Day trip
Moshi, Tarangire National Park, Moshi
your journey
Tarangire National Park lies south-west of Arusha, on the road towards the Rift Valley, and it is best known for two things: big elephant herds and giant baobab trees. The Tarangire River runs through the park from south to north and holds water long after the plains around it have dried out, so in the dry months animals move in from a huge area to drink.
This day trip starts early from Moshi, and by mid-morning you are in the park with the roof of the Land Cruiser raised, following the river valley with your guide. Expect elephant families, often with small calves, as well as zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, buffalo, warthog and impala, and the lion, leopard and hyena that hunt them. You stop for a packed lunch at a picnic site inside the park and keep driving until it is time to head home.
Tarangire is also one of the best parks in the north for birds, with more than 550 species recorded, from yellow-necked spurfowl on the tracks to white-crowned shrikes and weavers in the acacias, so the binoculars in the vehicle get plenty of use. If you would rather cut the drive, ask your specialist about starting from Arusha or staying a night.
Travellers based in Moshi or Arusha with one free day who want to see elephants and big game, first-time visitors who want a taste of safari before or after a Kilimanjaro climb, and keen birders. It is a long day in the vehicle, so it suits people who don't mind an early start.
Parks visited
Tarangire National Park
what makes it special
day by day
Your driver-guide collects you from your hotel in Moshi early in the morning. The road runs west past Arusha and then south-west towards the Rift Valley, through Maasai grazing land where herders move cattle and goats along the verges. The drive takes around three and a half hours. At the Tarangire gate your guide completes the park formalities, raises the roof of the Land Cruiser and the game drive begins.
You follow the tracks along the Tarangire River valley, where elephant families dig in the sandy bed for water and come down to drink. Your guide knows where lions like to rest in the heat and scans the baobabs and sausage trees for leopards, while zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, buffalo and impala graze the open slopes. Around lunchtime you stop at a picnic site inside the park for your packed lunch, with soft drinks and water from the cool box.
After lunch there is time for another loop through the park, towards the swamps or the baobab-covered ridges, with stops for birds such as yellow-necked spurfowl, lilac-breasted rollers and weavers. In the middle of the afternoon you leave Tarangire and drive back to Moshi, arriving at your hotel in the early evening with a camera full of elephants.
the price
Price on request
before you ask
Most of our day trips start with a pick-up from your hotel. The Materuni Waterfalls and coffee farm trip includes a return transfer from Moshi. If you are staying in Arusha or elsewhere, ask your specialist about pick-up times and any extra cost.
The walk is easy to moderate and suits most people in reasonable health. The path to the waterfall goes down steps into a gorge and can be muddy and slippery after rain, so the walk back up takes a little effort. Your guide sets a gentle pace.
Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent and a light rain jacket. For Materuni, pack a swimsuit and towel if you would like to swim in the pool below the falls, and a little cash for tips or souvenirs.
Yes. Many climbers visit Materuni the day before they start their Kilimanjaro climb, or on the day after they come down. Your specialist can fit any day trip around your climb or safari dates.
Yes, families are welcome on our day trips. Tell us your children's ages when you enquire, and your specialist will advise whether a trip suits them, for example how long the walking sections are.
Enquire
Every Honesha trip can be changed to suit you: the pace, the lodges, the number of days. Tell us your dates and who is travelling, and our team in Arusha will come back to you with a plan and a price.
Your journey
Price on request
Full day
also consider
karibu
Talk to our team in Arusha. We answer every message ourselves, usually the same day.
Price on request
Plan your trip
Enquiry about: Tarangire National Park Day Trip
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