Covering an area of 2400 sq kms, Tarangire is one of the larger parks in northern Tanzania, after the Serengeti, famed for its large and ferocious prides of lion, frequent sightings of the elusive leopard and huge elephant herds.

The park is stunningly beautiful, dotted with large, ancient baobabs, thorny acacias and ''sausage'' trees (ideal sanctuary for tree-loving leopards) - the quintessential African landscape which is part-forest and part plains.

Tarangire is easily incorporated into a long tour of the Northern Tanzanian game viewing areas, or due to its close promixity to Arusha (about 2.5 hours drive), a day trip can be easily achieved. However we would recommend at least two days in this park to allow for more relaxed game viewing and time to take in the surroundings especially at night when the nocturnal creatures awake and the skies are ablaze with stars from different galaxies - Tarangire exudes an aura of pure magic and one comes to truly appreciate the sheer natural beauty of this wild and wonderful park.

Sunset over AcaciasIt is not unlikely to come across a variety of snakes - the African Python (who can stretch to over 9 metres in length), the spitting cobra, gaboon vipers, puff adders and the notorious and deadly black mamba. In addition, about 50 of the 60 raptor species found in Tanzania can be found in Tarangire - tawny and snake eagles, chanting goshawks, African harrier-hawk, augur buzzards and the secretary birds make their home in this huge habitat.

Hollow Baobab in TarangireThe Tarangire River snakes its way across the park, offering wildlife a constant source of fresh water. Tarangire is best visited in the dry season, between July and September when the park becomes home to impressive concentrations of migratory wildlife species. During this period the Tarangire River is one of the few sources of permanent water in the area and consequently attracts large numbers of wildebeest, zebra, elephant, eland and oryx which gather in the area until the onset of the rains which sends the wildlife dispersing again to the adjoining grazing areas in the Maasai Steppes. Views over the vast Silale swamp to Ol Donyo Sambu hill are beautiful and the area attracts great concentrations of animals as the park dries out.

Landcruiser under acacia ¨C Tarangire (dots in background are wildebeest)In Tarangire, one can experience the true wilderness in relative isolation, as the park is not frequented by as many tourists as the other parks in the north.

Accommodation is varied and located inside and on the park boundaries. There are a number of campsites (both public and special campsites), medium range lodges and more exclusive, luxurious lodges and tented camps all of which offer great views of the park and its surrounding areas.
Some of the lodges and tented camps situated outside the park boundaries offer night game drives in open-topped jeeps, where one can have fleeting glimpses of nocturnal creatures from great, hulking silhouettes of elephants to the wide-eyed gazes of bushbabies, in the midst of a cacophony of crickets and the thrill of gleaming golden eyes, ever watchful, ever waiting . . . the sheer anticipation and theatre of night life in Tarangire is another aspect of this wonderfully diverse and active ecosystem. Nocturnal animals can be found going about their daily activities and foraging for food (it is not possible to drive inside any of the national parks between 6pm-6am).

Walking safaris and ethno-botanical tours are offered by some of the lodges and tented camps situated just outside the park boundaries. These excursions offer one the opportunity to learn more about the natural wonders around you - the medicinal and cultural uses of a variety of plants and trees including the bitter bark of the cinchona tree (used to extract quinine - an active antimalarial) and taste the fruit of the amarula plant (famed for its delicious creamy liqueur, also loved by elephants).
There are a number of beautiful lodges and campsites at Tarangire and the landscape of the park is a must for those wanting to view the different terrains and experience a night in the wild.