Tarangire National Park

About Tarangire National Park

Tarangire National Park is the budget traveller's secret weapon in the northern Tanzania circuit. While most tourists focus on the Serengeti and Ngorongoro, Tarangire delivers spectacular wildlife at significantly lower cost and with far fewer visitors. Park entry fees are $53 per day (compared to $70 for Serengeti), and budget camps and guesthouses near the Tarangire gate charge $30-60 per night. During the dry season, the park's elephant concentrations rival anything in East Africa — up to 3,000 elephants gathering along the Tarangire River create sightings that are as dramatic as they are accessible. A budget 1-2 day Tarangire safari typically costs $150-250 per person per day including all fees, guide, meals, and camping. The park is just 2 hours from Arusha on good tarmac, eliminating the long (and fuel-costly) drives required for the Serengeti. For budget travellers building a multi-park itinerary, combining Tarangire with Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro creates a 3-4 day northern circuit camping safari at roughly half the cost of a Serengeti-focused trip.