Wildlife in Tarangire National Park

Wildlife in Tarangire National Park

Wildlife in Tarangire National Park: Wildlife species in Tarangire are among the attractions which tourists can see during their game viewing experiences in this national park which is located in the northern part of Tanzania.

Elephant species are among the wildlife species which Tarangire national park is known to have which can be seen as tourists explore the destination and engage in a variety of wildlife viewing activities.

Rare antelope species such as the oryx and generuk are also among the wildlife species which can be seen grazing and feeding in the savannah plains during a wildlife viewing experience in Tarangire national park.

Other wildlife species which can be seen in Tarangire national park include zebras, wildebeests, giraffes, hartebeests, waterbucks, hyenas, warthogs, elands and many others which can be seen during the different game viewing activities at the destination.

Tarangire national park is managed by the Tanzania National parks authority which is in charge of promoting conservation and overlooking the different activities within the national park and also formulating fees charged at the destination.

These fees include the entrance fees which are charged to tourists in order for them to be allowed entrance into the national park. Entrance fees are charged according to nonresidents, residents and East Africans. 

Children and adults are also charged entrance fees differently and the fees are valid for 24 hours in Tarangire.

Best time for wildlife viewing in Tarangire national park

The best time of the year to enjoy wildlife viewing experiences in Tarangire is during the months of June to October which is the dry season. During the dry season, the wildlife species are easy to spot since they are known to gather around water points around the national park such as the Tarangire river to drink.

This national park can also be visited at any other time of the year although the dry season is recommended to watch the wildlife species as they graze and feed around the savannah plains at the destination.

Wildlife viewing activities in Tarangire national park

The many wildlife species in Tarangire can be seen during the various activities which tourists engage at the destination such as;

Game drives

Game drives involve driving around the savannah plains of Tarangire national park in search of wildlife species. This game viewing activity takes place at different times of day such as in the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening, during the night as well as for a full day.

In the morning, the wildlife species such as elephants, warthogs, wildebeests, hartebeests, waterbucks, antelopes among others which are very active and easy to see as they graze around the savannah plains of Tarangire national park. Tourists can also enjoy watching the sunrise as they drive around the destination.

Tourists can also search for wildlife species during afternoon and evening game drives which also take place in Tarangire national park. This form of game drives offers a true safari experience in the national park as the tourists enjoy the scenery around them and look out for the wildlife species in the afternoon sun.

Night game drives also take place in Tarangire and they involve driving around in the dark in search of nocturnal wildlife species such as predators like lions, leopards as well as civets, caracals, wild dogs and hyenas which are very active in the night.

The night game drives also take place in the company of a ranger guide who helps to identify the different nocturnal wildlife species in the national park. This experience is unique and is organized by some of the accommodations in Tarangire.

Nature walks

Another unique wildlife viewing experience which tourists participate in during their safaris in Tarangire is the nature walks. This activity is carried out on foot in the savannah plains of the national park.

During nature walks, tourists get a close encounter with their natural surroundings as they follow different routes in the national park and enjoy the scenery around them and also closely view wildlife species from a safe distance.

This activity takes place in the company of a ranger guide who ensures the tourists stay on the nature walk trail and do not wander off into the wilderness as they explore the savannah plains of Tarangire national park.

Attractions in Tarangire

Apart from wildlife species, there are also other attractions in Tarangire and they include the following;

Bird species

Different bird species can also be seen as tourists engage in wildlife viewing and exploring of the savannah plains in Tarangire. Both migrant and native bird species can be seen during bird watching in this national park.

The best time of the year to see these bird species in many numbers is during the wet season in the months of November to March. During these months, the migrant bird species are present and the local or native birds are breeding.

The bird watching spots around Tarangire national park include the swampy floodplains, the woodlands as well as the hills. Bird species which can be seen in this national park include yellow collared lovebirds, ashy starlings, rufous tailed weavers, bee eaters, starlings, hornbills, eagles, vultures, hammerkops, ostriches, striped swallows, plovers, crested francolins among others.

Tarangire river

Tarangire river is a major attraction which flows in the national park and is an important source of water for sustaining the different wildlife species at the destination especially during the dry season when the animals gather around the river to drink water.

 The Tarangire river also plays an important role in the eco system at this destination and it is also surrounded by swamps and trees which act as habitat for the wildlife species in the national park.

Baobab trees

Baobab trees are also among the attractions which can be seen during wildlife viewing experiences and other activities in Tarangire. These trees are known for standing out from the rest of the landscape in the national park.

The trees have significances to the wildlife such as acting as shelter, elephants also get water from the baobab trees and the pastoralists use the tree as source of herbs.

Visit Tarangire national park and experience various wildlife species by booking a safari with Focus East Africa tours.