1-Day Tarangire National Park Trip

July to November is the best time for wildlife viewing in Tarangire National Park. This coincides more or less with the middle and end of the Dry season. Many animals migrate out of the park during the Wet season (November to May), when wildlife viewing is considerably less productive.

Tarangire National Park is part of the popular Northern safari circuit and is typically visited together with Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater. Most safaris start from the town of Arusha. The best way to get there is to fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), which is 50km/31mi from Arusha. It is also possible to fly into Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) in Dar es Salaam and on to Arusha Airport (ARK) or Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO).

There are regular flights from Arusha and Serengeti to Tarangire, but driving is a good option too. It is a comfortable 2-hour* drive from Arusha to the park entrance gate, of which only the last 7km/4mi is not tarred. Moving on, it is an easy drive to Lake Manyara National Park (100km/60mi in about 2 hours*) or the Ngorongoro Crater (180km/110mi in about 4 hours*).

Wildlife Highlights

Tarangire National Park is home to several dry-country antelope species, such as the rare fringe-eared oryx and the peculiar, long-necked gerenuk. The swampy areas in the south of the park offer some interesting wildlife-viewing opportunities. Wallowing elephants and buffalo are a given, but you might also be lucky to see the Silale Swamp lion pride and sometimes even wild dogs.

Best Time for Wildlife Viewing

July to November, when most of the water in the bush has dried up, is the best time for wildlife viewing. Large herds of animals migrate to the park from the surrounding areas. Animals are easier to spot because vegetation is thinner and wildlife gathers around the Tarangire River. From about December, many animals migrate out of the park again, and wildlife viewing is not as good.

Tarangire National Park is a great bird-watching site with more than 500 species recorded. The park harbors several dry-country species at the extremity of their range, such as the northern pied babbler and vulturine guineafowl.

Serious bird-lovers should also keep an eye open for flocks of the dazzlingly colorful yellow-collared lovebird and the somewhat drabber rufous-tailed weaver and ashy starling. These three are all restricted to the dry savannah of north-central Tanzania. Migratory birds are present from November to April.

The weather in Tarangire National Park is temperate and enjoyable. The Wet season consists of two rainy periods: the short rains (November to December) and the long rains (March to May). Around January and February rainfall decreases for a month or so. It usually rains in the afternoon and seldom for the entire day. It rarely gets too hot, but the evenings and mornings tend to get cold. Warm clothes for early morning game drives are recommended.