Why should you visit Tarangire? : Tarangire National Park is one of Tanzania’s top safari parks, and it’s located in the north of the country. The park was founded in 1970 and covers a total area of 2850 square kilometers with woodland vegetation, large baobab and acacia trees, and wildlife species such as over 3000 herds of elephants, wildebeests, buffaloes, zebras, gazelles, impalas, hartebeests, elands, leopards, lions, and various bird species. Tarangire National Park is one of Tanzania’s most beautiful and exciting wildlife viewing destinations.
Why should you visit Tarangire National Park? The largest elephant concentration, authentic safari, huge wildlife concentration, abundant birdlife, baobab trees, fantastic views, and other reasons are just a few of the reasons why you should consider visiting Tarangire National Park while planning your safari journey to Africa. Tarangire National Park is not as well-known as the Serengeti or the Ngorongoro Crater, but it is well worth a visit for Tanzania wildlife safaris, especially if you enjoy elephants and want a more intimate safari experience. The following are the top six reasons to visit Tarangire National Park in Tanzania.
- A paradise for birdwatchers
Tarangire is one of the best areas for bird viewing in Africa and this is one of the reasons why you should visit Tarangire National Park.
Over 500 bird species have been recorded in the park, some of which are native to Tanzania and others which are migratory birds from America and Europe. Ostriches, hornbills, bustards, and the fearsome secretary bird are just a few of the common bird species you’ll witness on your Tarangire safari tour. Woodpeckers, splendid starlings, weaver birds, and yellow-collared lovebirds are among the smaller species.
The greatest time to visit Tarangire National Park for bird watching is during the wet or rainy season, when a significant number of migrating birds arrive in the park’s damper and cooler areas. These, together with the local bird species, provide a very pleasant bird watching experience for any birding enthusiast on vacation.
- Largest herds of Elephants
Tanzania boasts Africa’s second-biggest elephant population, with the Tarangire-Manyara habitat housing the country’s greatest elephant population. Tarangire’s elephant population has risen to almost 5,000 individuals, a significant increase from the 2,500 counted in 2009.
It is another reason of why you should never miss visiting Tarangire national park in any African safari. You will observe the large herds of elephants, which are one of the park’s most famous icons. During the dry season, elephants congregate in this park in search of water, and it is possible to see a herd of around 200 elephants.
- There’s a lot of wildlife.
Although it cannot be compared to the Serengeti National Park, Tarangire is one of Tanzania’s national parks with a higher population of species that may be viewed easily, especially during the dry season. When you’re on a Tarangire safari, prepare to be awestruck by the sheer abundance of wildlife; Tarangire, after the Serengeti and other parks like Ngorongoro and Nyerere National Park, boasts Tanzania’s largest population of species.
The ideal time to see wildlife in Tarangire National Park is around the middle and end of the dry season, which spans from late June to October. During the rainy season, most of the animals leave the park, making animal viewing less pleasurable. The animals congregate near the Tarangire River during the dry season, which is the best time to visit Tarangire National Park. Because there is little rain during this time of year, it is the finest time of year to go game viewing.
Expect to witness higher numbers of zebra, buffalo, wildebeest, giraffe, eland, antelope, warthogs, lions, and hyenas on your safari to Tarangire National Park for Tanzania wildlife viewing.
- Home to Old massive baobab trees
The Tarangire national park is home to not only the world’s largest elephant herds but also the world’s largest baobab trees, some of which are over 1000 years old. Baobab trees can grow up to 30 meters tall. The park is also home to some of the world’s oldest baobabs, estimated to be over 1,000 years old. With their massive, robust trunks and contrasting short, root-like branches, these magnificent trees provide a strange and lovely backdrop to your Tarangire safari.
- Authentic safari.
Tarangire offers a much more tranquil and authentic safari experience than the other northern Tanzanian parks. Despite its many features, Tarangire National Park is less congested with safari vehicles than Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater, making it a real African safari. Tarangire National Park is a good alternative if you don’t like crowded parks but want to see a lot of animals and birdlife.
- Home to diverse habitats
Tarangire’s vegetation and ecology are extremely diversified, with a wide range of habitat types ranging from grassland savanna to deep forests and swamps. Pastoralist societies revere baobabs because they can be used as herbs to treat certain ailments. The Tarangire River serves as a main source of freshwater for the park’s wildlife and vegetation. Thousands of animals congregate around the river during the dry season in search of water, making for superb wildlife viewing.
- Easy accessibility
When planning a safari to any destination in Africa, accessibility is an important factor to consider because some safari parks in Africa are located in more remote and interior locations that are difficult to reach or take a long time to reach, potentially limiting and obstructing your safari experience. Tarangire National Park is one of Tanzania’s most easily accessible national parks, being only a 2-hour drive from Arusha, the beginning point for Tanzania’s northern circuit safaris. In one day, you can drive to the park and back.
- A Budget-Friendly safari park
Tarangire national park is less expensive compared to Serengeti and other famous parks in Tanzania and this can be benefit if you need to go on a safari with limited budget or if you want to save money in your Tanzania safari holiday.
If you don’t have the money to go on a safari in the Serengeti, Lake Manyara, or the Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire is the place to go. During peak season, the cost of visiting most popular national parks in Tanzania might be prohibitively expensive for the typical traveler, so why not try something less expensive? Thousands of animals from the Masai steppe converge on the Tarangire River during the dry season, making the sightings even more stunning.
- Privacy and a sense of space
Tarangire is less congested than other parks like the Serengeti and Ngorongoro since it is not generally a stop on the major safari itinerary. If you’re lucky, you might not see another car for hours as you explore different regions of the park. It’s impossible to put a price on the sense of being alone in the bush in a private African safari tent. It enhances your one-on-one time with Mother Nature and makes for a more satisfying safari experience. You could be eating your lunch while watching elephants splash around in the lake while numerous giraffes seek shade from the scorching sun. The sounds of distant roars and high-pitched bird calls only add to the beauty of the scene.
Conclusion, with all of these reasons and advantages, Tarangire National Park is deserve a place on your travel itinerary. The park is easily accessible by car or air. If you’re driving, the distance from Arusha town is roughly 114 kilometers, so it’ll take you less than 2 hours. While the main highways are drivable all year, streets in the river valley and flood flats can be difficult to navigate during the rainy season. Some private aviation companies, such as Coastal, operate daily flights from Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Serengeti National Park, and Ruaha to Tarangire. Alternatively, you can fly to Arusha and drive the remainder of the way. Please contact us right away to discuss and plan your next Tanzanian safari ideas.
