Tarangire National Park Day Safari from Arusha
- Day trip
- Private or group
- Game drive
- Day Trip, Tanzania
Overview
Tarangire National Park is about two and a half hours from Arusha, which is what makes a proper day here possible. It is elephant country: in the dry season the herds come down to the Tarangire river because it is the only water for a long way, and you can watch a hundred of them in a morning.
It is also the most distinctive-looking park in Northern Tanzania, because of the baobabs. They give the place a scale that photographs badly and reads beautifully in person.
Tarangire pairs naturally with Lake Manyara or the Ngorongoro Crater over two or three days. See our Tanzania safaris.
Trip highlights
- Large elephant herds on and around the Tarangire river, particularly from June to October
- Baobab country, which looks like nowhere else on the northern circuit
- A realistic full day in the park rather than a rushed few hours
- Good for a first safari and good with children: the drive is short and the animals are close
- Lunch at a picnic site inside the park
Tour itinerary
Day 01
Morning: Arusha to Tarangire
Pickup between 06:00 and 06:30 and about two and a half hours to the main gate, with a stop if you need one. We are usually through the gate and driving by mid morning.
Meals & Drinks:
- Meals: Picnic lunch
Day 02
The day: game drive along the river
The river is the spine of the park and most of the day follows it. Elephant, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, impala and buffalo are the regulars; lion and leopard are there and are less predictable. Lunch is a picnic at one of the sites inside the park.
Meals & Drinks:
- Meals: Picnic lunch
Day 03
Late afternoon: the drive home
We leave the park in the middle to late afternoon and have you back in Arusha in the early evening.
Meals & Drinks:
- Meals: Picnic lunch
Rates per person
$178 per person, from
What you pay depends on when you travel, how many of you there are and the standard of accommodation you choose. Send us your dates and we come back with the figure for your party rather than a range.
Inclusions
Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in Arusha
- Private 4x4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof, fuel and a licensed driver-guide
- Tarangire National Park entry and vehicle fees
- Picnic lunch and drinking water
- Government taxes on the above
Excluded
- Flights, visa and travel insurance
- Drinks other than the water provided
- Tips for your driver-guide
- Anything personal
Activities and transport
- Activity: Game drive
- Travelling as: Private or group
Where it starts and ends
- The trip starts in Arusha and ends in Arusha.
- Best months to travel: June to October, when the herds concentrate on the river. Good in every month..
Getting there and what to know
Pickup and meeting point
We collect you from your hotel, guesthouse or Airbnb anywhere in Arusha town, and from Usa River and the Kilimanjaro Airport road on request. Give us the property name when you book and we confirm the pickup time the evening before. Drop-off is at the same address unless you tell us otherwise. This is an early start, so ask your hotel for breakfast from 05:30 or a packed one.
What to bring
Neutral, comfortable clothes and a fleece for the early morning. Binoculars. Sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses. A camera and spare batteries. Something to keep dust off your lenses.
Safety
You travel in a maintained 4x4 with a licensed Tanzanian driver-guide. Seat belts are fitted in every seat. We carry a first aid kit and drinking water, and the guide stays contactable through the day. Travel insurance is not included and we recommend you arrange it before you come. You stay in the vehicle inside the park except at the marked picnic sites.
Questions about this trip
Is Tarangire better than Ngorongoro for one day?
It is closer, cheaper and less rushed, and it is the better park for elephant. Ngorongoro gives you a higher chance of seeing a lot of different species in a small area. Both work in a day; Tarangire is the easier day.
When are the elephants at their best?
The dry months, roughly June to October, when the river is the only water and the herds concentrate on it.
Is this suitable for children?
Yes. The drive is shorter than the crater and the animals are usually close to the road. Tell us their ages and we will plan the day around them.
What we will advise you on
Send your dates and group size and we answer all four in the itinerary we send back.
The best months for this trip
Wildlife, rainfall and crowds change month by month, and the right answer is different for a migration trip than for a beach week. We will tell you what your dates mean for what you will see.
Weather and what to pack
Temperature, rain and altitude across the parks on your route, and a packing list for the season you are travelling in rather than a generic one.
Flights and how to get here
Which airport to fly into, whether to drive or fly between parks, and how the internal legs fit together. We will say when flying is worth it and when it is not.
Choosing the right lodges
What each lodge or camp is actually like, how far it sits from the gate, and what the difference between the budget, mid-range and luxury options buys you.
Booking request
Reserve Your Trip
Complete your travel details and send your booking request. We will confirm availability before any booking is final.
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- 1 day
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- Arusha
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Where this trip goes
Before you book
The practical reading, from the questions we are asked most.
