Tarangire National Park is a large reserve centred on the Tarangire River which provides permanent water throughout the year. Much wildlife in this northern region heads to Tarangire in the dry season, making it one of the best places to be from about July to early November.
There are nine vegetation zones ranging from acacia parkland and riverine grassland to deep gully vegetation and rocky hilltops. Between them they support large numbers of wildlife including large herds of zebra, impala, wildebeest as well as buffalo, giraffe, warthog, eland, big cats (especially cheetah) and many birds (over 300 species). However it is the number of elephants which will generally make the deepest impression on you. In the dry season, huge herds are often seen along the Tarangire River.
The vegetation is predominantly denser here than in the Serengeti, giving it a very wild feeling. It would be fair to say that the landscape does not have the impact or beauty of the Serengeti (though it does have some great baobab trees!), and yet Tarangire is a park which grows on you the more you get to know it.