Tarangire is home to all the traditional African savannah species as well as a few uncommon ones, such the long-necked gerenuk, that you won’t see in the Serengeti. It is well renowned for its elephant herds and tree-climbing lions. It is home to all the large predators, and with 550 different bird species, it is a wonderful location for bird lovers.

Most visitors to northern Tanzania are headed for the well-known Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater; however, few are aware that the area is also home to Tarangire National Park, one of the nation’s most rewarding reserves.

Tarangire is the least frequented place on the so-called Northern Safari Circuit while being easily accessible. However, don’t let that deter you—at the appropriate time of year, a Tarangire safari can offer some of Tanzania’s best wildlife viewing.

However, the dry season in Tarangire will have you using superlatives. The Tarangire River, which flows north-south through the park, attracts large numbers of elephant, buffalo, giraffe, and various antelope species between June and October. At this time of year, take a Tarangire safari to view animal concentrations that are only surpassed by those found in the Ngorongoro Crater, although Tarangire offers a more serene setting.

Animals, especially grazers like wildebeest and zebra, scatter away from the river when the brief rains arrive in November and December. Visitors should avoid the torrential rains in April and May, when much of the park is inaccessible and the majority of campgrounds close, as they are typically dry in January and February but return in March.

Tarangire is primarily covered in open woods with thick forest situated along the river, making it more densely vegetated than the wide grasslands of the Serengeti and providing leopards with the perfect cover. The baobab, commonly known as the “upside-down tree,” is the most prominent tree in northern Tanzania and has the strangest appearance.

Travelers planning a safari to Tarangire will be happy to hear that the park offers a variety of excellent lodging options, from family-friendly camps to honeymoon hideaways. Additionally, the park easily combines with the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, and Lake Manyara to form the quartet of safari destinations that make up the Northern Safari Circuit.