Tarangire National Park

 The Best Time to Visit Tarangire National Park

The best time to visit Tarangire National Park is during the dry season from June to October. These are the best months for wildlife due to migratory patterns, and the short grasses make game viewing even easier.

The animals flock towards the Tarangire River for water, allowing for easy sightings. In order to see the big herds of elephants, you’re required to visit the park towards the latter period of the dry season (September/October).

November can be especially cheap, as it is out of peak season but tends to still be quite dry before the short rains hit. The low season, from late November to May, is great for bird watching as the area is wet, green and luscious.

Tarangire Vegetation

The permanent Tarangire River is the most dominant feature here and it’s after this river that the park was named. there are a number of large swamps that feed off some of its tributaries however, these are usually dry for most of the year but get very impassable during the rains .The Tarangire park is usually very dry, in fact drier than the Serengeti, however its vegetation is much more green especially with lots of elephant grass, vast areas with mixed acacia woodlands and some of the wonderful ribbons of the aquatic forest not to forget the giant baobab tree that can live up to 600 years storing  between 300 and 900 liters of water.

Tarangire Wildlife Migration

Every year during the dry season from June to November Tarangire hosts a wildlife migration which is not as dramatic as the Wildebeest Migration in the Serengeti, but receives a somewhat large number of animals. As most of this part of the country is dry, the Tarangire River remains the only source of water and consequently attracts large numbers of wildebeests, elephants, gazelles, zebras and hartebeest, buffaloes plus various predators like lions that come to drink and graze around the river banks. during the rain months of November to May, The zebras as well as large herds of wildebeests move into the north-western direction towards the Rift Valley floor amongst the large numbers of animals that spread across the large open areas of the Masaai Steppe and dispersing all the way to Lake Manyara.

Tarangire National Park Weather and Climate

The climate in Tarangire National Park is pleasant and temperate. The “Long rains” March-May and “Short rains” November-December are the only two wet Seasons. It usually rains in the afternoon and only very rarely throughout the day. It rarely gets too hot but it does become chilly in the evenings, and mornings. Here warm clothing is advised morning game drives.

June, July, August, September and October are the dry month. The temperature in the afternoon is 26⁰c (79⁰c F). The days are clear and the sky is tranquil. It cools down at night with temperatures around 14 degrees Celsius (57⁰c F).

Things to do in Tarangire National Park

Game drives

One of the main activities in Tarangire National Park is embarking on thrilling game drives, these excursions provide visitors with the opportunity to observe the park’s diverse wildlife in their natural habitat. The best time for game drives in Tarangire National Park is during the dry season from June to October when the animals congregate around the Tarangire River, the park’s, vital water source. Guided by experienced rangers, each drive typically lasts around 3-4 hours, during your game drive safari, you may have the chance to spot a variety of wildlife species such as leopards, elephants, buffaloes, lions, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras as well as wildebeest. The park is known for its varied ecosystem including acacia woodlands, open grassland and swamps all of which host different colorful birds. Visitors while on a game drive safari in the park can expect to see animals engaged in various behaviors such as feeding, socializing and even mating. Photographic opportunities abound especially with the stunning baobab trees framing the landscape. Game drives in Tarangire National Park promise a thrilling adventure and memorable wildlife encounters.

Night Safari

Night safari in Tarangire National Park offers a unique opportunity to experience the park’s wildlife and landscape after dark. As the sun sets daylight fades, and many nocturnal animals emerge, presenting a different atmosphere compared to daytime excursions, guided by experienced rangers, visitors embark on a thrilling adventure in especially equipped safari vehicles with spotlights to illuminate the terrains. During this night safari, you’ll have the opportunity to observe elusive nocturnal creatures such as bushbabies, porcupines, and various species of owls as well as predatory animals like lions and leopards among others.

Birdwatching

Birdwatching Tarangire National Park is a must for avian enthusiasts, as the park is home to over 500 bird species. The diverse habitats within the park including woodlands, wetlands and savannah support a rich avian population. The best time for birdwatching in the park is during the wet season which occurs between November to    May, as migratory birds arrive, filling the landscapes with vibrant color and sounds. During your birdwatching safari in the park, you will have the chance to spot colorful birds such as northern pied babbler, nohern white-crowned shike, ostrich, pink-breasted lark, rufous-tailed weaver, slate-coloured boubou, von der denken’s hornbill, vulture guineafowls, yellow-collared lovebirds, African grey flycatcher, ashy starling, bare- faced go-away birds, Donaldson smith’s nightjar, great white pelican, mouse-coloured penduline tit among others