Tarangire National Park
Tarangire National Park is a national park in Tanzania’s Manyara Region and the name of the park originates from the Tarangire River that crosses the park which is the primary source of fresh water for wild animals in the Tarangire Ecosystem during the annual dry season. The Tarangire Ecosystem is defined by the long-distance migration of wildebeest and zebras. During the dry season thousands of animals concentrate in Tarangire National Park from the surrounding wet-season dispersal and calving areas.
It covers an area of approximately 2,850 square kilometers with landscape that is composed of granitic ridges, river valley, and swamps
The park is famous for its high density of elephants and baobab trees. Visitors to the park in the June to November dry season can expect to see large herds of thousands of zebra, wildebeest and cape buffalo and other common resident animals include waterbuck, giraffe, dik dik, impala, eland, Grant’s gazelle, vervet monkey, banded mongoose, and olive baboon. Predators in the park include lion, leopard, cheetah, caracal, honey badger, and African wild dog.
The park is excellent for birdwatching, with more than 550 species recorded in Tarangire. These species include buzzards, vultures, herons, storks, kites, falcons and eagles. The park is also famous for the termite mounds that dot the landscape. Those that have been abandoned are often home to dwarf mongoose. In 2015, a giraffe that is white due to leucism was spotted in the park. Wildlife research is focused on African bush elephant and Masai giraffe
Activities in Taragire national park
Tarangire national park boasts of all kinds of attractions and there’s just so much to keep you occupied, this wondrous park has something to offer irrespective of when you’re visiting. From abundant wildlife viewing and beautiful rolling plains sightseeing and Balloon safari, these are the top things to do in Tarangire National Park.
Birding Watching
Enjoy spotting a large batch of colorful and exclusive bird species in Tarangire national park, it is said to have over 500 species of birds some of the examples are Yellow collared lover birds, bateleurs eagles, gigantic lappet faced vulture, brown parrots, bar faced go away bird, helmeted Guinea fowl, bee eater hammer cops, hornbill, Kori bustards, plovers and striped swallows among the rest. The best places for bird viewing are at the woodlands, swamps and near the Tarangire River.
Wildlife viewing
This park gives you many chances as it is habitat to plenty of wildlife like zebras, searching for underground streams in the dry river beds, flocks of up to about 300 elephants can be found. The shrinking lagoons are gathered around by migratory wildebeest, eland, gazelle, impala, zebras, kudu, rhino, hartebeest buffalo and other smaller mammals. Also regularly spotted are the dry country antelope like the long necked gerenuk and fringe eared Oryx.
Cultural encounters
Experience a better different world by taking a trip to a Masaai or Barabaig village with numerous ancient paintings, in neighborhood with Kolo on Dodoma road Masai people are nomadic pastoralists and have very unique ways of living with cultural aspects you will enjoy to lean about, the Masai also have very unique dressing code tourists can also acquire handy crafts and take home for remembrance.
Nature walks
There are a number of chances to explore the region on walk safaris and experience the wilderness from on foot as well as come a lot of tree and plant species this nature guided walks are mostly done in morning and evening time and last for about one to three hours with an experienced tourist guide.
Balloon Safari
Try an early morning take-off in a hot-air balloon, floating soundlessly above the treetops for a unique perspective on herds of elephant, unmoved by your presence, and zebra chased by furtive lions.
Sightseeing
One of the most memorable experiences you can encounter at Tarangire national park is sightseeing, the park provides some of the most spectacular views of nature including the river Tarangire even when it’s dry, the baobab trees, woodlands, acacias landscapes will give you a feeling of being entangled in nature, the elephants are always muddy digging water from the Tarangire river in the dry season the sight is worth visiting.