Tarangire National Park

Lying south of the Serengeti, Tarangire is the least visited of the northern circuit national parks. Covering 2,600 km², the park is characterised by thick grasses and giant baobab trees, which imbue it with a particularly wild feel. Tarangire is most spectacular during the dry season months of July to October, when enormous herds of elephant, buffalo, zebra, as well as rhino, greater kudu, leopard, lion, rhino, oryx, impala and giraffe, are all attracted from miles around to the permanent waters of the Tarangire river.

Together with Lake Manyara, Tarangire offers the best bird watching on the northern circuit. There are about 470 resident species, with migrant species bringing this count to over 500 in the September-to-April period. Typical species are the distinctive red and yellow barbet, yellow-collared lovebirds, and a variety of babblers and larks. Interesting raptors include the pale chanting goshawk, African fish eagle, and the shikra. The Tarangire river system also supports a good number of water birds.

If you have only a day or two in Tarangire during your safari then the northern part of the park offers the best game viewing. For those with more time, the southern areas of the park are well worth exploring. Here a variety of swamp, lake and savannah habitats support large herds of buffalo, as well as cheetah, gerenuk and reedbuck.

TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK LODGES AND CAMPS