The Best time to visit Tarangire National Park : The best time to visit Tarangire national park for a Tanzania safari is the middle and the end of the dry season that runs from Late June to October, these periods are the best time to view wildlife in Tarangire national park. During the wet season, most animals are out of the park which makes the experience less rewarding.
In June to October (dry season), the animals gather around the Tarangire river which is the remaining water source which makes it the best time to visit Tarangire national park. Also there is little rainfall during this time of the year hence making it the time with the best weather for game viewing.
June to October marks the high/peak tourist season in Tanzania and Tarangire national park as well, in this season the park is filled with so many tourists. Low season in Tarangire national park comes in March, April and May when the park is experiencing the wet season which is characterized by heavy rains, hence the worst weather.
In summary Tarangire national park experiences two main seasons which are the wet season and dry season as detailed and highlighted below.
Dry Season – June to October
In the dry season most of the Tarangire ecosystem is very dry and there is hardly any water from the surrounding areas, the only source of water in the park is Tarangire River which is always flocked by large numbers of animals in the dry season and it is the reason to why animals migrate to Tarangire national park.
Also in the dry season, the vegetation cover tins out and the animals can easily be seen. Animals gather around water holes which makes wildlife viewing easier in Tarangire national park.
The weather in the park is very beautiful and sunny during the months of dry season, however it is crucial to note that there are a great number of animals differs greatly at the beginning or the end of the dry season. If it happens, the wet season stops late. It is possible that most of the animals have not moved to the park by June, if it happens that the short rains come early, then it could be that the animals start to leave by October.
It is very essential to have warm clothes when going to the park for early morning game drives starting from the month of June to August since it is very cold in the early mornings. These days are generally clam with clear skies with average day time temperatures being 26°C (79°F) while the night temperatures normally drop cooling the day’s heat to an average of 14°C (57°F).
Visiting Tarangire national park in the Dry Season
In the dry season, the animals gather around the Tarangire River in large crowds offering easier opportunities for game viewing. Furthermore, since the vegetation cover in the park is generally dry and thin due to lack of rain, tourists are able to easily spot the different wildlife.
Also the malaria causing female anopheles mosquitoes are less hence the risk of contracting malaria is also much lower, however travelers are advised to always sleep under a mosquito net most especially if you are going for camping adventure.
Dry season in Tarangire national park is a peak tourist season in the park and other Tanzania tourist destinations, in this period Tarangire national park safari is considered to be generally more costly with higher demand for the accommodation facilities.
The Wet Season: November to May
The wet season in Tarangire national park is from November till May each year with the average day temperatures of 28°C (82°F), at night the average temperatures are 16°C (61°F).
During this time of the year, the vegetation is stunning and adequate. The rates and prices in the wet season are much lower since this is the low season, this season is a prime time for bird watching in Tarangire national park and Tanzania as well since the migratory birds are present.
March to May mark the wettest months in Tarangire and it is considerably less rewarding to view the wildlife as compared to dry season since most animals move out of the park to the neighboring areas.
The wet season in Tarangire national park consists of long rains that begin in March to May and the short rains that start in November and December. The rains normally fall in the afternoons and it hardly lasts the entire day.
Temperatures do not change much over the year and it does not usually get too hot, although the evenings and mornings tend to get too cold.
Generally, Tarangire weather is temperate and enjoyable. Showers usually come about in the afternoon, after the short rains, a dry spell will occur however, its beginning is very unpredictable year after year.
Why Visit Tarangire National Park in the Wet Season?
There are Fewer People
For tourists who are interested in less crowds while on a Tarangire safari, visiting the park in the wet season is the best time as there are fewer people. Although you will not encounter many animals as in the dry season most especially the migratory species, you will still get to see various resident animals including grazers such as antelopes and predators like lions, cape buffaloes, leopards among others.
The Birdlife is Spectacular
During the wet season, a large number of migratory birds arrive in Tarangire national park’s damp and cooler parts. Migratory bird species together with resident bird species offer a very rewarding bird watching experience for a tourist enthusiastic about birding. Some of the commonly encountered bird species in Tarangire national park include the crested francolins, hoopoes, yellow necked spurfow, hornbills, guinea fowl, steppe eagles, brown parrots, the gigantic lappet-faced vulture, white-bellied go away bird, bateleur eagles, mousebirds, Kori bustards, yellow-collared lovebirds and bee-eaters.
The Accommodation is Cheaper
Wet season is considered to be an off – peak tourist season in Tarangire national park as well as Tanzania, this is because of the fewer tourists. However, this comes with a couple of advantages such as accommodation being offered at discounted rates with even luxury accommodations becoming more affordable to an ordinary traveler.
The terrain is green and Beautiful
With the coming of the rains, the landscape of Tarangire comes to life. The drying out vegetation becomes green again and flowers begin to flourish. The acacia, baobab and other forested patches come to life again and the grassland areas being characterized with longer grasses which results into a bright green color filling the entire park.
Clearer Photography Setting
During the wet season, Tarangire national park receives some rain. However does not mean that it rains for the entire day, normally the rains fall early morning and then in the afternoon you can have an opportunity to enjoy the various safari activities.
After the rain has fallen and the sky is clear with the beautiful African sun, you will enjoy the best opportunities for photography as the ambiance is generally very clear with a flourishing green backdrop for your photos.
So Best time to Visit Tarangire is?
In conclusion, Tarangire national park is considered as a classic dry reserve, when it rains the animals move up into the Masaai Steppe yet in the dry season, the animals gather around the Tarangire River offering remarkable game viewing.