Tourist Attractions in Tarangire national park : Tarangire national park situated in the Manyara region of Tanzania is an incredible Tanzania safari destination loved by tourists for its incredible landscape and large herds of elephants and the elephant migration. The park is situated approximately 118 kilometers from Arusha and 70 kilometers drive from Lake Manyara national park, Tarangire national park is also situated in close proximity to Serengeti national park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area – other great Tanzania safari destinations also found in the Northern Safari Circuit.
Tarangire national park covers an area 2,850 square kilometers , the park was first established as a game reserve in 1957 and was later gazetted as a national park in 1970.
Wildlife in Tarangire national park
Elephant migration
Tarangire national park hosts the annual elephant migration, though it is not famous or massive as The Great annual wildebeest migration in the Mara – Serengeti ecosystem. A large herd of up to 3,000 elephants migrate into Tarangire national park in the dry season in search for water and pasture, the migration makes Tarangire River a regular rendezvous spot and herds of elephants can be seen meandering across the plains and under the iconic baobab trees.
Elephant migration is one of the major highlights of a Tanzania wildlife safari in Tarangire national park.
Large elephant population
Tarangire national park is a famous habitat for large populations of elephants which is considered to be the highest elephant population in the whole Tanzania, big herds with over 300 elephant in the plains of Tarangire national park and along the river banks where the waters have receded are the best spots to see the large herds of elephants.
In addition to large herds of elephants, Tarangire national park is a home to over 58 large mammals species which are among the major highlights of a Tanzania wildlife safari in the park. The mammal species include wild dogs, lions, rare Coke’s hartebeests, dry-country antelopes such as fringe – eared oryx and peculiar long – necked gerenuk. Other common resident animals include waterbucks, giraffes, dik-dik, impalas, elands, Grant’s gazelles, vervet monkeys, banded mongoose, olive baboons, honey badgers and greater Kudu.
The Marsh area is the best area in Tarangire national park to watch abundant wildlife during Tanzania wildlife safari.
Birds in Tarangire national park
Tarangire national park is listed among the Important Birding Areas in Tanzania and among the best spots for Tanzania birding safaris, the swamps dotted around Tarangire national park are the commonest breeding area for various species throughout the year. The drier areas of Tarangire national park host the stocking – thinghed Ostrich – the world’s largest bird, the Kori Bustard – the heaviest flying bird in the world and smaller groups of hornbills.
Tarangire national park is a habitat to over 500 bird species which include Yellow-necked spur fowl, Helmeted Guineafowl and Crested Francolin, Lilac-breasted rolers, Hoopoes, Hornbills, White-bellied Go-away-bird and Brown parrots, barbet and mouse birds, striped swallows and starlings, swifts, hammerkops, bee eaters, cordon bleus and owls plovers. Raptor species such as the Bateleur eagles, the Steppe Eagles (which migrate from Russia), the giant Lappet-faced Vultures and the tiny Pigmy Falcon among others.
Birds in Tarangire national park also include migratory bird species which arrive in the park from November to April.
Lemiyon Triangle
The Lemiyon Triangle in Tarangire national park is a pristine area situated in the northern most end of the park forming a triangular – shaped zone, the area has the most striking form of vegetation including the impressive Baobab trees that loom alongside the road with their colossal silvered trucks and mass of gnarled branches.
The Lemiyon Triangle is a great birding site in Tarangire national park hosting vast flocks of red – belled quelea birds and raptors, Tourist Attractions in Tarangire national park.
The Baobabs tree
The Baobab trees are trademark trees dominating the landscape of the park, these trees are locally known as Mbuyu in Swahii local language and are known as the rate tree or monkey bread or bottle tree. These trees are one of the largest trees on the planet, these exceptional trees have thick, sturdy trunk and stunted root – like branches making them a recognizable symbol of Africa.
The unusual form of the Baobab trees gave rise to the traditional belief that these trees displeased a deity who promptly plucked it in anger and thrust it back into the ground upside down.
Baobab trees in Tarangire national park can reach up to 30 meters high and some trunks have an 11 meters diameter and some these trees reach the grand age of around 1000 years, the oldest recorded baobab was 6000 years and was found in South Africa.
Baobab trees are also called the Tree of Life which is attributed to its several useful properties, the tree can be used as shelter, food, medicine and nutritious juices and beer, the hollow trunk of the Baobab trees holds about 125,000 Ml of rain making the tree a useful reservoir most especially in the dry season.
The Poacher’s Hide
The Poacher’s Hide in Tarangire national park is situated Southwest of Tarangire Hill approximately 100 meters west of the main north – South track through the park, the poacher’s Hide is a marvelous old baobab with a slightly concealed entrance and an internal cavern once use as a hideout by poachers
The Poacher’s hide Baobab has a diameter of about 10 meters and is estimated to be over 300 years old, this tree is one of the largest baobab trees in the park. There a small doorway inside the baobab tree which is used to pass through the tree, the cavernous interior has been used in the past for shelter for approximately 20 or more hunter- gatherers.
Other notable tourist attractions in Tarangire national park include
- The Tarangire river
- The Birungi Circuit
- Matete woodlands
- Kitibong Hill and
- The Masai local people.
Book your Tanzania safari to Tarangire national park today.
