Is Tarangire National Park Worth Visiting? | Tanzania

Tarangire National Park is one of Tanzania’s premier safari destinations, but admittedly, not as recognizable of a name as some of the country’s top draws. With so many big bucket list items on their Tanzania travel itinerary, many travelers wonder if it is worth visiting Tarangire National Park. When you are competing with the likes of the Serengeti, Kilimanjaro, and Zanzibar, there is no shame in taking a backseat. However, when the limelight shines elsewhere, this can also be spun as a positive. For travelers seeking a more off-the-beaten-path locale, the Tarangire might be the safari destination you’re looking for.. Based on the few safaris that I’ve been on, I can promise you that the experience is more enjoyable and immersive when there aren’t hordes of other safari vehicles circling the same sleeping lion or chasing a herd of elephants.

Located in the north of Tanzania, in the same general region as the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater, and Mount Kilimanjaro, Tarangire National Park is in a prime location. Aside from the relatively unexciting Arusha National Park, the Tarangire is the closest safari destination to the major tourist hub of Arusha. Plenty of safari-goers do trickle in due to its location and the convenience, which was a big reason why I ended up visiting the Tarangire myself. However, like many others, I was amazed by this underrated and overlooked national park. The Tarangire is home to vast landscapes, abundant wildlife, towering baobab trees, large herds of elephants, and lions that climb trees. What more can you ask for? While it may not be as well-known as the Serengeti, the Tarangire is not to be overlooked.

I actually had no idea that the Tarangire even existed until I arrived in Arusha. I had already visited the Maasai Mara in Kenya. There, they told me that the Serengeti and the Maasai Mara were practically the same park, just divided by the borders of Kenya and Tanzania. One can expect to see the same landscapes and animals in both parks. Safaris are not cheap. I wanted to make sure I got the most bang for my buck and experience something new, if possible. As amazing as I imagine it to be, the Serengeti was more expensive and involved way more driving to get there. I’ll be back one day, hopefully when I’m rich and don’t have to think twice about chartering a private plane to touch down in the savannas of the Serengeti.

As a budget traveler, I spent a lot of time and energy looking for the perfect safari while I was in Arusha. It was far too much haggling and arguing with tour operators for my liking, but I managed to scrape together what seemed to be an excellent itinerary. Over the next three days, I would visit Tarangire National Park, the Ngorongoro Crater, and Lake Manyara National Park. Of these three, I was only familiar with the Ngorongoro Crater beforehand. Regardless, I approached the adventure with an open mind and empty pockets. Here’s what to expect from Tarangire National Park.

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Table of Contents

Why You Should Visit Tarangire National Park

There are many reasons to visit Tarangire National Park. Let’s run through them real quick.

Abundant Wildlife – Tarangire has large populations of wildlife, including four of the Big Five. While there are never any guarantees when on safari, there are good chances of seeing large herds of elephants, giraffes, lions, and buffalo.

Diverse Landscapes – In contrast to endless savannah, the Tarangire has a variety of landscapes, offering lush greenery, rivers, watering holes, wooded areas and countless baobab trees. It keeps things fairly interesting as you’ll be exploring various environments and different habitats for different creatures.

tarangire national park safari tanzania

Less Crowded – As a lesser-famous safari destination, the Tarangire experiences fewer crowds. The experience can feel more intimate and authentic. Nothing takes you out of the magic of a safari like the hum of 20 safari vehicles crowding the same animal. While the Tarangire is not exempt from this, it is much less likely.

Convenient Location – Perhaps the biggest draw to Tarangire is its proximity to Arusha. It is only 75 miles away from Tanzania’s main safari hub, meaning it can be easily visited as a day trip.

More Budget-Friendly – While I wouldn’t call safaris cheap, Tarangire is on the more affordable end. It doesn’t require a lengthy drive or chartered flight to reach and accommodation tends to be cheaper. The entrance fees are also lower than the Serengeti’s $70 a day price tag.

Why Not To Visit Tarangire National Park

Now, let’s make the case for why you should skip over Tarangire National Park.

No Great Migration – Travelers from far and wide come to witness the Great Migration of millions of wildebeest, zebra, and their predators that stalk them from land and river. The Tarangire has a smaller migration of about 250,000 animals, but it pales in comparison to what you’ll see at the Serengeti and Maasai Mara.

No Rhinoceros – If your aspirations are to seek out Africa’s Big Five, you’ll need to head elsewhere to complete the list. The lion, elephant, buffalo, and elusive leopard can all be found in Tarangire, but you won’t have any luck spotting a rhinoceros.

There isn’t much else that I can think of to deter you from visiting Tarangire. If you have the means and time to visit it, then go. The main dilemma that people face is being forced to choose between Tanzania’s many safari destinations, whether due to time constraints or funds. The Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara are usually packaged with most Tarangire multi-day safaris, so let’s talk about the Serengeti.

Choosing Between Tarangire and the Serengeti

One of the toughest decisions can be choosing between the Tarangire and the Serengeti. Both parks offer bucket list experiences and unforgettable wildlife viewing opportunities. However, a lot of people only have time for or can only afford to do one. If that’s the case, let’s compare the two.

As one of the most famous safari destinations in Africa, if not the world, the Serengeti can be more crowded and more expensive, especially during the season of the Great Migration. While the Serengeti is vast, covering 5,700 square miles, only a fraction of that is accessible to safari vehicles. There are hotspots along rivers and watering holes that most vehicles flock to for better odds of spotting wildlife. Safari drivers communicate with one another, so if one of them spots a lion, odds are, a few dozen other vehicles will be arriving before too long.

While the same is true for Tarangire, it is quieter and less crowded across the board. For safari-goers looking for a more intimate, immersive experience, the Tarangire is absolutely worth looking into. The Tarangire also has more varied scenery than the endless savannah of the Serengeti, which I had already experienced in Kenya’s Maasai Mara. It’s more lush, forested, and home to massive baobab trees that litter the landscape. As a big lover of baobab trees, the Tarangire ended up being an excellent choice. There is just something majestic about seeing the magnificent African elephants and giraffes being dwarfed by something even larger.

Overall, I can’t say that one environment is better than the other. Each has a different atmosphere, and I will never forget seeing the tall yellow grass of the savannah for the first time at the Maasai Mara. I’ve never been somewhere where the sky just felt so endless. It was a surreal feeling.

Ultimately, it’s impossible to say that one park is objectively better than the other. Hopefully, this comparison helps a bit, but it will be up to your personal preference. Overall, I’d call the Serengeti the quintessential safari experience. If you haven’t been on safari before, I would go all out and splurge, especially during the Great Migration. On the other hand, the Tarangire is more tranquil, and the smaller crowds lead to a more natural and raw experience. It is also more convenient and budget-friendly to visit.

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What You Can Expect To See At Tarangire National Park

The large herds of elephants are the main attraction at Tarangire, the home of the largest elephant population in Tanzania. We saw huge families of them and were often surrounded by these magnificent creatures. It made the experience worth it alone, but there is much more to see. From tree-climbing lions to towering baobabs, Tarangire National Park has a lot of wildlife to spot and scenery to take in. The natural beauty here is stunning and I appreciated the variety of landscapes. It kept things interesting and made for some stunning photos with different backdrops.

The Tarangire River runs through the national park, adding to the dramatic views of the vast African countryside. The name Tara Ngire literally translate to River of Warthogs, although I didn’t see too many warthogs while I was there. The river attracts many animals, especially during the dry season when other water sources start to run dry.

There’s no guarantees when you’re on safari that you are going to see anything, but with Tarangire’s smaller and more enclosed area, their is a high likelihood that you’ll see a lot. Bet on spotting some elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, and a couple of lions. We also saw warthogs, cobras, and a multitude of colorful birds. On top of wildlife, the landscapes are breathtaking and otherworldly, highlighted by the large number of baobab trees littered across the countryside.

How Much Does A Safari At Tarangire National Park Cost?

Visiting Tarangire National Park can be relatively affordable compared to other safaris. The overall cost of visiting depends on various factors such as the time of year, type of accommodation, activities, and how you choose to organize your safari. Many visitors book through a tour operator, which can range from $200 to $500 per person per day for an all-inclusive safari. This typically covers park fees, accommodations, meals, transportation, and guided game drives. The entrance fee to Tarangire is $50 during peak season and $45 during low season.

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We paid $610 each to join a 3-day group safari to Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater, and Lake Manyara National Parks. Accommodation was in a tent, although the property itself was fairly nice. Staying in lodges can add up a lot, and most agencies, even at budget-friendly backpacker hostels, quoted us $1200 to $1500 for three days to sleep indoors. The main tip I can give you is to join a group safari, if possible. The larger the group, the cheaper it becomes per person.

However, splurging on a private safari might be worth it. On our last day, it was just my sister and I for the Lake Manyara stretch. Having a vehicle to ourselves and being able to look everywhere and have more control over our itinerary was amazing. It’s hard to put a price tag on that.

Final Verdict: Is Tarangire National Park Worth Visiting?

I loved my safari in Tarangire National Park. The landscapes were otherworldly and the smaller crowds were a huge plus. It made for a more immersive and raw experience with the nature and the wildlife. I’ve been on safaris where countless vehicles crowded a few animals. The Tarangire flipped the script and for once, we were one of few safari vehicles completely surrounded by herds of elephants.

However, a lot of factors come into play. Everyone’s experience is going to be different. There are no promises when heading out to look for wild animals that are free to roam in their massive outdoor homes. One can be extremely lucky or see nothing at all. The same can be said for any safari destination. I’m sure you’ll have found conflicting reports about whether the Tarangire is worth visiting.

Personally, I say yes, absolutely. The way we did things, combining Tarangire, Ngorongoro, and Lake Manyara was an excellent decision and I do not regret shelling out $600 for this at all. On its own, the Tarangire is probably best done as a day trip as it is fairly small. I wouldn’t do a 3-day safari in just the Tarangire. Combining these three parks offered such a unique experience and different environment with each brand new day, and remains one of the best experiences I’ve had in Africa.

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