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The Tarangire National Park, established in 1970, is named after the Tarangire River that runs through the centre of the Park from south to northwest and drains into Lake Burungi. This river is a permanent source of water and large numbers of game congregate along its banks year round, especially in the dry season. Elephant herds of over 300 hundred strong have been seen along the river. The park's vegetation is a mixture of Acacia tortilis, riparian woodland, riverine and savannah grassland, Commiphora woodland and baobab trees. The diverse wildlife evident in the Park includes Elephant, Lesser and Greater Kudu, Buffalo, Cheetah, Fringe-eared Oryx, Leopard, Lion, Masai Giraffe, Spotted Hyena, plains Zebra, White-bearded Wildebeest, Warthog, Eland, Olive Baboon, Bat-eared Fox, Impala, Common Waterbuck, Bushbuck, Coke's Hartebeest and Bohor Reedbuck. More than 550 species of birds have been recorded here. The endemic Ashy Starling and Yellow-collared Lovebird are easy to see here while other specialties include Northern Pied Babblers, Magpie Shrikes, Bare-faced Go-away-bird, Pygmy Falcon, Orange-bellied Parrot, African Cuckoo, Rufous-tailed Weaver, Black collared Lovebird, Bateleur, Helmeted Guineafowl, Kori Bustard, Long-toed Lapwing, Brown Parrot, White-bellied Go-away-bird, Madagascar Bee-eater, African Hoopoe, and many others. The river course might yield Saddle-billed Stork, Whiskered Tern, Goliath Heron, Hamerkop, and various waders and kingfishers. The park and the adjoining conservation areas are famous for the Baobab dominated woodlands and the large elephant herds that roam them. In the hollow baobabs themselves, Mottled Spinetails nest and roost with various insectivorous bats. Terminalia and Marula trees are conspicuous tree species in parts of the park, while the meandering sand rivers support riverine forest communities.

1 ½ hour drive from Arusha. Best time: June to November

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 IT05-Tanzania - Northern circuit : 8 nights - Serengeti (2 nights), Ngorongoro (2 nights), Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Arusha  - 13-05-08 11:07