TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK

OVERVIEW

During the dry season, Tarangire NP is characterized by dusty red surface with no moisture, withered grass, and humid climate. The Tarangire River flowing through it has shrivel to a shadow of its wet season self, teeming with wildlife. Thirsty nomads have wandered hundreds of parched kilometres knowing that here, always, there is water.

Herds comprising of more than 300 elephants dig the dry river beds in pursuit of underground streams, while migratory wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, impala, hartebeest, gazelle, and eland gather at the shrinking lagoons. Next to the Serengeti ecosystem, it is the largest concentration of wildlife and a smorgasbord for predator species and the one place in Tanzania where dry-country antelope such as the stately fringe-eared Oryx and peculiar long-necked gerenuk are regularly observed.

During the rainy season, the migrants graze over the 20,000 sq km area until they exhaust the green plains. Elephants in Tarangire are a guarantee both in wet and dry season. In the swamps that are tinged green year around are home to 550 bird species.