 TARANGIRE
NATIONAL PARK Location:
It is located on the North eastern part of Tanzania
and it's somehow closer to the Ngorongoro Crater.
It's also closer to Lake Manyara which is also
part of the ecosystem for the Tarangire National
Park.
Attractions:
One of the most noticeable things on entering
the park are the baobab trees that rise up form
the grass. With their massive trunks, they are
instantly recognizable. There are animals that
usually move northwards of the park during the
wet season including the wildebeests, zebras,
Thompson's gazelles, buffalos, elands and hartebeests.
The elephant population in this park was estimated
to be around 6'000 in 1987, but numbers are believed
to have fallen since then due to poaching.
The number of birds recorded in Tarangire National
Park has been estimated at approximately 300.
These include migrants that fly south to spend
October - April away from the winter of the northern
hemisphere. Here, you may spot various species
of herons, storks and ducks, vultures, buzzards,
sparrowhawks, eagles, kites and falcons, as well
as ostriches. Other areas of interest within the
park include the Lake Burungi circuit, the Lemiyon
area, the Kitibong Hill circuit and the Gursi
& Lamarkau circuit.
Also within the park is Babati (a small town
approximately 170 km southwest of Arusha on the
road to Dodoma) and Mt. Hanang (ninth highest
peak in Africa - 3'417 m).
How to get there:
Tarangire National Park is reached on the main
Arusha - Dodoma road. From Arusha, the road leaves
the bustling town and enters the heavily cultivated
countryside. You'll pass maize, coffee and banana
plantations. A few acacia trees start to appear
and you'll probably see groups of Masai grazing
their herds along the road.
About 85 km from Arusha, at Makuyuni, the main
road up to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro branches
off to the right. Continue along the Great North
Road towards Tarangire, which is signposted -it
is about 120 km from Arusha. The gate opens at
0630, although an earlier entrance is possible
if you have paid the fee in advance.
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