A Full-Day Game Drive in Tarangire National Park

A Full-Day Game Drive in Tarangire National Park, Tarangire National Park is one of the wildlife-rich parks in Northern Tanzania. Home to large elephant herds, baobabs, and diverse landscapes, this park is overshadowed by the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, making it unexplored. A few guests who visit it do not stay long enough to explore its wildlife and landscape.

Tarangire is just a one-hour drive from Arusha – the safari gateway of northern Tanzania – making it a perfect spot for a full-day game drive. Most guests usually include Tarangire as a surprise package in their Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater itineraries. Some choose to visit it from Arusha in their free time. Either way, a day spent in Tarangire National Park is unforgettable. In this blog, we’ll describe what a full-day game drive in Tarangire looks like.

What to expect on your full-day game drive?

Large elephants.

Tarangire is indeed an elephant paradise. These grey giants usually roam the vast wilderness of this park searching for water and food. Their unique behavior of digging holes to find water speaks volumes about their intelligence quotient. And they don’t just dig holes to prove their intelligence, but they remember human beings.

The characteristic nature of elephants is to form herds of up to 30 individuals, usually headed by a single matriarch leader. But in Tarangire, you can encounter big herds of up to 300. And there can be bigger herds than this during the dry season, as many of these giant mammals congregate on the banks of the mighty Tarangire River.

Giant baobabs.

The landscape of Tarangire has numerous baobabs, usually dotting the vast, expansive plains. As you drive, you may come across one of the oldest baobabs (aged about 300 years). These trees are called ‘trees of life” for a reason. They produce succulent fruits during the dry season when every tree is dropping its leaves to avoid water loss.

Wildlife migration.

Though it’s not as famous as the Serengeti’s wildebeest, Tarangire’s wildlife migration is a wonderful thing to know. As rainfall declines in the dry season, many water sources dry out, forcing animals to move close to the remaining ones. One of these bodies is the majestic Tarangire River, which runs through the center of the park. This river – which bears the park’s name – never dries, making it a sure place to find water.

Herbivores like wildebeest, zebra, impala, giraffe, elephant, and more make their trip close to the river. As this happens, predators like lions, leopards, spotted hyenas, and cheetahs make their way next to the herbivores. They then hide on the banks, waiting for the right time to attack.

Therefore, due to the massive migration of animals to Tarangire, you can expect prime wildlife viewing like in the Serengeti – only that there’s less crowd here. And there’s a greater chance to witness predatory movements with less effort.

Diverse birdlife.

On top of incredible wildlife, Tarangire is the home of over 550 bird species. Beautiful birds inhabit its baobab-dotted woodlands, plains, and riverine forests. On a game drive, you might come across ground hornbill, yellow-collared lovebird, secretary bird, Kori bustard, and francolin. There’s much to expect if your trip falls anywhere between November and May.

Ideal Itinerary for Tarangire National Park from Arusha

You wake up early to do the preps and enjoy an energy-giving cup of coffee. The guide arrives shortly to pick you up and hit the road to Tarangire, which takes about 1:20 hours of driving to reach the main gate. The guide then sorts out the paperwork and the fees with the park officials. Afterward, we head straight into the park to search for wildlife.

We search the banks of the Tarangire River for a possible lion sighting (since it’s in the morning) and the woodlands and riverine forests to find buffalo and elephants. The hippos and crocodiles are a common sighting as you drive along the Tarangire River. We continue the drive until late morning, when we find a good tree to shade our lunch boxes. Alternatively, you can head to a camp within the park for lunch.y

After lunch, we explore the park to see more wildlife. As the late evening approaches, we scan the vast wilderness to capture a possible leopard on the hunt. We then leave the park for Arusha. If you have an overnight stay in the park or nearby, we can take you there. Enjoy your night or go for a night game drive.

Wrapping things up

A full-day game drive is a memorable experience you might have experienced. It comes with the reward of encountering many wildlife species away from the crowd. If you’re seeking seclusion, tranquility, and pristine beauty, Tarangire is your best place. Are you ready for a full-day adventure or maybe a two-day trip? Our safari planners can craft your program within a few minutes. You just email your travel dates and a few other things to start planning. Welcome!