Tarangire National Park Activities
Tarangire National Park Activities : Tarangire National Park, Tanzania, has been a remarkable destination for tourists who want to see a large number of animals on a Tanzania safari while also getting a close-up view of the wildlife with less interference from other tourists on the trip. Tarangire National Park rewards visitors with great animal sightings and bird watching amidst stunning scenery and giant baobab backdrops.
What is special about Tarangire National Park?
In terms of wildlife concentration, the park has been an outstanding rival to Serengeti National Park, and thus a visit here offers a great opportunity to see a large number of wild animals. Tarangire Park’s fame stems from the high density of elephants and the concentration of large baobab trees that dot the park’s landscape.
What animals can you see in Tarangire National Park?
Tarangire National Park is a good place for animal viewing because it is home to a large number of animals and is also well known for having the highest concentration of elephants in East Africa. A visit to Tarangire National Park provides an opportunity to see large herds of over 3000 elephants, possibly the only place where they can be seen in such large numbers. Tarangire is also home to the world’s oldest elephant, known to have given birth to twins.
Aside from elephants, Tarangire National Park is home to a variety of other wild animals, including zebras, wildebeest, and cape buffalos, which congregate in the park during the dry season, which runs from June to November.
Waterbuck, giraffe, dik-dik, impala, eland, Grant’s gazelle, vervet monkey, banded mongoose, and olive baboons are among the other commonly spotted animals. Tarangire Park is also home to a large number of predators, the most common of which are lions, leopards, cheetahs, caracals, honey badgers, and African wild dogs.
Birds: The Park is further enriched by a plethora of bird life. Tarangire Park is home to over 550 different bird species, and many visitors describe it as a haven for bird enthusiasts. It is ideal for a Tanzanian birding safari itinerary. Tarangire National Park in Tanzania is the best place to see birds.
A visit to Tarangire Park during a safari in Tanzania is highly recommended and will not disappoint in terms of wildlife viewing. Take a short trip to the park or have it added to your longer Tanzania safari for an adventure in elephant land.
Tarangire Game Drive
Tarangire National Park spans an undulating 2,600 km2 between the Maasai Steppe plains to the south-east and the Great Rift Valley lakes to the north and west. Tarangire’s northern region is dominated by the perennial Tarangire River, which flows north and west until it exits the park’s northwest corner and flows into Lake Burungi. During the dry season, vast swamps in the south dry out and become verdant plains.
The most impressive feature of Tarangire, without a doubt, is the park’s elephant migration, when large herds push through to Tarangire’s river system and swamps during the dry season. This truly is a spectacular scene due to the astonishing abundance of elephants in the park. With over 500 species recorded to date, the park is truly a birdwatcher’s paradise.
Tree-climbing lions are fairly common, but cheetahs are uncommon. Hyena, jackal, and wild dog are among the other carnivores that roam the rolling acacia and baobab woodlands, riverine forests, and dense grass, though wild dogs are scarce and prefer other areas of the Maasai Steppe.
Aside from elephants, the park is home to wildebeest, zebra, eland, impala, greater and lesser kudu, dik-dik, Coke’s hartebeest, Thomson’s gazelle, giraffe, buffalo, reedbuck, waterbuck, warthog, hippopotamus, mongoose, and rock hyrax! There are even two unusual antelopes: the fringe-eared Oryx and the gerenuk. Although black rhinos are rarely seen here, it is believed that a few individuals live in the park’s more remote areas.
Tarangire guided walking safari
A walking safari is the best way to get up close and personal with the wild. Feel the ancient earth beneath your feet as you walk on the tracks of animals who walked the same path minutes before. Learn about the flora and fauna with an experienced guide and begin to understand the true majesty of the indigenous peoples who live and thrive on the land.
Treetop Maasai village tour
The Maasai Village is about a 20–30 minute drive from Treetops and provides an excellent insight into Maasai life. This village’s inhabitants, who range in age, are very warm and friendly and eager to meet Treetops visitors.
Tarangire National Park Activities : Boma Dinner and Masai Dancer
Enjoy the delights of eating under the stars in a traditional Maasai boma while watching and listening to Maasai menfolk dance and sing. This alfresco dining experience offers bush flavors as well as international cuisine, all while lit by lanterns and the glowing embers of a large bonfire.
Night drives
Night drives are an exciting new way to explore the bush. Under the cover of darkness, the savannah transforms into a whole new world of nocturnal creatures.
Take a night game drive with one of Focus East Africa Tour’s knowledgeable guides. As your eyes adjust to the lack of light, your safari guide will use a spotlight to spot nocturnal animals. Keep an eye out for the beam reflecting off the eyes of wildlife such as porcupines, striped hyenas, or the elusive smaller cats.
Many predators that spend the day resting come out at night to hunt. The sleek genet hunts for food, competing with servals and African wildcats, while the fearless honey badger seeks its next meal. The leopard rules the territory, stalking and ambushing unwary antelope. The lion awakens from its day of sun napping, and night birds awaken, swooping acrobatically and using reflective markings to confuse prey.
However, the night does not only belong to the hunter. Elephants enjoy the cool, sleeping in between bouts of grazing and nudging each other awake when danger approaches.
Of course, there’s the spectacular night sky above. The roll-back roofs on Focus East Africa Tours vehicles provide guests with a clear view of the stars. Your guide will point out the southern hemisphere constellations and teach you how to find celestial bearings. If you go out during the full moon, the bright light provides an unrivaled view of the savannah.
Tarangire National Park Activities : Hot-air balloon safaris
Taking a hot-air balloon ride during your safari will provide you with a unique perspective on East Africa’s beautiful landscape. It’s difficult not to be impressed as you soar through the sky in a hot-air balloon, with the sun rising behind you and wildlife stirring below.
If you visit the Serengeti or Masai Mara, you may see herds of wildebeest on the riverbanks as they prepare to cross the Great Migration. From above Tarangire, you might be able to see huge herds of elephants and large groups of buffalo.
A hot-air balloon ride allows photographers to capture incomparable images of quietly grazing animals and the dramatic juxtaposition of land and sky. Follow your hot-air balloon safari with a champagne breakfast in the bush for the ultimate romantic experience.
This excursion begins very early in the morning in order to see the sunrise. We recommend that guests bring layers because the air can be chilly. Excursions in hot-air balloons are also weather-dependent. Balloons cannot be released if it is windy or raining. Make a reservation in advance to ensure your spot.
Tarangire National Park Activities : Birding Safari
When the sun is shining brightly and the lions are lying belly-up in the shade of a tree, it’s time to look up and observe the bustling bird life above you. View flashes of iridescent color and listen to songbirds. You might see weavers squabbling over space and materials as they weave their intricately woven nests. Perhaps you’ll see a tango between potential mates as the male puffs out his feathers to impress.
East Africa is brimming with prime birding spots, whether you’re content with the occasional sighting from your car or prefer to go on a twitching mission. Choose your best binoculars, pack your zoom lens, and meet with a guide who shares your enthusiasm. A birding safari, whether on foot or in a 4×4, slows the pace and reveals a world of details. You might find yourself parked quietly beside a popular watering hole, watching who comes and goes, or crouched in the undergrowth, waiting for that tell-tale flutter of movement.
Our birding destinations
Ruaha National Park and Selous Game Reserve in southern Tanzania are both excellent places to see a diverse range of East African and Southern African migrants. Birders can spot hundreds of different species in the depths of Rubondo Island’s forests or Ngorongoro’s montane woodlands. Focus East Africa Tour’s range includes the birding hotspots of Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda, as well as the lush Swahili coastline.
Be prepared
With such a diverse range of habitats waiting to be discovered on an East African safari vacation, avid birders must be prepared for any terrain or climate. Dusty plains, humid forests, muddy paths, and long hikes may stand in your way of completing your checklist. Pack light, comfortable clothing that is warm and waterproof. Neutral colors are best for blending in, and sturdy hiking boots are essential when clambering over rocks and fallen trees in search of that elusive winged beauty.
