Tarangire National Park is one of northern Tanzania’s finest wildlife destinations. Fed by the Tarangire River and dotted with ancient baobab trees, acacia bush, wetlands and rocky kopjes, it draws large herds of elephant and a diverse cast of plains game and predators.

What you will see

Tarangire is best known for its elephants, often seen in big family herds. Alongside them roam zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, hartebeest, waterbuck, eland and warthog, hunted by lion, cheetah, leopard, hyena, jackal and even the elusive African wild dog. Because it sits slightly off the classic seven-day “northern circuit”, Tarangire feels wonderfully uncrowded – ideal added on after Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro and the Serengeti.

Birdlife

With more than 545 recorded species, Tarangire is a superb birding park. Look out for the striking yellow-collared lovebird and a variety of starlings, along with many raptors.

The best time for wildlife viewing

The dry season, from June to October, is the prime time. As surrounding areas dry out, the Tarangire River becomes the main water source, drawing huge concentrations of wildebeest, elephant, zebra, buffalo and the predators that follow them. The park is rewarding year-round, but dry-season game viewing is hard to beat.