What are the best safaris in Tarangire National Park?
Are you looking for an unforgettable safari experience? Tarangire National Park offers some of the best wildlife adventures in Tanzania. With its stunning landscape and diverse animal population, including elephants and lions. You’ll create lasting memories exploring this incredible park. Discover the thrilling safari that await you here!
Tarangire National Park is located few kilometers from Arusha town. It is known to have the largest concentration of wildlife only after Serengeti National Park. The park is home to the highest population density of elephants in Tanzania, making it one of the best places to see Elephants in East Africa. Tarangire has beautiful scenery made up of its habitats which range. Safari in Tarangire National Park will give you an opportunity to see large herds of Elephants up close and other wildlife alongside its beautiful scenery as a backdrop. Other animals include wildebeests, buffaloes, impalas, gazelle, heartbeest, zebras, elands, stately fringe-eared oryx and peculiar long necked gerenuk. Now, let’s explore some of the best safari options available in Tarangire National Park, they include;
Guided Game drive
One of the most exciting safaris to do in Tarangire National Park is going on game drives, where you can watch a variety of animals in their natural environment. The best time to take a game drive is during the dry season, from June to October, when many animals gather around the Tarangire River, which provides essential water. Each drive usually lasts about 3 to 4 hours and is led by knowledgeable rangers. During your game drive safari, you might see all sorts of wildlife, including wildebeest, leopards, cheetahs, lions, wild dogs, cape buffalos, giraffes, baboons, monkeys and elephants. The park features different habitats, such as acacia woodlands, open grasslands, and swamps, each home to colorful birds. While you’re out on the game drive, you’ll have the chance to witness animals doing various things like feeding, socializing, and even mating. There are great chances for photography, especially with the beautiful baobab trees adding to the scenery. Game drives in Tarangire National Park offer an unforgettable adventure and incredible wildlife experiences.
Birdwatching Tours
If you love birds, visiting Tarangire National Park for birdwatching is a fantastic idea. This park boasts more than 500 different bird species due to its variety of habitats like woodlands, wetlands, and savannahs. The ideal time to observe different birds is from November to May, during the wet season when migratory birds come in, bringing lively colors and sounds to the area. While you’re on your birdwatching adventure in the park, you can look forward to seeing stunning birds like brown parrot, hornbills, yellow necked spurfowl, crested francolin, lilac breasted rollers, Mousebirds, swifts, bee-eaters, Hamerkops, plovers, Kori bustards, steppe eagles, Great white pelican and Northern pied babbler among others.
Night game drive
A night game drive is another must-do- safari experience in Tarangire National Park. This exciting safari is mostly done at night, making it a good time to see the nocturnal animals. Visitors use the armed ranger guide when going on the night game drives in the Tarangire National Park. Visitors can as well use the whole day for the game drive safaris, and this full-day game drive will combine both the morning, afternoon, and evening game drive safaris, which are so much fun and wonderful. During this night safari, you can expect to spot hard-to-find creatures like bushbabies, porcupines, different types of owls, and even predators like lions and leopards.
Nature walks tours
This unique form of wildlife viewing involves exploring the beautiful wilderness of Tarangire National Park and getting a close interaction with the surroundings. This activity takes place in the company of a ranger guide as the tourists move around the destination. Nature walks involve tourists treading across the vast savannah plains in the national park without interrupting the natural setting and interfering with the wildlife species. The guides and tourists follow different tracks as they encounter and track animals on foot. Tourists also get to experience the breathtaking scenery during their nature walks and also enjoy close encounters with wildlife species such as zebras, waterbucks, impalas, elephants as well as bird species like ostriches.
Visiting the Maasai villages
Visitors to the national park also participate in cultural visits to the Maasai villages to explore the local community. Here you will learn more about the way of life of these people as you participate in various tourism activities, which are so interesting and wonderful. As you engage with the cultural visits, you will still participate in various activities such as the traditional dance and drama performances with the Maasai worriers, shopping for locally made arts and crafts, and visiting the homesteads, among others. During the visit, you will have the opportunity listen to stories abut the Maasai folklore, and learn about their herding lifestyle that revolves around cattle grazing among others.
Hot Air Balloons Safari Rides
What’s an African safari without a hot air balloon ride? If you’re heading to Tarangire National Park, taking a hot air balloon safari is an experience you won’t want to miss. It’s one of the top safari activities to enjoy in the park. Gliding high above the landscape in a hot air balloon lets you see the incredible wildlife from a completely fresh angle. You’ll get to admire animals and birds from the sky, along with the stunning plants and flowers, all while making lasting memories with your loved ones.
This is a safari that everyone should try at least once in their lives, as it’s perfect for both kids and adults. It’s also an ideal choice for couples on their honeymoon looking to create special moments together. If you’re visiting Tarangire National Park, make sure this adventure is on your itinerary!
Best Time to Visit Tarangire National Park
The ideal time to visit Tarangire National Park is during the dry season, which runs from June to October. This is when animals gather around the Tarangire River, making it easier to see them because the grass is shorter and they are on the move. If you want to see large herds of elephants, the best months are September and October, as they are plentiful at the end of the dry season. If you’re looking to save some money, November is a good option since it’s not peak tourist season but still relatively dry. The period from late November to May is perfect for birdwatching because the park turns lush and green.
Getting to Tarangire National Park
Getting to Tarangire National Park is easy, and there are several ways to get to the national park. you can choose to travel by air or road depending on what you prefer.
For air travel, you can take a plane or flight via numerous airstrips, such as the Tarangire airstrip, which is available for both chartered flights and scheduled services. If you prefer to drive, you can also reach Tarangire National Park by road from Arusha.
