Tarangire National Park is the sixth largest national park in Tanzania, it is located in Manyara Region.
The name of the park originates from the Tarangire River that
crosses the park. The Tarangire River is the primary source of fresh water for
wild animals in the Tarangire Ecosystem during the annual dry season. The Tarangire Ecosystem
is defined by the long-distance migration of wildebeest and zebras. During the dry season thousands of
animals concentrate in Tarangire National Park from the surrounding wet-season
dispersal and calving areas.
It covers an area of approximately 2,850 square
kilometers (1,100 square miles.) The landscape is composed of granitic ridges,
river valley, and swamps. Vegetation is a mix of Acacia woodland, Commiphora-Combretum woodland,
seasonally flooded grassland, and Baobab trees.
The park is famous for its high density
of elephants and baobab
trees. Visitors to the
park in the June to November dry season can expect to see large herds of
thousands of zebra, wildebeest and cape
buffalo. Other common
resident animals include waterbuck, giraffe, dik
dik, impala, eland, Grant's gazelle, vervet monkey, banded mongoose,
and olive baboon. Predators in Tarangire include African
lion, leopard, cheetah, caracal, honey
badger, and African wild dog.
Home to more than 550 bird species, the park is a
haven for bird enthusiasts.
The park is also famous for the termite mounds that
dot the landscape. Those that have been abandoned are often home to dwarf mongoose. In 2015, a giraffe that is white due to leucism was spotted in the park.[2] Current wildlife
research projects in the park include the Tarangire Elephant Project, Tarangire Lion Project, and Masai Giraffe Conservation Demography Project
Location and access
Tarangire National Park can be reached
via paved road south from Arusha in under two hours. Lake Manyara National Park is a 70 kilometer (43 mile) drive
from Tarangire
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Location
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Nearest city
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Coordinates
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Area
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2,850 km2 (1,100 sq mi)
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Established
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1970
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Visitors
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161,792 (in 2012)
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Governing body
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