5-Day Tanzania Safari
A private five-day safari from Arusha to the Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire National Park, staying in mid-range lodges and tented camps.
Tarangire National Park
Baobab country south-west of Arusha, where the Tarangire River draws elephant herds and other wildlife in the dry season.
At a glance
- Our journeys here
- 5 safaris
- Time spent here
- 2 days
- Journey length
- 5–15 days
Tarangire is less than two hours' drive south-west of Arusha, and many travellers rush past it on the way to the Serengeti. Those who stop find baobab trees, swamps, long grass and a river that runs through the middle of the park.
Where we spend time
- The Tarangire River: the riverbed and its banks, where the animals come to drink.
- Silalei Swamp, one of the areas we explore on our game drives.
- "Little Serengeti": an open stretch of grassland, as its nickname suggests.
On some journeys there is an afternoon nature walk with a guide, or a visit to a Maasai village outside the park.
The river
The Tarangire River is the only permanent water in the area. When the dry season sets in, animals come in from the surrounding Maasai Steppe to drink: elephant, wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, eland and hartebeest. Lion and leopard follow.
Baobabs
The baobabs are what most people remember. They matter to the whole park, to elephants, bees, birds and bats alike. In the green season, after the rains, Tarangire is at its best for birds.
What to look for
- Large elephant families moving along the same paths year after year.
- Giraffe, impala, lesser kudu, waterbuck and the long-necked gerenuk.
- Pythons, and big cats resting on the river banks.
- Birds in the swamps: saddle-billed stork, African fish eagle, tawny eagle and lilac-breasted roller. Look out too for yellow-collared lovebirds, ashy starlings and kori bustards.
Getting there
Tarangire is the first park on most of our northern journeys, less than two hours by road from Arusha. Most journeys give it two days.
Plan your time
Through the year
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Dry season
Water is scarce outside the park and animals gather along the Tarangire River.
Dry season: July, August, September, October
Things to do here
Journeys that spend time here
Often combined with
Questions travellers ask
How far is Tarangire from Arusha?
Less than two hours by road, south-west of Arusha.
When is the best time to visit Tarangire?
The dry season, from July to October, when animals gather along the river. The green season is best for birds.
How long should we stay in Tarangire?
Most of our journeys give Tarangire two days.
Plan a journey that includes Tarangire National Park
Tell us when you would like to travel and what matters to you. We will suggest how long to give Tarangire National Park and what to pair it with.