Tarangire National Park Day Trip

Duration

1 day

Route

Arusha – Tarangire National Park – Arusha

Start / end

Starts and ends at your hotel in Arusha (pick-up and drop-off included)

Best time

Tarangire is open year-round, but the dry season from about June to October is best, when wildlife concentrates along the river.

Trip style

Private safari in a 4x4 Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof and a professional English-speaking driver-guide, just for your group.

Tour overview

Tarangire is the closest of the big northern parks to Arusha and one of the most rewarding. It is famous for its elephants, which gather in large family herds along the Tarangire River, and for the giant baobab trees that give the landscape its unmistakable shape. If you only have one day for a safari, this is a superb choice.

You travel in a private 4x4 Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof, so you set the pace with your guide, stopping as long as you like at a lion pride or a herd crossing the riverbed. Expect giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, buffalo and impala, plus a remarkable variety of birds, from lilac-breasted rollers to ostriches.

The trip suits travelers with a free day before or after a Kilimanjaro climb, families, and anyone who wants a real taste of a Tanzanian safari without an overnight stay.

Day-by-day itinerary

Good to know

• Expect an early start; the earlier you enter the park, the more active the wildlife.
• Bring a hat, sunscreen, binoculars and a light jacket for the cool morning drive.
• Tsetse flies can be present in wooded areas, so avoid dark blue and black clothing.
• Pick-up from Moshi is possible on request, with a longer drive each way.