Visit Tarangire National Park, Tanzania

Tarangire is a classic dry season reserve: in the rains the game disperses into the Maasai Steppe but as the landscape dries the wildlife returns, drawn to the Tarangire River.

Wildlife of Tarangire National Park

Large populations of wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, giraffe, eland, impala and warthog all go in search of water. Lion and hyena follow accordingly. Perhaps most impressive are the large herds of elephant that congregate along the riverbanks — it is sometimes possible to see over 500 in a day.

Birdlife

There are some localised antelope species, such as the fringe-eared oryx and gerenuk, and plenty of colourful birdlife. Yellow-billed and saddle-billed storks are often found in the river and orange-bellied parrots and red-and-yellow barbets in the acacia woodland.

A short way from Arusha, Tarangire is an ideal place to stay for a couple of nights at the beginning or end of a 'northern circuit' safari.