TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK


Two hours north of Arusha, on the eastern side of Lake Manyara, the 2850 sq kms of national park is a ecosystem covering an area of 20,000 sq kms. Bordering both Kenya and Tanzania down to the Masai Steppe, the acacia woodlands and open grasslands attract wildlife migrations to phosphorous rich areas during the wet season. Tarangire has a low concentration of the mineral needed for young zebra’s, elephants, buffalos and wildebeest to survive. The Simanjiro calving grounds create the perfect environment for this. The Tarangire Elephant project is educating villages about wildlife and to help monitor against poachers.

 

Magically, as baobabs start to lose their leaves, the end rainy season is finished in mid May. The dry season approaches, the green grass habitat is replaced by a more golden grass where lions and leopards lose their distinct advantage over unsuspecting grazers. Seasonal waterholes will start to dry up, and most wildlife will make its way down to the Tarangire River.

 

Wildlife in Tarangire consists of herds of elephants, migratory herds of wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, impala’s, hartebeest and eland over 550 species of birdlife such as kori bustards, african grey and crowned hornbill, lovebirds, black headed and rufus bellied heron, lilac breasted roller, black faced sandgrouse, curlew sandpiper and white faced scope’s owl.