Northern Circuit · Tanzania

Tarangire National Park

Ancient baobabs. Tanzania's largest elephant herds. A park that rewards the traveller who looks past the famous names - and feels like Africa before anyone else arrived.
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10,000 km²

Park area

3,000+

Peak dry season elephants

Jun–Oct

Best game viewing

Walking

Safaris permitted

Elephants grazing in a green savanna with hills and trees in the background

3,000+

Elephants in the dry season

Tanzania's elephant capital

Tarangire is where most of our Northern Circuit itineraries begin. During the dry season, the Tarangire River becomes the only water source for hundreds of kilometres - drawing elephants in their hundreds, lions, leopards, and enormous herds of zebra and wildebeest that rival the Serengeti in scale but with almost none of the crowds.

The park's iconic ancient baobab trees give it a mood unlike anywhere else in Tanzania. Some over 1,000 years old - enormous and otherworldly. Walking safaris are permitted in parts of Tarangire, making it the only major Northern Circuit park where you can step out of the vehicle and feel the ground under your feet in true wilderness.

Choose your adventure

We're a Tanzanian family operation crafting deeply personal adventures that go beyond the guidebooks.

Tanzania Safari · 8 Days Tanzania Family Safari
An 8-day private safari built for families with kids, from Tarangire's elephant herds to the Serengeti's big cats, paced so everyone enjoys it.
  • Duration: 8 days / 7 nights
  • Begins: Arusha
  • Operates: Jun-Oct, Jan-Mar
  • Difficulty: Easy
Starting At $4,500
Learn More
Tanzania Safari · 8 Days Photographic Safari Expedition
An 8-day private safari built for photographers, from golden hour predator shoots in the Serengeti to misty dawn frames inside the Ngorongoro Crater.
  • Duration: 8 days / 7 nights
  • Begins: Arusha
  • Operates: Jun-Oct, Jan-Mar
  • Difficulty: Easy
Starting At $5,800
Learn More
The Complete Tanzania Experience · 13 Days · Tanzania Ultimate Tanzania Adventure
A 13-day private journey that packs everything Tanzania has to offer into one trip: a Kilimanjaro day trek, Big Five safaris across Tarangire, Ngorongoro, and the Serengeti, a morning hunt with the Hadzabe, and barefoot days on Zanzibar's beaches.
  • Duration: 13 days, 12 nights
  • Begins: Arusha
  • Operates: Jun-Oct, Jan-Mar
  • Difficulty: Easy
Starting At $9,800
Learn More
Green Season & Calving Season · 8 Days · Tanzania Tanzania's Secret Seasons Safaris
An 8-day private safari through Tanzania's quietest months, when the rains paint the Serengeti green, newborn wildlife fills the plains, and the landscapes belong almost entirely to you.
  • Duration: 8 days, 7 nights
  • Begins: Arusha
  • Operates: Nov-Dec, Apr-May
  • Difficulty: Easy
Starting At $4,000
Learn More

A glimpse of what awaits

Real photos from real guests. This is Tanzania.

The Tarangire ecosystem

The River

Tarangire River

The park's lifeline. In the dry season, every animal within 100km depends on it — drawing concentrations of wildlife that rival the Serengeti.

The Trees

Baobab Savannah

Some of Tanzania's oldest and most dramatic baobabs grow here. Ancient, enormous, and completely unlike anything else in the Northern Circuit.

The Forest

Miombo Woodland

The southern sections of Tarangire are thick miombo woodland — home to lesser kudu, sable antelope, and species rarely seen in the north.

The Wetland

Silale Swamp

A permanent wetland in the park's interior. Hippos, water birds, and massive herds of elephant concentrate around it year-round.

On Foot

Walking Country

Tarangire permits guided walking in designated areas. With an experienced ranger and a professional guide, this is Africa the way it was meant to be experienced.

Tarangire Questions, Answered.

Everything you need to know about Tarangire safari planning

Are there any insects I should watch out for in Tarangire?

Yes - Tarangire is one of the parks where Tse Tse flies are present, particularly during the day when the sun is at its peak. Unlike mosquitoes, repellants don't work on Tse Tse flies. The most effective precaution is simple: avoid wearing dark-coloured clothing during your game drives. Stick to light khaki, beige, or olive tones - which also help you blend into the landscape. Mosquito protection remains important in the evenings; most lodges provide nets and will spray rooms on request.

When is the best time to visit Tarangire?

Can I do walking safari in Tarangire?

How many days should I spend?

Is Tarangire usually combined with other parks?

What makes Tarangire different from the Serengeti?

Plan Your Tarangire Safari


Tarangire is the park that rewards the traveller who looks past the famous names. We've been going there for years and it still surprises us.

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