Tarangire NP
Tarangire National Park is dominated by the Tarangire River. The river attracts enormous herds of elephants and the landscape is a rich and varied mix of Baobab trees, Acacia bush, plains swamps and rocky outcrops or kopjes.
Tarangire NP
Tarangire National Park is dominated by the Tarangire River. The river attracts enormous herds of elephants and the landscape is a rich and varied mix of Baobab trees, Acacia bush, plains swamps and rocky outcrops or kopjes.
Tarangire Swala Camp
Elephants frequent the lodge waterhole just a few feet away from your tent. This intimate property offers unrivaled ‘in camp wildlife viewing’ and is the best kept secret inside Tarangire National Park. The property consists of just 9 luxury tents, and offers the ultimate in seclusion, personalized service, and authentic safari ambience. “Swala” is actually the Swahili word for “impala”, and there is no shortage of these graceful animals flitting through the nearby trees.
Swala Camp is a lovely luxury tented camp in the southern sector of Tarangire National Park. Tarangire is such a scenically beautiful park and game concentrations increase each year from June to November making it a highly recommended stop. during dry season lion and elephants are abundant.
BEST MONHTS TO VISIT
Jan, Feb, March, Apr, May, June, July, Aug, Sept, Oct, Nov & Dec
MOST KNOWN FOR
- Top lodging pick in Tarangire region
- Thrilling in-camp wildlife viewing
- Waterhole viewable from every tent
- Exciting night game drives & walking safaris
ACTIVITIES
Private Game Drives, Night Game Drives, Walking Safaris, Bush Dinners
WILDLIFE
Elephant, Wild Dog, Kudu, Lion, Oryx, Giraffe, Reedbuck, Hyrax, Dik-Dik, Leopard, Buffalo, Python
Tarangire Tree Tops
Tarangire Treetops, situated astride the path of the elephant migration is a private game reserve bordering Tarangire National Park and the Masai Steppe amid rolling, baobab studded hills. The camp enjoys sweeping views from Lake Manyara to the Great Rift Valley Wall – a dramatic and iconic landscape of safari tales.
Tarangire Treetops is distinctively furnished blending natural materials and contemporary decor. The 20 tree houses provide guests with a unique safari experience. They have an en-suite bathroom with a double shower, fan, hair dryer, private balcony, and the entire room is enclosed in mosquito netting. Comfortable beds will ensure guests can rejuvenated for a day of thrilling safari activities. The open design of the houses affords spectacular views and fresh breezes to help keep it cool and tranquil. The houses are built around thick trunks of ancient trees, with branches growing through the lofty ceilings. It’s a magical place to stay and feel truly connected to nature. Dining at Treetops emphasizes inventively created menus offering the finest ingredients, and wherever possible, locally sourced produce. All menus draw on international themes offering creative food with a modern twist on the classics.
Tarangire National Park supports an impressive array of wildlife that are sure to excite guests during game drives through the bush.
Nimali Tarangire Camp
Nimali Tarangire Camp has a wonderful location on the eastern boundary of Tanzania’s Tarangire National Park, an area renowned for its excellent game viewing opportunities and its large concentration of elephants.
The lodge is set along the river in the shade of acacia and baobab trees, overlooking a waterhole that attracts a wealth of wildlife. Guests can enjoy an array of activities from the lodge and can also simply relax on their private veranda and watch the animals come to drink.
Tarangire provides excellent habitat for lion, leopard, buffalo and many antelope species unique to East Africa. These include lesser kudu, fringe eared oryx and Grants gazelle. Herds of up to 300 elephants dig for water in the dry riverbeds for underground streams, while migratory wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, impala, gazelle, hartebeest and eland crowd the plains.
At Nimali Tarangire natural materials are beautifully combined with contemporary decor to provide a comfortable base from which to explore the area.
The main areas comprise of a spacious lounge, library and a central dining area that overlooks the swimming pool and waterhole. Every evening, guests are able to relax in the lounge and have sundowners by the fireplace.
Unlike other parks, Tarangire offers guests the opportunity to enjoy walking safaris and night game drives.
ACCOMMODATION:
The lodge has 6 well-spaced tented suites overlooking the Sand River. From their private veranda guests can relax and unwind as they take in the sights and sounds of the natural surroundings.
The tents are designed with a contemporary look complete with fixed bathroom walls and wooden doors. They are comfortably furnished and have an en suite bathroom with hot showers and flush toilets (24 hour water). Amenities include writing desk, bathrobes / slippers, hairdryer, in-room safe, solar and generator power and battery charging facilities.
ACTIVITIES
(* pre-booking required)
Game drives with professional guides providing great sighting and knowledge of the wild animals. Guests expect to see huge herds of Elephants, tree climbing Lions and also animals unique to East Africa such as Lesser Kudu, Fringe Eared Oryx & Grants Gazelle.
Night game drives* are an opportunity for the guests to see the nightlife of the park and reveal the elusive magic of nocturnal Africa. Night game drives must be booked in prior to arrival in order to guarantee space.
Get closer to nature with Walking Safaris* with the experienced and knowledgeable guides (walks are accompanied by an armed Ranger).
Fly camping* is offered for those looking for an adventurous experience. It is a small and intimate lightweight camp setup in an exclusive area away from the main camp and usually booked as part of a walking safari. (This must be booked prior to arrival at the lodge).
Balloon Safaris* are done in the mornings & must be booked prior to arrival at the Lodge.
The Maasai village tour* offers an insight to the livelihood and culture of the Maasai people. Guests will have an opportunity to watch the Maasai sing and dance as they play an important role in Maasai culture.
Bird Watching: Tarangire boasts a large number of Birds. This can be booked with our professional guides.
Bush Lunch and Dinner: A private bush lunch setup while on safari is a delightful surprise and a memorable experience. While, a romantic candle light dinner under the star lit African sky is an experience not to be missed.
Enjoy a champagne bush breakfast – the perfect way to start your safari experience.
Sundowners: a perfect end to a perfect day! Enjoy a cold drink as you watch the dramatic shades of the African sunset and ponder over the day’s experiences.
Tarangire Safari Lodge
Tarangire Safari Lodge is a family owned lodge in an excellent position in northern Tarangire, overlooking the Tarangire River. This is an inexpensive camp and a decent choice, particularly if you’re travelling with children, as it has game on tap and a great swimming pool.
The lodge sits high on an escarpment overlooking the Tarangire River a short distance from the park’s main gate, and the stunning panoramic views over the deep valley in front are a real highlight. Game regularly comes to drink in the foreground, especially during the dry season and many species can be seen from the large terrace in front of the main lodge itself. The lodge is well placed to access the best game areas of Tarangire, so you’ll be assured of good game viewing while you’re here. If time was short, you could almost dart in and out for one night en route to Ngorongoro and Serengeti with a minimal divert, although Tarangire deserves more than that as its a gem of a park and normally rewards those who spend proper time there.
If you’re on a limited budget and looking for a well run comfortable place to stay in Tarangire, this is definitely one to consider. It’s family owned and run, has absolutely no pretensions and very friendly and efficient staff. Food is uncomplicated and there’s plenty of it; there are superb barbeques some evenings.
There are 36 comfortable and spacious permanent tents with ensuite bathrooms and electricity. They’re a bit close together, spread out in a line either side of the main lodge, but each is only a step away from a view down to the river. In addition, four thatched stone bungalows are available for those who prefer four walls around them instead of canvas.
The size of the lodge means it does attract some small groups and this area of the park can be busy in high season but the density of game here makes up for this. What’s more, Tarangire isn’t huge and if you have your own private vehicle (which we strongly recommend) it’s perfectly possible to head off early with a packed lunch and disappear for the day to other parts of the park, like Lake Burunge on the western side, where you’re likely find fewer other visitors.
Maramboi Tented Camp
Maramboi Tented Camp offers permanent camp facilities and endless vistas of rolling golden grasslands and palm lined desert between Tarangire and Manyara Lake. An impressive landscape from the Rift Valley gives the visitor an amazing natural welcome to an area extraordinarily rich in wildlife. The camp offers stunning views of the Manyara National Park, Rift Valley, Ngorongoro highlands and on clear days even Oldonyo Lengai a sacred mountain to the Maasai. In the wet season, the Manyara and Tarangire Pans flood, attracting huge flocks of flamingos and other waders. The area also boasts the iconic migration herds of tens of thousands of Wildebeest and Zebra, followed by predators. The migrations does occur in other areas of Tanzania, but the tree cover prohibits a view of the magnitude that you are able to see at Maramboi Tented Camp because of the sweeping grasslands.
Twenty spacious tents built on ample wooden decks and 10 lodge rooms have en suite bathroom facilities, and private verandas to take in the stunning landscapes from. It is a wonderful place for families to explore together. Activities include, game drives, bird watching on the shores of the not too distant Lake Manyara and cultural interaction with Datoga and Maasai tribes, whose bomas populate the adjacent land.
Chem Chem Safari Lodge
Eco-luxury child of Fabia and Nicolas Bausch, located on the south side of Lake Manyara, just north of Tarangire National Park, and quickly gaining a reputation for providing an experience as real as it is other worldly, Chem Chem is a one off, the sort of lodge that is as likely to grace the pages of Italian Vogue as it is host a team of conservationists investigating the setting up of northern Tanzanian wildlife corridors. Chem Chem introduces something new into the northern parks of Tanzania and we applaud its originality.
Set in a mixed habitat of palm and scrub, a stone, wood and canvas build overlooking a busy waterhole, Chem Chem consists of a main lodge and 7 sleeping tents. Marked by a winding and tropical-feel approach, the lodge is linked by raised wooden walkways, its shared areas including a dining room, lounge, boma, pool, spa, bar and library. Characterised by a most original look, the staggered roofing, the open sides and polished concrete flooring combining to a create a look at once vintage and chic, everything here – antique seating, found wood furnishings, the enormous communal dining table, simple rugs, stressed throws – is wonderfully considered, the final design such as to give the impression that there is no real line marking what is in and what is out. Fantastically cave-like, yet at the same time airy, large and sweeping, it is a design steeped in contradictions, one that as free as it is comforting.
Clearly all about authentic stakeholder partnerships, Chem Chem is known locally for providing high quality opportunity and the wages to match, a level of care and respect reflected not only in the professionalism of the service, but also in the positivity of working relationships. The kitchen, annually trained up by a visiting Michelin star chef, knows exactly what it’s about, meaning the food – French, European, classic – is as beautifully presented as it is delicious, while the service, from kitchen to floor, is exemplary. And don’t forget to sample the cellar – it’s deep and adventurous.
Situated on either side of the main lodge, the sleeping rooms at Chem Chem are equally fine. Though slightly different in terms of look and capacity, each includes a double bed, seating area, writing desk, en suite bathroom, private balcony and slumber sala. A less-is-more approach to the interior design, the rooms are characterised by the well-made – brass standing fans, linen sheets, super-comfortable mattresses, campaign furnishings – and by an approach that is, like the main lodge, all about bringing the outside in. More luxury pod than standard lodge room, it’s an exceptional stay.
Activities at Chem Chem include game drives, guided walks, cultural visits and sundowners – the last of which takes place in the most unbelievably beautiful surroundings.
Little Chem Chem
Known as the ‘sunrise camp’, Little Chem Chem is situated in a private concession of 20,000 hectares that are shared only with Chem Chem Lodge. Flanked by the Babati mountain range to the South West and the distant hills of Tarangire to the North East, the camp overlooks the freshwater lake, Lake Burunge which attracts all manner of wildlife and birdlife.
What makes Little Chem Chem so special is the fact that in securing this land for their private concession, owners Fabia and Nicolas Bausch have re-opened an old elephant corridor, which resident elephants had previously stopped using, and which subsequently led to their being much more vulnerable to being hunted. The threat of hunting had forced the animals to alter their patterns of movement – to the detriment of their own herds as well as human settlements and other wildlife. Thanks to the likes of Fabia and Nicolas, these patterns are beginning to be re-established. The elephants are able to make use of traditional routes, and local communities are secure in the knowledge that both they and their livelihoods are safe.
Staying at Little Chem Chem is certainly harmonious. As well as the sound principles and the philosophical stance governing their project, Fabia and Nicolas do an excellent job of balancing ecological concerns with a sense of real style. There are five tents, decorated in Out of Africa vintage style. Showers and flushing toilets are en suite and each tent has a private fire pit for end-of-day relaxation – with just the sounds of the bush for company. Private dining is easily arranged.
Activities can include day and night game drives in the Tarangire National Park or Little Chem Chem’s own concession, as well as balloon trips and photographic safaris.
Please note that your trip has direct benefits for the area, the people and its wildlife.
OLIVER’S CAMP
Accommodation
Oliver’s Camp used to be a mobile camp, but after moving locations for a few years, has found its place now and the owners have upgraded the tents and the main area by adding some permanent structures and a touch of luxury. However it has lost none of its bush character.
Oliver’s Camp has a smaller brother, a camp built in the same way but with only five rooms: Little Oliver’s Camp.
The camp comprises ten tastefully furnished tents, each with en-suite bathrooms and outdoor shower. The tents are suspended under thatch and surrounded by a wooden platform where lounge chairs await you. A great place to relax and watch how the animals return from the river and pass by the camp. The interiors are rustic but tasteful and offer an authentic safari experience at its best.
The lounge and dining tent are slightly raised atop platforms, open-sided, and furnished with comfortable leather armchairs and tables. An open fire pit can be found a little further downhill. This is the place where guests meet for pre-dinner drinks. Meals are sometimes served under the great African sky on a wooden platform that was built especially for this purpose.
Location
Tarangire National Park is situated some 120 km south of Arusha and renowned for its huge herds of elephant and many majestic baobab trees. The drive from Arusha to the park entry gate takes about two hours.
Oliver’s Camp is located in the isolated southeast where day-trippers never venture. The road to the camp passes the Silale swamps that attract many animals.
The camp can also be accessed by plane from Arusha to Kuro Airstrip (25 min), followed by a 50-minute drive to camp.
Wildlife
Although this park is quite a bit smaller than say the Serengeti, the concentration and variety of wildlife is immense. During the dry months from July to October, some of the highest concentration of wildlife of any park in Tanzania can be found. Lion, leopards, cheetahs and even the rare caracal are hunting here. Buffaloes, giraffes, impala, eland antelope, kudu, waterbuck, gazelle, oryx and many other species are abundant.
The Tarangire River flows continually through the park, even during the dry season. Large concentration of animals can now be seen along the river and at various waterholes. From July, many elephants migrate from the surrounding areas into the park and refresh themselves in the cool waters of the Tarangire river and the many swamps of the park.
Activities
The camp offers game drives, walking safaris (on request), night drives (extra) and fly-camping in dome tents.
Lake Natron & Lake Eyasi
Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano rises majestically above Lake Natron like the guardian of a lost world. If you like volcanoes you should not miss Ol Doinyo Lengai.
Ngaresero Lake Natron Camp
This camp is situated by a freshwater stream where a spring provides freshwater. The area around Natron consists of volcanoes and craters which results in most of the lakes and water being full of soda and not hospitable for people and most animal life, except flamingoes which thrive on the zooplankton that exists in these hot and unsociable areas. This camp was set up in conjunction with Engare Sero village so that the local Masai community benefits from income from tourism. There are some camels which come to the camp, owned by the local Masai, which the camp looks after, provides water for and are training the camels to carry water, etc. and assist the local villagers.
There are 8 large tents at this camp, all named after local mountains. The tents are of a unique ‘Bedu’ design to promote shade (essential in this hot, dry environment). The canvas en-suite rooms are covered with a large, camouflage fly cover to provide verandah areas and shade to relax under. They are designed to keep you cool in the day and to protect from the sometimes strong winds that pass through the valley floor. There is a dining tent and bar area.
A Masai shuka (light blanket) is provided for you to wrap around you and shade you and can assist in cooling while out walking if you place it in water then wear it. Rubber flip flops are also provided for walking through water as the soda water can ruin leather shoes. You can cool off and relax in the freshwater stream in front of your tent.
Activities available here include:
Flamingos – visit the birds on Lake Natron flats, evening or morning walks. Longer camel assisted walks to the nesting sites are sometimes available.
Bird Watching – Lake Natron flats, evening or morning walks to ponds.
Moonlit Walks – Lake Natron flats moonlit walks
Natron Tubing – Lay on a tube and gently float down the stream toward Lake Natron. Take a drink of choice.
Natron Sundowner – Lake Natron flats sundowner drinks.
Bush Dinner – Dinner under the stars on a grass mat and cushions on the lake flats
Oldony’o Lengai – Vehicle transfer to base. Ascent begins at midnight. Peak for sunrise and return to camp by noon.
Water Falls – Engare Sero Gorge easy walk to first water falls or gorge walk to the source for a longer hike.
Gorge Sundowner – Engare Sero Gorge sundowner at a high view point. From 4pm till 6pm.
Baboon Observation – Follow the baboon troop up the opposite side of the gorge in the evening.
Night Out – Lake Natron flats fly camping under the stars
Yoga – Private and group pre-arranged classes.
Masai Culture – Visit real bomas around the Engare Sero village
Game Drives – drives around the area with your driver guide.
Lengai Camp
This small and exclusive 6-tent camp, situated close to Oldoinyo Lengai volcano in Tanzania’s Rift Valley, is surrounded by wide open plains and 7 small but impressive volcanic craters. The camp has spectacular views of, Oldoinyo Lengai and clear views of by Kitumbeine, Gelai and Kerimasi mountains. It is not far from the Rift Valley escarpment and Empakai crater, which forms part of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Privacy, tranquility and genuine wilderness combine to provide an exciting destination from which to explore Maasailand.
Lengai Camp is a family owned business that was established in 2010. The camp has been used for private safaris, but commencing in 2015, individuals and other safari operators can also book this high-end camp. Owned and operated by Michel and Nicole Mantheakis, the camp is run by a competent safari crew. Born and raised in Tanzania, Michel’s background in Zoology and Wildlife Science combined with his passion for wildlife and conservation, has led to a 30-year career operating exceptional safaris throughout Tanzania, experience he has applied to building and operating this camp.
Anti-poaching and conservation
Protecting wild animals and their habitat in cooperation with local Maasai communities and Tanzania’s Wildlife Department, are a daily routine for staff at Lengai Camp and is a key element of the company’s philosophy.
1700 square kilometer concession
Lake Natron Game Controlled Area (West) stretches from Engaruka in the South, to the Kenyan border in the North, an area covering more than 1700 square kilometers with some truly spectacular scenery. Visitors to Lengai Camp, when accompanied by a ranger, have full access to this area, unlike other operators in who have restricted access to the more commonly visited areas of the concession.
Lake Eyasi offers a culture experience. The wa Datoga are a pastoral group like the Maasai and the Hadzabe are hunter-gatherer bushmen. A day with the Hadzabe are like a journey into the past.
Kisimangeda Tented Camp
Kisima Ngeda is an intimate tented lodge on the shores of Lake Eyasi, with sweeping views towards the Rift. Across this huge, seasonal soda lake that stretches away in front of camp, the Alipi escarpment wall rises 2000ft up into the Endulen area of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area providing a stunning view.
There are just comfortable seven en-suite tents at Kisima Ngeda, each built under a wood and thatch structure. The excellent service at Kisima Ngeda Camp and its simple rustic style makes this camp very appealing. There is an open dining room and bar, and a platform hidden in the reeds near the spring which is ideal for a romantic dinner under the stars or for birdwatching.
From the tents there are superb views of the lake and its birdlife, including flamingos and Egyptian geese. A spring provides water for a beautiful swimming oasis where there are two huts equipped with beach-beds and lounging chairs, ideal for sunbathing
The camp offers an exclusive destination plus amazing scenery and a chance to visit the Hadzabe, one of the last click-speaking hunter-gatherer tribes. You can also visit the Datoga blacksmith or the Datoga cultural boma before returning to the camp in time for sunset and sundowners overlooking the lake. You might even spot the two hippos that still live in the vicinity. You can also make use of the mountain bikes provided by the camp or go walking and bird watching on the premises. There are several trails across the palm and acacia forest and a whole lakeshore to explore at will and without the need of a guide. If you wish you can venture into the villages nearby.
Details
Location: Kisima Ngeda is down by Lake Eyasi in the Rift Valley. It lies at the bottom of the escarpment to the south west of the Ngorongoro Crater. From the turnoff near Karatu Village (about halfway between Ngorongoro and Manyara) it is about a 2 hour drive.
Rooms: There are 7 spacious tented underneath and wood thatch structure. All are en-suite, and with great views over the lake.
Activities: You could simply come here to relax in a very quiet, remote and beautiful setting! However, you can also do some good hiking around here, possibly meet some of the Hadzabe tribes of hunter-gatherers, go mountain biking, and also visit some of the local Datoga people too.
Facilities: There is a restaurant, bar, and a lovely swimming pool.
Children: Children are welcome.
Health: This is a malarial area.