Tanzania National Parks Safari

Tanzania is a case of success regarding Nature conservation and endangerous species protection. The country soon understood that they have been presented with some of the greatest natural wonders to be found on Earth. And quickly they learned how to conserve them and take good care of them.

In fact, many conservation works have been done here, specially those related with fighting Elephant Hunting and saving one of the most endangerous species in the world, the Black Rhino. Jane Goodall also become famous for her pioneer work with the Chimpanzees at Gombe Stream National Park.

Blessed by nature with 14 national parks (there are even more, but these ones are the most famous) one can found everything in Tanzania. Tanzania is what comes to your mind when you think of Africa. There are parks that are as large as many european countries like the Serengeti National park and Selous Game Reserve. There are parks, like Katavi National Park or Ruaha National Park that are so untouched by humans they reassemble the descriptions of Africa by white hunters and missionaires who came here centuries ago. Parks where you can have a million of acres just for yourself and see more lions than people. There are parks like Gombe Stream National Park or Mahale Mountains National Park where you will be able to see large groups of Chimpanzees and Gorillas. There are parks like Saadani National park where you can join pristine beaches and the wild bush. Other parks, such as Ngorongoro Conservation Area with its Ngorongoro Crater have a beauty that is so stunning, so breathtaking that it is impossible to put into words. And what about Kilimanjaro National Park? Where you can see giraffes with the world's tallest free standing mountain, the roof of Africa, in the background? Well, there are really parks for every taste and interest and we haven't even spoke about Zanzibar, with world class beaches of white sand and turquoise warm water. Tanzania National Parks Safari is definitely one of the top destinations of the world.

In the following map, you can see the 14 national parks. To learn more about each one and see what we recommend, move your mouse over the map and click in one park.

Tarangire National Park

Description

Tarangire National Park is maybe the less famous park of the Northern circuit itinerary. However, it has a number of large mammals that rivals that of Serengeti. The reason why predators are harder to spot here is that this park is much more densely vegetated than the Serengeti. Tarangire brings many animals (and is at its highest interest) during the dry season, where animals are attracted to the permanent waters of the Tarangire river.

Wildlife

Tarangire is famous for the large elephant herds that gather along the river during the months of the dry season. The park hosts large predators like lions, leopards, cheetahs, golden and black backd jackals, bat eared foxed and spotted hyenas. Regarding birdlife, Tarangire is similar to lake Manyara, having been recorded more than 500 different species. Some of the most prominent would be the bateleur eagle, the fish eagle, the palnut vulture, the saddle-billed and yellow-billed stork, the yellow-necked spurfowl, the orange-bellied parrot, the barefaced go-away bird, the red-fronted barbet, the silverbird and red and yellow barbet, the mouse-coloured pendulin tit and the lovely yellow-collared lovebird.

When to go

Open during the whole year but better during the dry months of July and November, as the concentration of wildlife in the river is at its peak.

What to do

4x4 game safaris.

What we suggest

Tarangire is a very enjoyable park but is over shadowed by the other parks of the Northern Circuit. If you are doing a full North Circuit itinerary, we'd suggest visiting this park, specially during the months of July and October. Otherwise it would probably be more interesting to spend more time in other parks. Tarangire is, however, a great 1 or 2 days safari with a very convenient location for those departing from Arusha.