Tarangire National Park lies northeast of Babati in northern Tanzania, a landscape of gently rolling savannah studded with ancient baobab trees and scattered acacias. The park is said to have the densest elephant population in Africa, and during the dry season (June to October) the concentration of wildlife along the Tarangire River is extraordinary — elephants, buffalo, wildebeest, zebra, giraffe, lion and a remarkable number of oryx all converge on the permanent water.
During the rains, much of the game migrates west and east to seasonal grazing, so timing matters. The Silale Swamps in the south of the park support rich birdlife year-round, with over 500 species recorded. Tarangire is less visited than the Serengeti or Ngorongoro, which is part of its appeal — the game viewing is superb and the crowds are manageable.