Tarangire National Park

Tarangire National Park

Situated in the north Tanzania, only a few hours’ drive away the Arusha City, Tarangire is one of the least recognised but a spectacular wildlife reserve in the East African region. Though it normally lies in the shadow of other better-known reserves such as the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire is a unique and pure safari experience with its huge herds of elephants, ancient baobab trees and the untouched wilderness feel. Tarangire is a 2,850-square-kilometre national park in Tanzania that is a very important element of the Tanzanian northern safari circuit.

The Tarangire River is the lifeblood of the park, and it runs through the landscape, providing year-round life to the diverse wildlife of the park. The river is one of the few water sources in the area, especially during the dry season that is experienced between June and October. Other areas dry up, and thus thousands of animals flock to Tarangire to find water, and this forms one of the most dramatic concentrations of wildlife in Tanzania, other than the Serengeti.

The landscape of the park is typified by rolling hills, acacia woodlands and the open savannah with giant baobab trees, some of which are estimated to be more than one thousand years old. These prehistoric elephants form some of the best features in Tarangire, and they make a very impressive figure against the African golden sky sets.

The Elephant Kingdom

In a sense, Tarangire National Park is commonly known as the Kingdom of Elephants because its population of the same exceeds remarkably. Elephants have one of the highest concentrations in the world at the park, where it is common to find a herd of up to 300 of them. Tourists can see these docile giants excavating the dry riverbeds to find the groundwater or grazing calmly under baobabs.

Tarangire is interesting to observe the behaviour of the elephants as the calves play with their mothers and the bulls demonstrate their masculinity. These herds have long been the focus of the study of scientists because the elephant population of Tarangire is known to be intelligent, strongly bonded socially and has excellent migratory habits that extend to the larger Tarangire ecosystem.

The Tarangire is a great place for wildlife, though the main attraction here is the elephants. The animals that are found in the park include zebras, wildebeests, giraffes, buffaloes, elands, and impalas that are preyed on by predators such as lions, leopards, cheetahs and hyenas. In the dry season, huge herds of animals gather around the river Tarangire, thus giving visitors a good experience of game viewing.

The tree-climbing python, which is considered to be one of the rare animals in Tarangire, is often seen lying on the branches awaiting prey; something seen in most other Tanzanian parks. Fringe-eared Oryx, gerenuk and the endangered wild dog are also supported by the park. To the bird enthusiasts, Tarangire is a heaven as it has more than 500 bird species. The park is particularly wide, renowned with big flocks of yellow-collared lovebirds, hornbills, lilac-breasted rollers, ostriches and other raptors. The park is a birding paradise throughout the whole year since it receives migratory birds during the wet season in Europe and Asia.

Best time to visit

Game viewing in Tarangire is best during the dry season (June- October). Wildlife is concentrated around the river and other water bodies, and the plants are sparse, thus animals can be easily seen. The climate is also good and warm during the day and cool during the night.

The rainy season (November to May) makes the park a green heaven. Although in this season the viewing of the game may be more difficult because of the heavy vegetation, it has its own magic; it is the season of watching birds, newborn game and breathtaking scenery. The park also experiences a reduced number of people, and as such, they enjoy their safari time in peace and have a chance to take pictures.

Tarangire Safari with Wildlife.

Tarangire has many activities, which enable the visitors to enjoy the beauty in varied ways. The most common one is the ordinary game drive, either in the morning or in the afternoon, when the animals are most active. To enhance this experience, there are parts of the park where guided walking safaris are available, where people can walk through with armed rangers learning about the animal tracks, plants and ecosystem.

Night game drives are also available in a few of the selected lodges and camps, and this provides a chance to experience the rare view of nocturnal animals like leopards, civets, porcupines, and bush babies. As part of the culture touring, visitors can have a glimpse of the traditional pastoral ways of life in the neighbouring Maasai and Barabaig villages, which contribute human and cultural importance to the safari.

Accommodation and Accessibility.

Tarangire National Park is within reach of Arusha, the safari capital of the north of Tanzania, which is approximately 120 kilometres away. The journey requires approximately two or three hours on good roads. Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater, and Serengeti National Park are some of the parks that are within the vicinity of the park, thus making it an ideal first destination during the northern circuit safari route tour.

Luxury lodges and tented camps are accommodation options, and some accommodate all kinds of travellers at affordable prices. Several lodges have been constructed strategically at ridges or even at the Tarangire River and have panoramic views of the plains and the wildlife found below.

Conclusion

Tarangire is unique in the sense that it is peaceful and natural. It is not as busy as other Tanzanian parks, and thus, the visitor has a closer and closer relationship with nature. It could be the image of the elephants crossing the river in sunset, the chilling call of the faraway lion or the eternal presence of the baobabs keeping watch on the plains. Tarangire imparts an imprint on the hearts of everyone coming to visit.

Essentially, Tarangire National Park is an epitome of the African natural beauty, a place where nature reigns and the rhythm of life is attentive to the perennial stream of its river. Tarangire is a perfect combination of wildlife, scenery and serenity for travellers who want to enjoy a true and uncrowded safari experience.