Northern Parks
Tarangire
The national park is 2,850 sqkm in area and was gazetted in 1970. It is only a small part of a much larger ecosystem of some 30,000 sqkm that comprises most of what is called the Maasai Steppe or southern Masaailand.
Amongst safari connoisseurs; those who really enjoy the African safari experience - the vast open spaces , the acacia savannahs, the dramatic wildlife, the sandy river beds, the sausage trees, the changing seasons, the cool fresh mornings, the heat of mid-day, the day-long birdsong, the sounds of crickets at night, the whopping call of hyena, the distant roar of a lion - Tarangire is a place to put on your itinerary.
From the wide-open plains in the north, south along the acacia and boabab studded ridges and valleys of the Tarangire River, and across vast seasonal swamps, wildlife gathers in large numbers. This is the dry season refunge for an enormous swathe of southern masaailand, and between July and November, the wildlife here is extaordinary by any standards, Africa wide.
Tourist Attractions
Wildlife - its has been estimated that at the height of the dry season in October, the density of large animals - elephant, buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, ostrich, giraffe, eland etc is second only to the Ngorongoro Crater, worldwide. This spectacle gathers around the scattered pools of permanant water along Tarangire River bed, and also around Silale Swamp, Lion and lepoard are frequently seen here, too.
Baobab trees - the huge baobab tree is characteristic of these savannahs and has been described by naturalists as a complete eco-system of their own! Their nooks and crannies provide places for beehives or are occupied by small mammals such as genet and civet cats and their enormous flowers are pollinated by fruit bats. Many baobabs are hollow and have provided shelter for wandering bands of hunter gatherers in the past.
Birdlife - it is also a birders' paradise with more resident breeding species than anywhere else in Tanzania. Raptors are everywhere; from the masters of predation and soaring - the Marshall and Bateleur Eagles; down to the tiny but vicious Pygmy Falcon.
Tarangire River : the river is fed by seasonal sand rivers originating to the east and south eastern parts of the park. It flows northward along the park and empties into Lake Burunge. Within the park, the river is linked to Silale, Gurusi and Larmakau swamps.
Tourist Activities
- Day game viewing
- Night game drives
- Balloon safaris
- Walking Safaris with an armed guide
When to go
This is a year-round park, with the distinct seasons offering different experiences, from dry and dusty with animals clustered around shrinking waterholes and the trickle of Tarangire River, to the green season full of newborn animals and chattering birds.
Getting there
Air - there is an airstrip at Kuro in the centre of the park with daily scheduled flights to all main safari destinations in Tanzania.
Road - the journey from Arusha is on a good road and only takes about 90 minutes to the main gate in the north. For this reason, safaris often begin here.
There is also an entry gate at Boundary Hill on the eastern side of the park to service people staying at camps and lodges in community areas outside the park, and a gate at Sangaiwe on the western side with easy access formt he main road to Dodoma.
Safari Ideas
Tarangire fits well into Northern circuit safari itineraries as a variation from more traditional itineraries, the western gate at Sangarwi gives easy access to the southern entry to Lake Manyara from where a traverse of the park leads to the village of Mto wa Mbu and from there through Karatu to Ngorongoro and the Serengeti.