Tarangire National Park
Tarangire means ‘river of warthogs’ is the most famous for its elephants, birding and plentitude of baobab trees. It’s authentic, untouched Africa at its best.
Tarangire competes the Serengeti in its great number and variety of wildlife. We strongly recommend this destination for vacationers who wish to rather run into more animals and less tourists while on safari. Due to the high number of its scenic baobab trees, the landscape is also one of the particular interest.
2850
Coverage in SQ KM
1000
Years old trees
30
M high baobab trees
Major Attractions in Tarangire
High Population of elephants
Tarangire’ s claim to fame is its large elephant population – the largest in Tanzania. During the dry season, herds of up to 300 elephants can be seen digging in the apparently dry riverbed of the Tarangire River looking for underground streams.
Baobab Trees
Tanzanians respect the baobab as a ‘tree of life.’ Its roots are extremely strong, retaining a phenomenal amount of moisture. Tarangire’ s baobabs can reach up to 30m high, some trunks have an 11m diameter, and some trees have reached the grand age of around 1000 years.
Tree Climbing Python
Especially during the Dry season,when the land is hot, getting refugees from large mammals with hooves (Ungulate) buffalos, zebra etc. and other animals, the snake leaves the mashes when dry and take refuge on the tree because the landbecomes very hot.
Silale Plain
Animals use this area for refuge during rainy season (the soil of Tarangire is black cotton soil), hence animals are afraid of hooves decay. The swamp covers an area of some 70 square kilometers and it acts like a sponge. During the rainy season water is stored here and in the dry season the swamp slowly releases water into the Tarangire River. There is a picnic sight at the swamp that looks out over the expanse of the park
Variety of animals
Tarangire is outstanding seasonally for wildlife. In the Dry season, the Tarangire River is a magnet for migratory animals such as wildebeest, zebra, common eland, hartebeest, gazelle, buffalo and elephant – of which there are more than you can imagine. Lion are quite easily spotted at this time including endangered species like wild dogs.
Tarangire river
The River is the primary source of fresh water for wild animals in the Tarangire Ecosystem during the annual dry season. The Tarangire Ecosystem is defined by the long-distance migration of wildebeest and zebras. During the dry season thousands of animals concentrate in Tarangire National Park from the surrounding wet-season dispersal and calving areas It’s the only river in Tarangire that provide water for wildlife throughout the year.
Home of high concentration of different species of birds
Tarangire is a great bird-watching site with more than 500 species recorded. The drier areas of the park are occupied by the Stocking-thighed Ostrich, the world’s largest bird, the Kori Bustard, the heaviest flying bird in the world, and smaller groups of hornbills, Vultures, Eagles, Lilac breasted roller etc… The Tarangire National Park with its various habitats and food sources is a park every bird-watcher must see.
