TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK, TANZANIA – Lots of Elephants and Few Tourists.

Great parks are sometimes overlooked by parks that are more well known nearby. People often skip Tarangire National Park in favor of the more well-known Serengeti and Ngorongoro environments, even though it is full of wildlife.

But that would be wrong because this one-of-a-kind area is home to more than 3,000 elephants and more than 700 lions. More than 100,000 wildebeests and zebras also pass through the park during migration season. On the fields of Tarangire, you can see over 500 elephants in one day, which is a sight that you can’t see anywhere else.

The park isn’t really on the famous northern safari circuit in Tanzania, though. But that’s good news for people who are brave enough to explore this beautiful scenery; there won’t be many tourists there, but there will be a lot of wildlife, like buffalo, giraffes, lions, leopards, cheetahs, impala, baboons, monkeys, and more.

The river came first.

The Tarangire River, which gives the reserve its name, cuts through it. During the dry season, thousands of animals depend on it for water. There are an infinite number of buffalo and elephants here, making it the second most wildlife-rich area in Tanzania.

Animals like warthogs, ostriches, impalas, gazelles, mongooses, honey badgers, African wild dogs, and many more walk through this very peaceful park. It’s also one of the best places in the country to see birds, with over 550 species seen every year.

Tarangire’s Strange Things

Have you ever seen a baobab tree? The huge stands of these strange-looking trees, with their big roots and short branches, are one of Tarangire’s most famous sights. The baobab tree’s trunk can hold up to 79 gallons (300 liters) of water for the dry season. The biggest trees can live for a thousand years. The strange baobab tree, which is also called the “Tree of Life,” has a healthy fruit and seeds that can be eaten.

You probably didn’t come to Africa to see huge termite mounds, but you can’t miss them while you’re in Tarangire. They are all over the plains. Another unique thing about the park is that these tiny animal homes are reused when they are empty because the dwarf mongoose moves in and takes over the room. Nature at its most useful!

Don’t Miss

Check it out at Night—Not many national parks let you go on a trek at night, but Tarangire does. Wrap up and go exploring when the sun goes down. Now is the best time to see animals that come out at night, like leopards, civet cats, and porcupines.

Migrations: Tens of thousands of wildebeest, zebras, antelope, and elephants come to Tarangire every year to mate. During the dry season, look for them near the river.