5 Reasons Why You Should Visit Tarangire National Park
5 Reasons Why You Should Visit Tarangire National Park : Tanzania is endowed with spectacular attractions of every kind – a masterpiece for every adventure seeker. If you want to experience culture, this country has over 120 tribes. And if you want to see wildlife, there are over 50 destinations (that’s parks, game reserves, conservation areas, controlled areas, and nature forests).
Tarangire is one of those fascinating destinations in northern Tanzania. It has a lot to offer, including its unique wildlife, vegetation, landscape, and more. This park is less known, unlike sister parks like Serengeti, Ngorongoro, and Kilimanjaro. And for that, some would question why they should visit it. This article will give you 5 strong reasons why you should visit Tarangire National Park. Let’s dive in!
It’s crowd-free
Everyone wants to see wildlife without being cut off by another vehicle. Seeing a lion surrounded by a bunch of safari vehicles doesn’t feel good. But you can’t hire an entire park just to see wildlife. Instead, finding a less-known destination would be the best alternative.
With many visitors choosing Serengeti and Ngorongoro, Tarangire remains untouched. Only a few take a trip to this stunning park. So, it’s crowd-free. But this doesn’t mean it has nothing to offer. There are plenty of wildlife, birds, and natural wonders to see from it. You’ll observe them with privacy.
It’s home to large elephant herds.
Tarangire has plenty of elephants roaming across its verdant plains and woodlands. Seeing a herd of over 100 elephants is very common. These giants are the architects of the wild, trimming trees down to pave the way for other animals to leave.
Drive in the wilderness and encounter an elephant herd. Spend a few minutes studying them and proceed with the Tanzania safari. For a better experience, don’t forget to pack binoculars and a camera. However, be cautious when observing elephants because they’re aggressive when they charge. Avoid getting too close to their calf. The whole group may be furious when they sense danger and would be terrible.
Elephants are very polite. It’s extremely rare to witness them fighting or charging a safari-goer. Elephants sharing a group are always blood-related. They’re a progeny of a matriarchal leader, and she is responsible for finding food and water for the herd.
It has many baobab trees.
Have you seen these giant trees? They’re abundant in Tarangire, dotting its splendid plains, kopjes, and woodlands. Baobabs have a thousand implications for many cultures in Africa. Some still gather around these trees to call the spirits of their ancestors, while others use them for medicinal purposes.
Baobabs have a long life of up to 1000 years or more. In Tarangire, you’ll meet some of the oldest baobabs that are over 300 years old. These trees have adapted well to both dry and wet conditions. For instance, they usually soak up water, store it during the rainy season, and use it later in the dry season to produce succulent fruits. This adaptation has earned them the nickname “trees of life.” Some locals have connected this adaptation with traditional beliefs. When you give offerings to this tree, you will be awarded with fertility.
The branches usually dry out when there’s no rain. And they may appear like roots, thus being called “upside-down trees.” Several animals feed on this unique tree, including monkeys, elephants, warthogs, and bush babies.
It has a high concentration of wildlife.
During the dry season, many animals disperse to find food and water. This may affect wildlife viewing, especially in destinations like Serengeti and other parks. But it’s the same in Tarangire National Park. The mighty Tarangire River attracts thousands of animals ranging from grazers, and ungulates, to predators. This makes wildlife viewing incredible.
You can just drive along this river to witness wildlife. The Maasai giraffes, buffalos, zebras, wildebeests, warthogs, elands and much more always drink from this river. Predators also never leave their prey. So, you’ll see lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, and much more.
It’s accessible
Tarangire is just a one-hour drive from Arusha. The road is paved and passable throughout the year. You can embark on day trips to Tarangire and return to your accommodations in Arusha.
It’s also the best place to taste the view of wildlife after a Kilimanjaro climb, plus it doesn’t need a huge budget to spend.
A bonus reasons
An additional reason is that it’s home to over 500 bird species.
The birdlife of Tarangire National Park is not something you should undermine. It’s stunning and rich. You can tell to your friends when you’re back home. Ashy starlings, rufous-tailed weavers, yellow-collared lovebirds, and many others are noteworthy birds.
The best time to visit Tarangire National Park
You’re not restricted on what time to visit Tarangire. It’s nice year-round. However, the dry season seems better because the grass is short and animals congregate near the Tarangire River making game viewing much easier.
And there you have it.
If you still have inquiries about Tarangire National Park, please contact us. We also provide travel advice and plans to other Tanzanian destinations. Reach out to Focus East Africa Tours for authentic African safaris.
