How to get to Tarangire National Park

How to get to Tarangire national park looks at the different means of transport which can be used by tourists to access the national park which is part of the northern tourist circuit and is located in the northern part of Tanzania.

Tarangire national park is a wildlife viewing destination which is known for its large herds of elephants as well as rare antelope species which can be seen moving around the savannah plains of the national park.

The national park is characterized by baobab trees, acacia trees, woodlands,, swampy floodplains as well as savannah plains which act as habitat for the various wildlife species in Tarangire national park.

The means of transport to be used during a safari to Tarangire national park is an important aspect to consider during the planning stage of a safari. This is because different tourists have different tastes and preferences when it comes to how they prefer to arrive at a destination of their choice.

These means of transport can be defined as the various types of transport used to carry people or cargo from one destination to another. In this case, it refers to the different types of transport used to get to Tarangire national park.

Tarangire national park can be accessed by means of transport which include the following;

By road, tourists can get to Tarangire national park by driving from Arusha to the park entrance gates where they will proceed into the national park. This route is also used by tourists to access other wildlife viewing destinations in the northern part of Tanzania such as Serengeti national park, Lake Manyara national park and Ngorongoro conservation area.
By air or flight, Tarangire national park can be accessed through charter and scheduled flights to the airstrips in the national park such as Tarangire airstrip. Different airline companies operate these flights for tourists to access the national park conveniently and they include coastal aviation, Regional Air, Air Excel among others.

There are also other means of transport which are used in Tanzania apart from road and air means and they include water transport and rail transport.

On arrival in the national park, tourists are briefed about the different rules and regulations which they are required to follow when engaging in different wildlife viewing activities in Tarangire national park.

Activities in Tarangire national park

There are different activities which tourists engage in during their visits to Tarangire national park and they include the following;

Game drives

Game drives are among the wildlife viewing adventures tourists experience after accessing Tarangire national park using different means of transport. This activity takes place at different times of day such as in the morning, in the afternoon, in the night, in the evening, during the night as well as for a full day.

A variety of wildlife species such as elephants, giraffes, zebras, warthogs, hyenas, antelopes, wildebeests, hartebeests among others can be seen during morning game drives since they are very active at this times of day and can be seen grazing around the savannah plains at the destination.

During other forms of game drives in Tarangire national park such as afternoon or evening game drives, tourists drive around the national park in search of various wildlife species in the wilderness while enjoying the beautiful scenery around them.

Full day game drives in Tarangire national park involve driving around the national park in search of various wildlife species for a whole day. This form of game drive is a combination of various game drives such as the morning and evening game drives and it gives a tourist a satisfactory experience as they observe the wildlife species around the national park.

This game viewing activity is best done during the dry season in the months of June to October when the wildlife species gather to drink around different water points in the national park such as the Tarangire river.

Nature walks

Nature walks also take place in Tarangire national park which can be accessed by different means of transport. This activity involves exploring the savannah plains and the natural surroundings of the national park on foot.

The nature walk experience takes place following different routes and trails and during the activity tourists are accompanied by a ranger guide who ensures that the tourists stay on track and are safe as they move around the savannah plains at the destination.

Tourist also get an up close encounter with nature during nature walks and they also get a close view of the wildlife species from a safe distance which makes the activity favorable for photography and sightseeing in Tarangire national park.

Bird watching

Bird watching is another activity which tourists can engage in during their safaris in Tarangire national park which can be accessed by road or air transport means. This activity involves searching for migrant and native or local bird species at different locations in the national park such as the swampy floodplains, in the hills as well as in the woodland area.

This activity is best done during the wet season in November to March and the bird species which can be seen in Tarangire national park include the following; ostriches, yellow collared lovebirds, hammerkops, rufous tailed weavers, ashy starlings, hornbills, barbets, vultures, eagles, crested francolins, bee eaters, striped swallows, kori bustard and many others.

Community visits

Tourists visiting Tarangire national park can also engage in community visits which involve interactions with the Maasai people who live in the surrounding areas of the national park and have a unique way of life.

During the community visits, the tourists engage in activities such as visiting the traditional homesteads of the Maasai known as “manyattas”, enjoying traditional dance performances with the Maasai warriors, visiting the local market and also craft and art shops where local arts and craft work is displayed such as beaded necklaces, earrings, anklets as well as sandals, belts, “shukas” and many others made by the Maasai people.

Attractions in Tarangire national park

There are different attractions which tourists can enjoy seeing during their safaris to Tarangire national park which can be accessed by road or air means and they include the following;

Wildlife species

Tarangire national park is an all year round wildlife viewing destination where various wildlife species can be seen and these include herds of elephants, lions, leopards, elands, giraffes, zebras, kudu, generuk, dik dik, warthogs, hyenas and many others.

Bird species

Different bird species can also be seen in Tarangire national park and they include both migrant and local birds such as hammerkops, shay starlings, bee eaters, striped swallows, weavers, hornbills, Rufous tailed weavers and many others.

Tarangire river

Tarangire river is a major attraction which flows in the national park which can be accessed by road or air means of transport. This river acts as a source of water for the wildlife species in the national park during the dry season.

Baobab trees

Baobab trees can also be seen in Tarangire national park and they are known to stand out from the rest of the surroundings in the national park. These trees are significant to both the pastoralists and the wildlife species which use the trees as source of shelter, medicine and water.

There are different accommodation facilities where tourists visiting Tarangire national park can stay during their safaris and they include luxury accommodations, midrange accommodations and luxury accommodations.

Journey to Tarangire national park by air or flight means and enjoy the beauty of the different attractions at the destination.