Tarangire is the land of elephants and baobab trees. It is also a good park for seeing the general African wildlife, but the presence of animals is seasonal and depends on the rainfall. If you go there during the best time of the year, which is July to October, you may see a lot.

The river has less importance to the wildlife during rainy seasons, when surface water can be found all over the park. The animals disperse, and some even leave the park.

From savanna to wetland
Tarangire has nine zones of different vegetation, ranging from savanna and acacia woodland to wetland and riverine gallery forest. The huge baobab trees, which can live for many hundred years (according to some sources up to 2,000 years), can be seen in many areas. Their bulky trunks hold a lot of water, and it's not uncommon seeing other plants growing in baobab, parasitizing on this water supply. Most baobabs in Tarangire are damaged from elephants eating their bark, but the trees survive. You may even see trees surviving despite large holes straight through the trunk.

The wildlife
Tarangire has the largest elephant population of all parks in Tanzania, counting 3,000 individuals. They can be seen in anything from singles up to herds of hundreds. The best time to see them in good numbers is July to October.

The same goes for the rest of the wildlife, which is rich in species. Among the predators, you may see the three big African cats (lion, leopard and cheetah), hyaenas, jackals, mongoose and bat-eared foxes. Even the rare African wild dog (sometimes referred to as hunting dog) is spotted occasionally.

Herds of wildebeest and zebras migrate between Amboseli in Kenya and Tarangire, where they spend the dry season from July to October. Like many other species, they congregate in the areas surrounding the Tarangire River, and come to drink every day.

Giraffes, impalas and dikdiks are often seen, as are waterbucks and warthogs. There are small populations of lesser kudu and oryx, but these species are rarely seen. Elands, klipspringers and steinbucks are also rare, but seen occasionally. You're more likely to see African buffalos in grassland, or reedbucks along the river.

Very good bird watching
The good number of different vegetation zones means a variety of habitats for birds. More than 500 bird species have been recorded in the park, making this a very good park for bird watching. The rainy seasons in November and April to May are often the very best, but you can expect a lot of birds and species during any part of the year. Most migrant birds are present during October to April.

Some birds often seen in Tarangire are white-browed coucal, white-bellied go-away bird, yellow-necked spurfowl, bateleur, emerald-spotted wood-dove, African orange-bellied parrot, yellow-collared lovebird, magpie shrike, southern ground hornbill, ostrich and ashy starling. Some other nice species we have seen are Diederik cuckoo, African fish eagle, African harrier-hawk, green wood-hoopoe and European bee-eater.

Northern Tarangire
The northern part of the park, where Tarangire Safari Lodge and Tarangire Sopa Lodge are situated, has the most visitors. This is where the main park gate is found, and Lemiyon and Matete, two park areas of mixed grasslands and woodlands, where many acacias and baobab trees are seen. Impalas, waterbucks and giraffes are often observed here, as are the herds of zebras and wildebeest during the local migration season from July to October. Many other mammal species may also be seen.

There are many bush roads along and around the northern Tarangire River, making this a good area for game driving. Elephants, lions, baboons, waterbucks, buffalos and other species are often seen. Figs, sausage trees, borassus palms and tamarinds are some of the trees growing along the river.

Western Tarangire
An 80 km/50 mi game driving track named the Burungi Circuit leads into the western parts of northern Tarangire. This area is where you are most likely to encounter lesser kudu, eland and oryx. Tree euphorbias, or candelabra trees, can be seen here, as well as in other parts of the park. This roundish tree (or, rather, the genus to which it belongs) is said to have been named after king Juba II of Mauretania's chubby physician Euphorbus.

These parts of Tarangire, on the western side of the Tarangire River, were completely inaccessible during January and February 2007, as the river was flooded after a long spell of unusually rainy weather. No bridges or crossings were passable.

Gursi Swamp is found in the south-western and more remote parts of the park (where Swala Tarangire, an upmarket tented camp, is situated). These are the most likely areas where to find the African wild dog.

Southern and south-eastern Tarangire
Southern and south-eastern Tarangire are vast areas of wilderness, crossed by few roads. Most visitors don't get this far south into the park. The area is dominated by Lermakau and Nguselororobi Swamps, filling up with water during the rainy seasons, and then slowly feeding it into Tarangire River during the following dry seasons. The swamps themselves attract mammals and birds during dry seasons. Oliver's Camp, a tented camp that offers special activities such as bush walks and game drives in open vehicles, is situated not far from these areas.

Larger than Masai Mara
For Tanzania, Tarangire is a park of medium size. Compared to Kenya, it's a large park. It is, for example, some 50 % larger than Kenya's prime park Masai Mara, and has much fewer visitors.

Most visitors stay in Tarangire for one night, spending all in all less than a day game driving there. The park is large enough, though, to allow for a few days' interesting game driving and birding. Such a longer visit should be done during the park's best season, preferably in September or October. The game viewing is sometimes lame during the other dry season from December to March, and as those months are the prime season in Serengeti and Ngorongoro, you should spend most of your safari in those parks instead, limiting your visit in Tarangire to the one night.

Some parts of Tarangire are favoured by tsetse flies, which are a nuisance to safari-goers. They are usually not a problem in the northern and most visited parts, though. As they occur locally, you can usually move on and leave the area to get rid of them.

Lodges and camps
Tarangire has accommodation in lodges, tented camps and camping sites.

Tarangire Safari Lodge is a tourist class tented camp situated in the northern part of Tarangire, some 10 km/6 mi south of the park's main entrance. The lodge has 35 tents, 5 bungalows, restaurant, bar, gift shop and swimming pool. It has a good view, overlooking the woodland savanna and the Tarangire River. Animals of all kinds may pass through the camp area at night. More about Tarangire Safari Lodge Web site: www.tarangiresafarilodge.com

Swala Tarangire is an exclusive tented camp in south-western Tarangire, far from the other lodges and camps.

Web site: www.swala.com

Kikoti Tented Camp is a small camp outside the north-eastern park border, set in a wildlife area. There are eight tents. The camp offers bush walks and night game drives.

Tamarind Tented Camp is a tourist class tented camp just east of Tarangire's northern tip, some 10 km/6 mi off the main road from Arusha. The camp has ten tents and a restaurant tent.

Boundary Hill Lodge is a new lodge situated in a private conservation area just east of Tarangire National Park. The location allows for activities that are not allowed inside the national park, such as night game drives and bush walks. The lodge has eight rooms, all with ensuite bathroom and private balcony with a view. The lodge is powered by solar panels and wind turbines, and rainwater is collected for use.

Web site: www.tarangireconservation.com

Naitolia is a small eco-lodge in a private conservation area to the north-east of Tarangire National Park. The lodge is built from local renewable materials, and offers night game drives, bush walks, a treehouse fly-camp and a setting close to the bush.

Web site: www.tarangireconservation.com

Roika Tarangire Tented Lodge is a lodge of 21 tented rooms, situated outside Tarangire National Park about 5 km/3 mi from the northern main gate. The tents have ensuite bathrooms with showers and bubble bath, and a private wooden veranda. There is a lounge, a business centre and a swimming pool.

Web site: www.tarangireroikatentedlodge.com