Simba Tours
Tarangire Safari
Tanzania's elephant park. 2,850 km² with more elephants than the Serengeti, iconic baobab trees and virtually no other tourists.
Why Tarangire?
Up to 300 elephants per day
In the dry season (Jun–Oct) thousands of elephants concentrate around the Tarangire River. Families with small calves, enormous bulls with impressive tusks — elephant watching at its absolute finest.
Iconic baobabs
Tarangire is famous for its enormous baobab trees — up to 1,000 years old with trunk circumferences of 20+ metres. They are the distinctive feature of the park and form a surreal backdrop for game drives.
Barely any tourists
Tarangire receives approximately 10% of the Serengeti's visitor numbers while wildlife density is comparable. You often have the game tracks entirely to yourself. No queues at leopard sightings.
550+ bird species
For birdwatchers Tarangire is Tanzania's best park. The diversity of habitats — river, savanna, swamp, forest — attracts an enormous variety of birds, from the masked hornbill to flamingos and the martial eagle.
Spotting chances in Tarangire
During the dry season (July–October) — the best time for Tarangire.
Seasons in Tarangire
Dry season (Jun–Oct)
The absolute highlight season of Tarangire. The river is the only water in the park — thousands of animals concentrate here. This is when you see Tarangire at its most spectacular: elephants row upon row along the banks, lions waiting for zebra migration, and leopards in every large tree.
Green season (Nov–May)
The park is lush green and baby animals are everywhere — calves, foals, lambs. Birds are at their most active. Fewer other visitors. But wildlife concentrations are lower because water is available everywhere. Ideal for photographers and birdwatchers.
Popular Tarangire combinations
Tarangire + Ngorongoro (4 days)
The perfect short safari: elephants in Tarangire and Big Five in the Ngorongoro Crater. Popular for weekend trips from Amsterdam.
Tarangire + Serengeti (7 days)
The classic combination. Start in Tarangire for the elephants and baobabs, end in the Serengeti for the Big Five and the migration. This is our most booked route.
Tarangire + Ngorongoro + Serengeti (10 days)
The complete northern circuit. Three completely different ecosystems, three unforgettable experiences. Complete Tanzania in 10 days — for those who want to miss nothing.
"Tarangire is my secret favourite — I don't tell everyone that. People go for the Serengeti and miss Tarangire. But in July, when the river is low and 200 elephants are at the water at the same time? You don't see that anywhere else. Not in Kenya. Not in Botswana. Nowhere."
— Collin, Simba Tours