Northern Circuit · Tanzania
Tarangire National Park
10,000 km²
Park area
3.000
Peak dry season elephants
juni–oktober
Best game viewing
Walking
Safari's toegestaan

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.
- Duration: 8 days / 7 nights
- Begins: Arusha
- Operates: Jun-Oct, Jan-Mar
- Difficulty: Easy
- Duration: 8 days / 7 nights
- Begins: Arusha
- Operates: Jun-Oct, Jan-Mar
- Difficulty: Easy
- Duration: 13 days, 12 nights
- Begins: Arusha
- Operates: Jun-Oct, Jan-Mar
- Difficulty: Easy
- Duration: 8 days, 7 nights
- Begins: Arusha
- Operates: Nov-Dec, Apr-May
- Difficulty: Easy
The Tarangire ecosystem
The River
Tarangire River
De levensader van het park. In het droge seizoen is elk dier binnen een straal van 100 km ervan afhankelijk, wat leidt tot een wilddichtheid die die van de Serengeti evenaart.
The Trees
Baobab Savannah
Hier groeien enkele van Tanzania's oudste en meest indrukwekkende baobabs. Oud, enorm en totaal anders dan alles wat je elders in het noordelijke circuit vindt.
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.
Het moerasgebied
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?
June to October is the peak dry season - when elephant concentrations peak and game viewing is most reliable. November to May has lusher vegetation, bird life, and far fewer visitors.
Can I do walking safari in Tarangire?
Yes - Tarangire is one of the best parks in Tanzania for walking safaris. Activities are conducted in designated wilderness areas with licensed armed rangers.
How many days should I spend?
Two nights minimum, three preferred. Tarangire rewards time - the more mornings you have, the better the chances of exceptional encounters.
Is Tarangire usually combined with other parks?
Almost always. It works naturally as the start of a Northern Circuit itinerary — Arusha → Tarangire → Ngorongoro → Serengeti — or as the beginning of a combination including Zanzibar.
What makes Tarangire different from the Serengeti?
The Serengeti is open grassland and famous. Tarangire has dense baobab woodland, lower visitor numbers, and a concentration of elephants and predators that the Serengeti cannot match in the dry season.
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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