Tarangire National Park
Welcome to the great expanses of elephant country.
The Tarangire bush is scattered with baobab trees, this land’s standing stones, and spread amongst them are herds of elephant and buffalo, often in their hundreds. The habitat is rich and varied: great grassy swamps, dense woodland, tall grass and the snaking Tarangire River, home to a plethora of animals and birdlife. Which makes it perfect lion, leopard - and Nomad territory.
With less distance to cover than in the Serengeti, this is safari slow-time. We spend hours here observing and photographing the natural world in intricate detail, in our favourite haunts all over the park.
We’ve quite a soft spot for Tarangire. Many of us cut our teeth round this park; there’s barely a team member of Nomad who wouldn’t have come here on safari at some point. Knowing it as we do, finding the perfect spot to be - secluded yet in the thick of the animal world - was not too tricky at all.
Our Camps in Tarangire National Park
Northern Tanzania
When to go
January
Fantastic migrant birdlife
A beautiful time as the trees and the wild flowers start to bloom. Larger herbivores like elephants are in abundance. This is the best time to see incredible birdlife in all their amazing breeding plumage.
The park starts to dry out a little after the early rains of late November and December. Warm days with the chance of thunder showers usually in the afternoon and relatively shortlived .
February
Fantastic migrant birdlife
A beautiful time as the trees and the wild flowers start to bloom. Larger herbivores like elephants are in abundance. This is the best time to see incredible birdlife in all their amazing breeding plumage.
The park starts to dry out a little after the early rains of late November and December. Warm days with the chance of thunder showers usually in the afternoon and relatively shortlived .
March
Fantastic migrant birdlife
A beautiful time as the trees and the wild flowers start to bloom. Larger herbivores like elephants are in abundance. This is the best time to see incredible birdlife in all their amazing breeding plumage.
The park starts to dry out a little after the early rains of late November and December. Warm days with the chance of thunder showers usually in the afternoon and relatively shortlived .
April
CAMP CLOSED
May
CAMP CLOSED
June
Great for big game
The long rains have just finished and the Silale swamp is green and scattered with pools. This is a great time for water birds and large herds of buffalo and elephant. Walking can be a bit more difficult while the grass is a bit longer.
Warm sunny days, rain is unlikely and the nights are beginning to cool.
July
Great for big game
The park is starting to dry out and the herds of zebra and wildebeest start to accumulate east of Silale around Lemiyon and Serengeti Ndogo. The habitual daily treks between the ridges for grazing and the river for water begin again.
Warm sunny days, rain is unlikely and the nights are fresh and cool. It can be quite chilly in the early mornings and evenings.
August
Great for big game
The daily commute of the wildlife between the higher ground and the river gets more pronounced. Birds concentrate at diminishing pools, particularly pelicans and marabou storks which prey on isolated fish. A great month to get out on foot.
Warm sunny days, rain is unlikely and the nights are fresh and cool. It can be quite chilly in the early mornings and evenings.
September
Great for big game
Food starts to become more hard to come by and the water is diminishing. Elephants dig wells in the sandy river beds. This is particularly good time for night drives when predators are actively targeting the animals that are beginning to weaken.
The hottest and driest time of the year. Temperatures are usually around 30 degrees celsius during the heat of the day and there is very little chance of rain.
October
Great for big game
Food starts to become more hard to come by and the water is diminishing. Elephants dig wells in the sandy river beds. This is particularly good time for night drives when predators are actively targeting the animals that are beginning to weaken.
The hottest and driest time of the year. Temperatures are usually around 30 degrees celsius during the heat of the day and there is very little chance of rain.
November
Rain transforms the bush
If it’s dry, the game viewing is much like September and October, but it if it’s wet, there’s a wonderful spring like feel to the place. The grass and leaves quickly sprout green shoots and the animals all have extra bounce after a lean period.
November is a mixed month, it can be hot and dry or wet depending on when the short rains start. Either way it is a really good time to visit and see the seasons change.
December
Lush, verdant and full of life
The birds are now in full breeding plumage and are frantically nest building. The migrant herbivores start to move out to their green season grazing territory to the east. This is a wonderful time to see elephants wallowing, flowers and greenery.
We expect a bit more rain during December and the temperature is warm and muggy.
