Tarangire is quite possibly the most underrated wildlife reserve in Africa. Living in the shadows of Tanzania's iconic safari destinations Tarangire is suffering an identity crisis. It is one of the wildest and scenically most beautiful destinations in Africa and yet it is not well known as a safari destination because of the popularity of the nearby Ngorongro and Serengeti.
'I woke to the first light sifting thought the front of the room and as I lay in my bed I could see over the vast wilderness of Tarangire, a magnificent, and yet unheralded, wildlife haven'.
Tarangire National Park has all the major wildlife species of Tanzania in profusion but it is the landscapes that are the true soul of the park. The landscapes of hills, rivers and valleys are dotted with graceful baobab trees. Tarangire is also referred to as the land of the giants because of the dominance of elephants and baobabs in the park.
A major attraction of Tarangire stems from its relative obscurity as the park is not nearly as crowded as the other northern parks of Tanzania. Tarangire National Park often becomes a firm favourite of many visitors.
Tarangire is not a seasonal park, it is spectacular at any time of the year and you are likely to witness impressive herds of up to 600 elephants. The dry season months of June-October bring migrating Elephant, Wildebeest, Zebra, Eland, Hartebeest, Buffalo and Oryx, from the dry Maasai steppe to the gleaming Tarangire River.
November to February is the 'Green Season, and during this time of plenty, Wildebeest and Zebra can be seen giving birth.
By March everything is lush and the wild flowers are out in force and butterflies rise in clouds. This is when birders get most excited, as there are more than 400 different types of birds to be seen.
The only time of year to avoid is April and May when the big rains arrive and most camps are closed. Animals also graze outside the park making use of ancient migration corridors linking Tarangire with other protected areas.
See Tarangire National Park Safari Lodges in Tanzania.
Tarangire is usually part of a safari in the northern parks of Tanzania. A relatively short drive from Arusha gets you to the park.