Situated just beyond the well-trodden path of the popular northern Tanzania Safari Circuit, Tarangire National Park occupies a space amidst the expanses of the Masai Steppe to the southeast and the surrounding lakes within the Great Rift Valley to the north and west. This park holds the distinction of being the sixth-largest National Park in Tanzania, covering a sprawling area encompassing 2,600 square kilometers.
Noteworthy for its abundant elephant population and iconic baobab trees, Tarangire is a destination frequented by those seeking a unique wildlife experience. Travelers who explore the park during the dry season from June to November can anticipate encountering substantial gatherings of zebras, wildebeests, and cape buffalos. Among the assortment of resident animals, waterbucks, giraffes, dik diks, impalas, elands, Grant’s gazelles, vervet monkeys, banded mongooses, and olive baboons are commonly spotted. Predators in the Tarangire ecosystem encompass lions, leopards, cheetahs, caracals, honey badgers, and African wild dogs.
At the northern edge of Tarangire, the permanent River Tarangire flows, acting as a vital lifeline for the park, particularly during the arid months when much of the region becomes parched. The river stands as the defining feature of this landscape, bestowing its name upon the park. A series of expansive swamps transform into verdant plains as the dry season progresses in the southern part of the park.