Tarangire National Park at a glance
Tarangire National Park lies in the Manyara Region of northern Tanzania and is run by TANAPA, the national parks authority. It became a national park in 1970 and covers 2,850 km². The park takes its name from the Tarangire River, which runs through it. It forms part of the Greater Maasai Steppe, and the animals do not stay inside the park boundary all year.
The park is open all year, and the gates close at 6 p.m. From Arusha the drive takes about 2.5 to 3 hours via Makuyuni and Minjingu. The last stretches are park tracks, and a four-wheel drive vehicle is recommended in the rainy months. Most visitors come on a day trip or as part of a longer northern circuit, and many stay in a camp or lodge along the river or at the park edge.
Tanzania safari with Tarangire
One park, or part of a longer route.
Tarangire works as a stand-alone day trip from Arusha and as the first stop of a longer Tanzania safari. One three-day route runs from Tarangire to the Ngorongoro crater and on to Lake Manyara, with nights around Karatu and Mto wa Mbu. A two-day route starts at Lake Manyara and ends at Tarangire, with a night at a campsite outside the parks near Mto wa Mbu. Our pages on the 3 day safari show how these routes are built.
For the neighbouring places, see the guides to Lake Manyara National Park and to the Ngorongoro crater. This site stays with Tarangire.
Our picks: Tarangire tours
Choose a single day trip if you have one day, or add the Ngorongoro Crater or Lake Manyara for two or three. Park entry is covered on all six.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Private 3-day safari: Tarangire, Ngorongoro and Manyara
- Park fees and entry
- Lodge nights, full board
- Pop-up roof 4x4
Three parks in three days, with lodge nights on full board and park fees covered. A small tourism levy and village tax are paid at check-in.
Check availability →
4-day group camping safari: Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro
- Park entry for all three parks
- Camping and meals
- English-speaking guide
Four days and nights camping in a small group of up to seven, with park entry covered for all three parks.
Check availability →
Private 2-day safari: Tarangire and Lake Manyara
- Park fees and entry
- Lodge night, full board
- Private jeep and driver-guide
Game drives in Tarangire and Lake Manyara with one lodge night on full board. A small tourism levy and village tax are paid at check-in.
Check availability →
2-day Tarangire and Ngorongoro Crater safari
- Tarangire and Ngorongoro fees
- One night, full board
- 4x4 and guide
Day one is Tarangire, day two the Ngorongoro Crater, with one night and full board in between. Park fees for both are covered.
Check availability →
Tarangire day safari from Arusha
- Park entry and fees
- Guide and transport
- Lunch and water
A full day in the park with a picnic lunch by the river. Park entry and fees are covered.
Check availability →Tarangire day trip for elephants and baobabs
- Park entry
- Land Cruiser with pop-up roof
- English-speaking driver-guide
A long day with pick-up at your reception desk and a lunch break in the park. Choose a private vehicle or a small group of up to seven.
Check availability →Tarangire safaris and day trips
Game drives in Tarangire, day trips from Arusha and safaris that combine the park with Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro, with live prices and availability.
What Tarangire is known for
Elephants, baobabs and a river that holds the dry season together.
In the dry season, water holes shrink and animals gather along the river corridor. Zebras, wildebeest, buffalo and hartebeest concentrate there, and so do the elephant herds. Baobab trees stand on the hills and savannas, and elephants are known to break open their trunks to reach the water inside. Giraffes, lions and cheetahs live in the park too, and more than 550 bird species have been recorded. None of these sightings is guaranteed, but the chances are good in the dry months.
The park offers day game drives, night game drives, guided walks and balloon flights. Night drives and walks need an authorised ranger, and you stay on marked tracks. Leaving the vehicle anywhere else is not allowed.
All Tarangire guides
Pick the topic you need next.
Tarangire safari
Game drives, the rules in the park and a sample day.
Day trips from Arusha
Drive time, the route and what a day trip leaves out.
3 day safari
Tarangire, Ngorongoro and Lake Manyara in three days.
Safari cost
Price examples for camping and mid-range trips.
Park fees
Entry, vehicles, guides and how to pay.
Wildlife and birds
Lions, pythons, giraffes and more than 550 bird species.
The elephants
Where the herds gather and which months suit them.
Baobab trees
Age, water storage and elephant damage.
River and Silale Swamp
The water that draws the animals in the dry season.
Night drive and walks
What is possible inside the park and under which rules.
Babati
Lake Babati, Mount Hanang and travel facts.
Weather and best time
Dry season, rains and what each means for a visit.
Lodges and camps
Where you can sleep inside and outside the park.
Arusha to Tarangire
Road, gates, the airstrip and entry rules.
History
From the 1970 national park to today's conservation work.
A few things to know before you go
Points that help with planning in 2026.
Check the current park fee
The adult fee for visitors from outside the East African Community is $50 (2023/24 tariff) or $70, depending on the rate TANAPA applies; check the current amount before you book, and ask whether your safari price includes it.
Park fees →Night drives and walks exist in the park
The park offers both night game drives and guided walks. They are done with an authorised ranger, not on your own.
Night drive and walks →Balloon flights run in Tarangire
Balloon flights over Tarangire are offered and start at sunrise. Availability depends on the weather.
Safari options →Insurance for the mainland
Visitors who are not residents need the government inbound insurance on the Tanzanian mainland too, even with their own policy. Policies bought after 1 October 2026 for a first entry to the mainland go through the NIC, while Zanzibar uses the ZIC. A health form for all travellers has applied since October 2026.
Getting there →More independent guides to Tanzania
Separate guides from the same team.
Ngorongoro
The crater, fees, crater tours and the highlands.
Serengeti
Safaris, the Great Migration, park fees and the best season.
Kilimanjaro
Climbing routes, day hikes, park fees and trips from Moshi.
Lake Manyara
Tree-climbing lions, flamingos, Mto wa Mbu and park fees.
Arusha
Arusha National Park, Mount Meru, the city and its airports.
Lake Natron
Flamingos, Ol Doinyo Lengai and the Engare Sero waterfall.
Ruaha
Lions, walking safaris and the southern circuit.
Nyerere
Boat safaris on the Rufiji, wild dogs, park fees and trips from Zanzibar.
Selous
The Selous name, Frederick Selous, the World Heritage Site and Selous safaris.
Mikumi
Safaris from Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar, the SGR train and the Udzungwa Mountains.
Stone Town
Walking tours, Prison Island, spice tours and the ferry from Dar es Salaam.
Zanzibar
Beaches, Mnemba snorkeling, Jozani Forest, the best time to visit and entry rules.
Tarangire National Park: frequently asked questions
Where is Tarangire National Park?
It is in the Manyara Region of northern Tanzania. The road from Arusha takes about 2.5 to 3 hours. See Arusha to Tarangire.
What is the best time to visit?
The long dry season from June to October concentrates animals along the river and at the remaining water. The rainy months are March to May and November to December, and the tracks can get soft. Details are on the weather page.
Can I visit Tarangire in one day from Arusha?
Yes, many visitors do a day trip. The drive is long, so the time for game drives is shorter than the time on the road. A trip with a night nearby gives you more time in the park. See day trips from Arusha.
How much is the park entry fee?
The adult fee for visitors from outside the East African Community is $50 per day (2023/24 tariff, main season, before VAT) or $70, depending on the rate TANAPA applies; check the current amount before you book. The park fees page sets the figures side by side.
Will I see elephants?
Elephants are common in Tarangire, especially in the dry season, but no sighting is guaranteed. Read more on the elephants page.
Is tarangire-national-park.org the official park website?
No. This is an independent travel guide. It is not run by TANAPA or any authority, and it has no link to a safari operator, lodge or camp.