Tarangire National Park

Situated on the Maasai Steppes at the heart of a vast semi-arid ecosystem inhabited by tens of thousands of migratory wildebeest and zebra, Tarangire National Park is not as lauded as the nearby Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, but it is a highly rewarding safari destination all the same. Its dominant geographic feature is the near-perennial Tarangire River, a palm-lined watercourse flanked by slopes studded with ancient "upside-down" baobab trees and buttressed termite mounds. The park is best known for its elephant viewing, and justifiably so, as it is not uncommon to encounter a dozen herds in a day, usually offering plenty of exciting ...

Situated on the Maasai Steppes at the heart of a vast semi-arid ecosystem inhabited by tens of thousands of migratory wildebeest and zebra, Tarangire National Park is not as lauded as the nearby Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, but it is a highly rewarding safari destination all the same. Its dominant geographic feature is the near-perennial Tarangire River, a palm-lined watercourse flanked by slopes studded with ancient "upside-down" baobab trees and buttressed termite mounds. The park is best known for its elephant viewing, and justifiably so, as it is not uncommon to encounter a dozen herds in a day, usually offering plenty of exciting interaction. Elephants are there throughout the year, along with lions and other predators, but nomadic grazer populations reach maximum density in the second half of the year, when vast herds congregate in the vicinity of the Tarangire River. Tarangire is also one of the few places in Tanzania where dry-country antelope such as fringe-eared oryx and gerenuk are present (though neither is common). It is also often rated as the best birdwatching destination in northern Tanzania, with a remarkable checklist of 550 species.

About the Expert

Philip Briggs has written or contributed to 50-plus editions of Bradt, Insight, AA and Berlitz guidebooks to African destinations.