3 daysLake Manyara · Ngorongoro Crater · Tarangire
3-Day Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro & Tarangire Safari
The best-value way to see three completely different landscapes and stand a real chance of the Big Five in three days.
From
$750 USD pp
Destination
Tarangire National Park
Tarangire is the elephant park. In the dry season the river becomes the only water for miles and herds of a hundred or more gather along it, under baobabs a thousand years old.
Only two hours from Arusha, Tarangire is the easiest real safari park to reach and the one most travellers underrate. It is quieter than Ngorongoro and the landscape — rolling ridges, ancient baobabs, swamp edges — is more varied than the Serengeti.
From July to October, animals from the wider Maasai Steppe concentrate on the Tarangire River. Elephant numbers are extraordinary, and lion, leopard and cheetah follow the plains game in.
It is also one of the best birding parks in northern Tanzania, with over 550 recorded species including the yellow-collared lovebird and the huge kori bustard.
Highlights
- Dry-season elephant gatherings
- Ancient baobab landscapes
- Silale swamp game viewing
- Great value day trip or 2-day add-on
Wildlife you can expect
- · Very large elephant herds
- · Lion and leopard
- · Fringe-eared oryx and gerenuk
- · Giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, impala
- · 550+ bird species
- · Tree-climbing pythons in the swamps
Best time to visit Tarangire
June to October is outstanding as animals concentrate on the river. Green-season visits (Nov–Mar) are quieter with excellent birding.
Check your own travel month →Safaris that visit Tarangire
View itinerary
5 daysTarangire · Serengeti · Ngorongoro Crater
5-Day Serengeti & Ngorongoro Safari
Two full nights inside the Serengeti plus a crater day — the shortest itinerary that does the migration justice.
From
$1,450 USD pp
2 daysTarangire · Ngorongoro Crater
2-Day Tarangire & Ngorongoro Safari
The shortest itinerary that still includes the Ngorongoro Crater — ideal for a tight schedule.
From
$500 USD pp
7 daysTarangire · Lake Manyara · Serengeti · Ngorongoro Crater
7-Day Northern Circuit Safari
Every park in the northern circuit, unhurried, with three nights inside the Serengeti.
From
$2,450 USD pp
8 daysTarangire · Lake Manyara · Serengeti · Ngorongoro Crater
8-Day Northern Circuit & Serengeti Safari
The full northern circuit with three nights inside the Serengeti and room for a balloon flight or a cultural day.
From
$2,700 USD pp
1 dayTarangire
1-Day Tarangire National Park Safari
The strongest single safari day in northern Tanzania — two hours from Arusha, out at dawn, back by evening.
From
$250 USD pp
Guides about Tarangire
Planning
Tanzania vs Kenya Safari: Which Country for Your First Trip?
We are based in Arusha, so we are not neutral — but the honest comparison is more interesting than the sales pitch.
Practical
Is a Tanzania Safari Safe? Health, Visas and Money
Tanzania is one of the calmer countries in the region to travel in. The real preparation is medical and administrative, not dramatic.
Practical
Safari Photography Guide for the Northern Circuit
The difference between snapshots and photographs on safari is mostly timing, a beanbag and knowing when to put the camera down.
Tarangire safari FAQ
- When is the best time to visit Tarangire?
- June to October is outstanding as animals concentrate on the river. Green-season visits (Nov–Mar) are quieter with excellent birding.
- How far is Tarangire from Arusha?
- 2 hours by road We collect you from your hotel in Arusha or from Kilimanjaro Airport, and the drive is part of the trip — the road out of town crosses Maasai country and the Rift Valley escarpment.
- What animals will I see in Tarangire?
- Very large elephant herds, Lion and leopard, Fringe-eared oryx and gerenuk, Giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, impala, 550+ bird species, Tree-climbing pythons in the swamps. Sightings are never guaranteed, but your guide radios with other drivers and knows where the resident animals have been feeding that week.
- Which safaris include Tarangire?
- 3-Day Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro & Tarangire Safari, 5-Day Serengeti & Ngorongoro Safari, 2-Day Tarangire & Ngorongoro Safari, 7-Day Northern Circuit Safari, 8-Day Northern Circuit & Serengeti Safari, 1-Day Tarangire National Park Safari. Prices start at $250 per person in USD, including park fees.
- Are park fees included in your Tarangire prices?
- Yes. Every quote we send includes national park and conservation area entry fees, the vehicle, your driver-guide, accommodation and meals. Park fees are set by the Tanzanian authorities and are the same for every operator, which is why unusually cheap quotes normally cut corners on vehicles or food.