephants, gazelles, zebras and hartebeest, buffaloes plus various predators like lions that come to drink and graze on every side of the river banks. During the rainy months of November to May.
The zebras as well as large herds of wildebeests move into the north-western direction towards the Rift Valley floor amidst a huge numbers of animals that scatter the large open areas of the Masaai Steppe and dispersing all the way to Lake Manyara.
More over, visitors are frequently entertained by the encounters of browsing elephants, which inhabit this park in the large herds.
Where is Tarangire and How big is it?
Size: 2850 sq km (1,096 sq miles).
Location: 118 km (75 miles) southwest of Arusha.
How to get to Tarangire national park
Easy drive from Arusha or Lake Manyara following a surfaced road to within 7km (four miles) of the main entrance gate; can continue on to Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti. Charter flights from Arusha and the Serengeti.
What to do in Tarangire
Guided walking safaris.
Day trips to Maasai and Barabaig villages, as well as to the hundreds of ancient rock paintings in the vicinity of Kolo on the Dodoma Road.
When to go to in Tarangire national park
Year round but dry season (June – September) for sheer numbers of animals.