Tarangire National Park

A gathering of giants in a picture perfect African Landscape. The undulating savannah woodland, dotted with majestic baobabs-many of which are estimated to be over 2000 years old-is home to the largest elephant population in northern Tanzania . And when the dust blows the plains dry, game viewing is nothing less than breathtaking . Late in the dry season , the park hosts the highest density of wildlife of almost anywhere on the whole continent.

The Tarangire national park is situated in northern  parts of Tanzania in Manyara region . Tarangire national park, total area covered 2,850 km squire ( 1,100 m ) , The park established in 1970 it covers an area of approximately 2,850 km ( 1,100 squire miles ) . the landscape is composed of granitic ridges, river valley and swamps. Tarangire names

it’s come from the originates from the Tarangire river that a crosses the park . The Tarangire river which rises in the Kondoa highlands of central Tanzania and makes it’s way north – wards through the length of the park , the Tarangire river is the primary source of fresh water for wild animals in the Tarangire ecosystem during the annual dry season. One arm forks to the right feeding the Nguselororobi and Larmakau areas, and finally pours it’s water into lake Burunge.

The Tarangire ecosystem is defined by the long distance migration of wildebeest and zebras while large herd of elephant and cape buffalo. during the dry season thousands of animals concentrate in the Tarangire national park from the surrounding wet – season dispersal and calving area’s.

Before becoming a national park , Tarangire was original a popular hunting area. Today it’s regarded as one of the best wildlife area’s remaining in East African . The principal features of the park include the Lakes, swamps, rivers and rock outcrops. Interestingly this area is enqualify by several hills , oldonyo ngahari is to the east while Kalima is to be the south , Sangaiwe and Haidedonga area to the west and Kitibonga bit further inside from the two . On the other hand Tarangire hill is almost centrally located.

Tarangire dominated with vegetations mix of Acacia woodland, combretum woodland, seasonally flooded grassland and baobab trees. The park is famous for it’s high density of elephants and baobab trees. visitors visit to the park in the June to November dry season can expect to see large herds of thousands of zebras , wildebeest and cape buffalo . Other common resident animals include waterbuck, giraffe, dik dik, impala, eland, grant’s gazelle, vervet monkey, banded mongoose and olive baboon . Predators in Tarangire include lion, leopard, cheetah, caracal, honey badger and African wild dog .

The oldest known elephant to give birth to twins is found in Tarangire. A recent jbirth of elephant twins in the Tarangire national park in Tanzania is the great example of how the birth of these two healthy and thriving twins can beat the odds.

Home to more than 550 birds species , the park is a haven of bird enthusiasts. The park is also famous for the termite mounds that dot the landscape . Those that have been abandoned are often home to dwarf mangoose.

The park management has develop some tour circuit to enable visitors to observe this miniature of the world at their own space. Each circuit has it’s own outstanding features which can imprint into ones mind . The thrill of a lifetime . All circuit namely Lemiyoni , Matete , Burunge , Kitibong , Gursi , Mkungunero , Nguselororobi , and Larmakau.  The rainy season begins in November and continuous through May . The highest precipitation may recorded in March however the rainfall in the park is below , approximately 600 MM per annual in Tarangire national park.

An absence of Lakes is the secret to the abundance of wildlife, The Tarangire river is the only permanent source of water , besides Silale Swamp, an arm of the main river. It flows northwards throughout the length of the park and forms a life – providing artery for visiting wild animals. When the blazing sun vaporizes the last drops of moisture from the plains in early june – this is where all animals return , after another.

Most wildlife gathers in the central and northern areas of the park. The sight of thousands upon thousands of Zebra en wildebeest is something you won’t easily forget . It provides a feeding frenzy for lions – the parks most abundant residents – , leopards and spotted hyenas, which eagerly await their next chance to hunt. Infact all five of Africa’s greatest wild animals are present. Although the Cheetah number varies with the occurrence of gazelles, you stand a high change of seeing it.

The oryx might be an absent beauty in most of the other parks, it is a proud visitor of Tarangire. Here just a few mammals are rare residents, such as the Greater and lesser Kudu . And as for the elusive wild dog and peculiar long – necked gerenuk: you need a very well – trained eye indeed – or just a stroke of luck. But without much effort you can thick the checkboxes for Giraffe, Waterbuck, Bushbuck, Buffalo, Eland , Impala, Gazelle and warthog.

Bird lovers are treated to a Palette of over 500 breeding species – nowhere in the world you will find more in one habitat. And wet or dry, an encounter with elephants just cannot be avoided.

The park knows seasonal variation : the dry season lasts from June to October (with risk of bushfires). The wet period lasts from November to May ( less rainy December – February ). August – October is best for seeing migratory wildlife, but there is abundant resident wildlife all year round.

The park is easily  accessible by road or air . By road 114 km from Arusha town on a good tarmac road , last 7 km on dirt roads ( less than 2 hours in total ). By air : Private flights are organised by Safari companies from Arusha town. The main roads are drivable throughout the year, but roads in the river valley and on the flood plains are hard to pass in the wet season.

Mostly tourism activities to do inside the park are , Game driving, Guided walking safaris, Balloon safari ride, and Bird watching.