Game Drives in Tarangire National Park

Game Drives in Tarangire National Park: Game drives are among the activities which tourists engage in during their safaris in Tarangire national park which is located in the northern part of Tanzania.

Tarangire national park is located close to other wildlife viewing destinations in the northern tourist circuit such as the famous Serengeti national park, Lake Manyara national park and Ngorongoro conservation area.

This national park is known for having big herds of elephants and for its giant baobab trees which can be seen at different parts of Tarangire national park. Many other wildlife species can also be seen during wildlife viewing experiences at the destination.

Payment of entrance fees in Tarangire national park is among the requirements which tourists visiting the national park are expected to fulfill before entering the national park to enjoy seeing its attractions and also to engage in activities.

Nonresidents visiting Tarangire national park pay 53 USD while East Africans pay for entrance fees in Tanzania shillings (TSH). Children and adults also pay different entrance fees while visiting the destination.

Some of the game drives which take place in Tarangire national park include the following;

Morning game drives

Tourists engage in morning game drives in search of wildlife species such as elephants, antelopes, gazelles, buffalos, zebras, warthogs, and many others which are very active making them easy to see as they graze in the savannah plains.

Afternoon game drives

Game drives during the day are the typical safari experience and involve tourists driving around the national park in search of wildlife species in the afternoon. This activity takes place for half the day and wildlife species may not be seen in big numbers at this time of day since they seek shelter from the sun and are hidden.

Night game drives

Tourists can also engage in night game drives in Tarangire national park which is offered by some of the accommodation facilities at the destination. This activity takes place during the night in search of nocturnal wildlife species and it also takes place in the company of a ranger guide.

Full day game drives

This activity involves driving around the national park the whole day starting in the morning and then in the afternoon in search of the many wildlife species which can be seen in Tarangire national park.

Best time for game drives in Tarangire national park

For amazing wildlife viewing experiences in Tarangire national park, the months during the dry season in June to October are recommended. This is because wildlife species can easily be seen since the grass is shorter and wildlife species gather around water points to drink.

Tarangire national park is an all year round wildlife viewing destination which means at any time of the year, tourists can see different wildlife species and enjoy the scenery around the national park.

Rules and regulations for game viewing in Tarangire national park

There are certain rules and regulations put in place for tourists to follow during their game viewing experiences in Tarangire national park and they include the following;

Avoiding noise

During game viewing experiences in Tarangire national park, tourists are discouraged from making noise as they drive around the national park because this scares away the different wildlife species.

Avoiding littering

Littering around Tarangire national park is also discouraged during game viewing activities as a way of promoting conservation practices among the tourists.

Avoiding feeding the wildlife species

Feeding the wildlife species is discouraged during game viewing activities in Tarangire national park because this interferes with the normal feeding habits of the wildlife species which can be spotted grazing and feeding around the national park.

Avoid getting close to the wildlife species

Driving close to the wildlife species is also discouraged in Tarangire national park to avoid scaring away the wildlife species.

Avoid leaving the game viewing routes

Driving off the game viewing routes is also discouraged in Tarangire national park because they are many risks involves when tourists get lost as they explore the national park. This act is also punishable and there are fines and penalties put in place when tourists drive off the game viewing routes.

Activities in Tarangire national park

Other activities also take place in Tarangire national park and they include the following;

Nature walks

Nature walks in Tarangire national park involve moving around the national park on foot in search of wildlife species and also to get a close experience with nature. Tourists follow different routes as they get a close experience with nature and their surroundings in the national park.

During nature walks, tourists are accompanied by a ranger guide as they enjoy moving around the savannah plains. The nature walks also offer the tourists an up close wildlife viewing experience on foot.

Community visits

Community visits are also among the highlights during safaris in Tarangire national park and they involve interactions between the local community and the tourists. This activity involves tourists engaging in activities such as visiting the traditional homesteads of the Maasai known as “manyattas”.

Other activities which tourists engage in during their community visits include joining traditional dance performances with the Maasai warriors, visiting the local markets, visiting local arts and craft shops to see items such as beaded necklaces, earrings, anklets, sandals, belts among others.

Bird watching

There are many bird species in Tarangire national park which tourists can enjoy seeing during their bird watching experiences. This activity is best done during the wet season during the months of November to March.

Both native and migrant bird species can be seen at the different birding spots in Tarangire national park. These bird species include ostriches, kori bustard, hornbills, rufous tailed weavers, ashy starlings, yellow collared lovebirds, francolins, barbets, starlings, hammerkops, bee eaters, vultures, falcons among others.

How to get to Tarangire national park

Tarangire national park can be accessed using different means which include air or flight and also road transport means.

By air, tourists can fly to the airstrips in the national park such as Tarangire airstrips where charter and scheduled flights are organized by different air companies to the destination.
By road, tourists can drive from Arusha to the national park to engage in different activities and to enjoy seeing different attractions around Tarangire national park.

Visit Tarangire national park and enjoy game drives and other activities at the destination by booking a safari with Focus East Africa tours.