Most of our safari trips start in Tarangire. The park is about a two to two-and-a-half hour drive from Arusha, which makes it the perfect opening: you meet elephant herds on your very first safari day. A short drive away is Lake Manyara, a small and varied park that completes the picture.
Tarangire: elephants and baobabs
Tarangire is famous for its elephant herds, among the largest in Tanzania, and for the ancient baobab trees scattered across the park. The Tarangire River runs through the park, and in the dry season, roughly from July to October, it is the main water source in the area and draws elephants, zebras, wildebeest and buffalo in large numbers.
- Elephant herds, including families with calves, along the river
- Giant baobab trees, some of them hundreds of years old
- Lions, giraffes, zebras and, above all, plenty of birds
Lake Manyara: a full safari in miniature
Manyara is a relatively small park at the foot of the Great Rift Valley escarpment. In a few hours you pass through a dense groundwater forest, troops of baboons, a lake with flamingos and storks, and open areas with elephants and giraffes. It is especially good for bird lovers and for anyone who wants one more short safari day.
How much time to plan
Tarangire: one day is enough for most travelers, and it is the first safari day on almost all of our routes. Lake Manyara: half a day to a full day, as an addition to a longer route or instead of one of the days.
Tips from the field
- There are tsetse flies in parts of Tarangire. Light-colored clothes and long sleeves help. Avoid blue and black, which attract them.
- The dry season is the peak in Tarangire, but in the green season it is green, beautiful and quiet.
- Drive slowly through the forest at Manyara. Many of the animals hide among the trees.
How it fits into the trip
Tarangire is the first day of SAFARI TASTE, EXPRESS, CLASSIC and SIGNATURE. Lake Manyara is part of the three-day route, and if you want to add it to another route, we will tailor it for you. Contact us for the full routes and a price estimate.
