Tarangire National Park

Tarangire is one of the most beautiful and underrated parks on Tanzania's northern safari circuit, a landscape of rolling savanna, river valleys and grassland famously studded with giant, ancient baobab trees. It is best known for its large elephant herds, which gather in great numbers along the Tarangire River in the dry season, alongside lions, giraffes, zebras and a rich variety of birdlife, all in a scenic, less crowded setting.

What you actually see

• The elephant herds - the great numbers gathering along the river.
• The baobab trees - the giant ancient trees dotting the landscape.
• The wildlife - lions, giraffes, zebras and antelope.
• The birdlife - the rich variety of birds along the river.

When to go

June to October, the dry season, is the best time, when wildlife, especially the huge elephant herds, concentrates along the Tarangire River; the green wet season is quieter and good for birds but wildlife is more dispersed.

Honest expectations

It is at its best in the dry season, when the river draws the animals together; in the wet season the wildlife scatters and it can be quiet. It is often visited as a day trip or a stop on the northern circuit rather than a destination in itself, though it deserves more time. It is less crowded than the Serengeti and Ngorongoro, a real plus.

Nearby

Lake Manyara, the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti are on the northern circuit.