Tarangire: first impressions

Just a few minutes after entering Tarangire National Park, there was wildlife everywhere: a herd of elephants heading to a waterhole, giraffes in the distance, and plenty of zebras moving through the landscape.

The rhythm of the day was simple. We drove the park tracks and stayed in the car, only getting out at designated rest areas. You stop whenever something looks interesting, either because you spot animals yourself, or because you see other safari cars gathered in one place, which usually means there is something worth seeing.

Soon we were lucky enough to see a leopard. It is one of the harder animals to spot on a game drive, and this one was close, walking right around our car for a short moment before disappearing back into the bush. Later we found lions resting in the shade under a tree, and more zebras roaming through the open areas.

Lunch was a lunch box we brought along, eaten at a rest area with baboons nearby, very alert and clearly hoping for an opportunity. After lunch, we continued driving through different parts of the park, with the landscape constantly changing as we moved along the tracks.

That night we stayed in a tented lodge. “Tent” is slightly misleading. It was more like a small hut, but with fabric walls. From the front we had a wide view out into the wilderness. Surprisingly and pleasantly, there were only a few mosquitoes.

Because the camp is inside the national park and animals can pass through at any time, staff escorted us when walking between the main area and the tent after dark. On the way back after dinner, we even met a large wildebeest on the path, completely unimpressed by us, before it finally moved off into the night.

A few Tarangire facts:
Established: 1970.
Size: about 2,850 km².
Known for: large elephant populations, baobab trees, and the Tarangire River as a key water source, especially in the dry season.Read more