Tarangire National Park was established as a game reserve in 1957 and named after the Tarangire River that winds its way through the landscape. It was later declared a National Park in 1970.Tarangire is the sixth biggest park in Tanzania at 2,850 km². Tarangire National Park is known for its majestic Baobab trees. These can grow to an enormous size and have a unique shape. The Park is also famous as it has the largest concentration of elephants in the world! You can see herds of up to 300 elephants around the Tarangire River. The river is the primary source of fresh water for the animals. In the dry season they come here to drink or just to enjoy a bath to cool from the hot sun. During the end of dry season elephants dig into the riverbed to reveal underground water, or are looking for Baobab trees to slake their thirst.

Elephant Paradise

Apart from elephants, Tarangire is a paradise for bird lovers. From parrots, hornbills, lovebirds and lilac breasted rollers to Kori bustards, eagles and vultures. The swamps in Tarangire National Park have one of the largest numbers of breeding bird species in the world. In the area around these swamps, you can also see lions, leopards, cheetahs and even tree-climbing pythons.

Tarangire is a scenic marvel with hilly landscape, valleys and scattered huge Baobab trees and the acacias.

Travel Time to Tarangire

Arusha to Tarangire National Park: 2.5 hours’ drive

Tarangire to Ngorongoro Conservation Area: 2 hours’ drive

Tarangire to Serengeti National Park: 4 hours’ drive