Tarangire National Park Safari
Tarangire National Park is the safari park for elephants and baobab trees. About two hours south of Arusha, it covers roughly 2,850 square kilometres of rolling hills, swamps and the Tarangire River, which draws large herds of elephants, zebras, wildebeest and buffalo in the dry season.
Tarangire National Park is the safari park for elephants and baobab trees. About two hours south of Arusha, it covers roughly 2,850 square kilometres of rolling hills, swamps and the Tarangire River, which draws large herds of elephants, zebras, wildebeest and buffalo in the dry season.
It is the easiest park to visit from Arusha, and the best first stop on a northern circuit safari. Our Tarangire safaris start from USD 250 per person.
Why visit Tarangire
Tarangire has one of the highest concentrations of elephants in Tanzania. In the dry season from June to October, family groups of dozens of animals gather on the riverbanks. The park also has ancient baobab trees, some of them over a thousand years old, tree-climbing lions and pythons, large numbers of giraffes and gerenuk and fringe-eared oryx, which are hard to see elsewhere on the northern circuit.
Bird watchers value Tarangire for its more than 500 species, including the yellow-collared lovebird, hornbills and the ground hornbill.
Day trip or overnight?
A one-day safari from Arusha gives you about five hours in the park after the drive. It is a good introduction. Overnighting inside or near the park gives you a sunrise and sunset game drive and a more relaxed day. Many travellers add Tarangire to the start of a longer safari, as a short drive from Arusha that avoids long travel on the first day.
Best time to visit
The dry season from June to October is best for game viewing, because wildlife concentrates along the river. November to May is green and quiet, with good bird watching, and the animals spread out across the park. In the rainy months some tracks become slow.
Where to stay
There are lodges and tented camps inside the park and just outside the boundary, from simple to luxury, many with views over the Tarangire River. Staying inside the park saves travelling time and allows night drives in some places. See our accommodation page.
Tarangire in the dry season
From June to October the rivers and swamps elsewhere dry up, and animals concentrate on the Tarangire River, the only permanent water in the area. Herds of elephants come to drink and bathe, zebras and wildebeest arrive from the Maasai steppe, and predators follow. The park is also dusty and hot, and the grass is short, so game viewing is easy. This is the best time for photography, with elephants against baobab trees.
Tarangire in the green season
From November to May the land turns green, the animals disperse across a larger area and the park is quiet. Birdlife peaks, with migrant species arriving from Europe and Asia. Some tracks are muddy, and game is less concentrated, but the scenery is beautiful and prices are lower.
Night drives and walking
Outside the national park boundary, on the Maasai steppe, some lodges offer night drives and walking safaris. Inside the park these are not allowed. If you want to see nocturnal animals such as aardvarks or genets, ask us about the right lodge.
Tarangire safari packages
- 5 Day Shared Group Camping Safari (5 Days, from USD 1,250 per person) Five days on the Northern Circuit with public-campsite nights: Tarangire, two nights in the Serengeti, a crater-rim night at Simba, then Ngorongoro Crater befor
- 2 Day Tarangire & Ngorongoro Joining Safari (2 Days, from USD 500 per person) Two days from Arusha for travellers with limited time: a full day in Tarangire, one lodge night, then Ngorongoro Crater before the evening drop-off in town.
- 1 Day Tarangire National Park Short Safari from Arusha (1 Day, from USD 350 per person) A private one-day Tarangire safari from Arusha: elephant herds, ancient baobabs and a picnic lunch inside the park.
- 1 Day Tarangire National Park Joining Safari from Arusha (1 Day, from USD 250 per person) A budget-friendly shared day safari to Tarangire National Park from Arusha: elephants, baobabs and a picnic lunch.
- 2 Day Tarangire & Ngorongoro Crater Safari from Zanzibar (2 Days / 1 Night, from USD 1,350 per person) A private 2 day safari from Zanzibar: fly to Arusha, explore Tarangire, then descend into Ngorongoro Crater before an evening flight back.
- 7 Day Northern Tanzania Midrange Safari (7 Days / 6 Nights, from USD 2,800 per person) The classic Northern Circuit in 7 days: Tarangire, Lake Manyara, two nights in the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater, staying in mid range lodges and tented c
- 7 Day Northern Circuit Luxury Tanzania Safari: Drive to Serengeti & Fly Out (7 Days / 6 Nights, from USD 5,300 per person) A private 7 day luxury Northern Circuit safari: drive through Tarangire, Manyara and Ngorongoro to the Serengeti, then fly out from Seronera Airstrip.
- 6 Day Tanzania Budget Safari: Tarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro (6 Days / 5 Nights, from USD 2,800 per person) A 6 day budget camping safari to Tarangire, two days in the Serengeti and a Ngorongoro Crater game drive.
- 8 Day Luxury Tanzania Safari & Zanzibar Beach Escape (8 Days / 7 Nights, from USD 7,800 per person) An 8 Day luxury journey from Arusha through Tarangire, the Serengeti, and Ngorongoro Crater, finishing on Zanzibar’s beaches, USD 7,800 per person.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Tarangire from Arusha?
About 120 kilometres, or two hours by road.
Can I visit Tarangire in one day?
Yes. A day trip leaves Arusha early and returns in the evening.
Are there lions in Tarangire?
Yes. Lions, leopards and cheetahs live in the park, and the tree-climbing lions are well known.
Is Tarangire good for families?
Yes. It is close, with large numbers of animals and short drives.
What is special about the baobabs?
Tarangire has some of the largest baobab trees in East Africa, and elephants shelter in their shade and sometimes eat their bark.