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Tarangire National Park
ARTICLE ON TARANGIRE.
INTRODUCTION:
Tarangire National Park is situated in the eastern portion of the Great lift valley that runs through Tanzania. It measures 2,642 sq km of grassland and floodplains, and a large proportion of tall acacia woodland just south of the large open grass plains of southern Maasai land. Tarangire is beautifully unspoilt, and safari drives through the park enjoy wide views to distant variously purpled formations of volcanic mountain ranges.
It is the fifth largest park after the Serengeti, Mikumi and Ruaha on the southern circuit and Katavi on the under-utilized western circuit. The park is named after the Tarangire river that provides the only permanent water for wildlife in the area. The park has large areas of wet lands such as those found at Gursi, Larmakua, Nguselorobi Swamps and Silale. They act as sponges and suppy Tarangire river during the dry season. The impressive valley of Tarangire river attracts good number of migrant animals during the dry months between July and September
The Soils at Tarangire are well-drained red loams, the three major types of soil are: Alluvial deposits are simply the sedimentary deposits resulting from the actions of rivers that wear away the rock as they flow down stream. Gold,platinum and tin are sometimes found in these deposits but not in Tarangire national park.
Colluvial deposits, which are dissimilar ingredients of weathered materials found on the slopes of hills. The slopes of the hills may be very stony because of the lack of the depth of the underlying soil.
Another type of soil found at Tarangire national park originated from lake deposits and sediments. These vary from clays to sand and they are normally rather saline.
A third type of soil is made up of alluvial deposits that shrink and crack according to the amount of water they hold. As they hold out, the cracks get bigger and bigger. In E.Africa, this is commonly known as “black – cotton soil”.
CLIMATE:
The annual average rainfall in Tarangire national park is about 650 mm and the maximum temperature (December to February) is 27 degrees C, while the minimum (June to July) is 16 degrees. It is certainly said that Tarangire is located in a semi-area characterized by a prolonged dry season lasting up to seven months. Tarangire fits into Northern Tanzania`s typical bimodal rainfall zone with annual patterns consisting of short rains that can be erratic in November/December
PEOPLE AND HISTORY.
Prior to 1950, Tarangire National Park had little settlement because of the high concentration of Tsetse flies, and the area was used only by pastoralists for livestock grazing during extreme dry seasons.
Four ethnic groups of people live within the area where Tarangire National Park was declared in 1970 and they seem immune to the tsetse or any other fly. These are the Maasai, Wa-Arusha, Barbaig and Mbugwe.
ZONES.
Tarangire National Park is divided into four zones. The core preservation and the conservation general use zones to the north are the ones most used by the visitors. These zones encompases the Tarangire Safari Lodge and Sopa Lodge.
To the southwest close to the Kuro Ranger Post is the semi-wilderness zone that includes Swala Tarangire Luxury Tented Camp, and to the east and south is the extensive wilderness zone that makes up almost half the park.
This Last park has no visitor roads and TANAPA has given a permit to Paul Oliver of Oliver's Camp to conduct guarded, walking Safaris in the area. The decision to allow walking safaris has so far been given only in Tarangire and Ruaha.
ROUTES.
Lemiyon
This is the area of Tarangire National Park that the visitor first encounters after turning off the Great North Road at Kwakuchinja village and passing through the entry gate. Open grassland vegetation, wildebeests and Zebra can be spotted here.
Matete
Is located in the area of Tarangire Safari Lodge, the campsites and the Engelhard Bridge (sometimes known as Matete or Main Bridge) that crosses the Tarangire River, Makete takes its name from the tall Elephant grass and reeds that grow on the banks of the river.
The airstrip is near the Tarangire Safari Lodge which is a good place for pictures of Elephants at sunset. The Matete area is notable for its open acacia parkland interspersed with baobab trees and is dominated by the river that attracts many animals during the dry season. Olive baboons, and vervet monkeys are common in the area.
Lake Burungi Circuit
Moving clockwise from Engelhard Bridge, you drive south and west along the Tarangire River through flat-topped accacias to within 2 km of Kuro Ranger post before turning right into woodland as you head towards the Park's western boundary. Just before the boundary you turn right again following the boundary northwards to bring you back to Engelhard Bridge. The complete circuit is 80 km (50 miles)
Several trees and animals can be spotted like Bushbuck, they are medium sized Antelopes with rufous – brown coats and light spots on the haunches.
Finally, to complete this circuit and return to the Matete Bridge, turn right again, leaving the Tarangire River on your left hand side.
Kitibong Hill
The eastern part of this area comprises of accacia park land while in the west combretum-dalbergia dominates. The Sangaiwe hills can be seen outside Tarangire National Park to the west. This circuit begins just south of the turn-off for the Barungi circuit. It is suggested that you follow the kitibong circuit counter-clockwise past Tarangire hill, turning left on the road inside the park boundary, left again at Mamire ranger Post and rejoin the main north-south Tarangire road at Kuro. You are possibly to sight Warthog on the way.
Gursi
This section of the park contains vegetation zones similar to those at Kitibong with the addition of a belt of acacia-commiphora woodland along the river. This area is dominated by black cotton soil and can only be driven in the dry season.
To access this circuit, keep south along the main park road and over the dry season track that leads to Chubi Ranger Post and the Koro rock paintings site. Now turn right (north) along the park boundary to Mamire Ranger Post to the north. There turn right again and exit this circuit at Kuro Ranger Post. Although uncommon in the park, the African Hunting dogs can be seen here occasionally.
Larmakua
In this area you may sight Impala which is the most graceful Antelopes in E.Africa and is unflatteringly known as the “goats of the plains” because it both grazes and browses, and eats virtually anything, Monitor Lizards can also be seen.
WILDLIFE HIGHLIGHTS.
During these months the concentration of animals around the Tarangire river is almost as diverse and reliable as in the Ngorongoro Crater, but the ecosystem here is balanced by a localised migration pattern that is followed by most animals other than lion, who don't tend to abandon their territory.
The animals mostly disperse during April and May, when there is widespread greenery, vegetation and standing water to encourage all the grazers further afield. In June, the eland and oryxes begin to return, followed by elephant towards the end of the month. Tarangire is a great spot for elephant gatherings at the end of the rainy season in June, and zebra and wildebeest return together through July.
By mid-August all the animals are congregating around their last reliable water source, the Tarangire River. The calving season falls in the early months of the year, through January, February and March, and so makes the most of the fresh grass during the rainy season.
Throughout the year there are always a fantastic number of colorful birds swooping and strutting along the rough paths in front of your vehicle, with likely spots including the Paradise Whyder and endearing Yellow-collared lovebirds. There are a few resident lion, which are easier to spot when the migration arrives to excite their taste buds. In other months they look quite mean and lean and slip easily between the lengthening grasses.
LARGE MAMMALS.
Large mammals that can be sighted at Tarangire National Park includes: Lion, Buffalo, Elephant, Leopard, Cheetah and the famous Wildebeests.
ACTIVITIES.
Guided walking Safaris, Day trips to Maasai and Barabaig villages, as well as to to the hundreds of of ancient rock paintings in the vicinity of Kolo on the Dodoma Road.
ACCOMODATION.
1.Tarangire Safari Lodge – 7 km east from the Park gate
Built on top of a high bluff with a breathtaking Panorama, the Lodge is superbly located in Tarangire National Park, providing one of the best views in Africa. Tarangire River is just below the Lodge, it is a favorite watering place, which attracts impressive numbers and variety of game. The scene unfolds before you while lounging on the outdoor patio, allowing you to appreciate Tarangire`s diverse wildlife without ever leaving the Lodge.
2.Tarangire Sopa Lodge – 33 km east form the gate
has been recently refurbished and achieved a certain freshness of style, with new sliding glass doors and fresh paint bringing a certain glamorous appeal to the heart of the sun baked bush. The makuti-style thatched roof over the reception and dining room is quite awe-inspiringly high and great, and creates a sense of safari grandeur. The Sopa is well positioned at the centre of Tarangire, with excellent safari opportunities in every direction
3.Tarangire Treetops - Tarangire Treetops is an exciting camp inside the Tarangire Conservation Area, providing superbly unusual accommodation in comfortable, wooden-thatched tree-houses around ancient old Baobab and Mopani trees. The central dining area provides a comfortable and sociable centre to gather after safaris and before disappearing off into your tree, and a selection of cultural and wildlife reference books are available for perusal in the thatched open-air library. Special interest groups can arrange for cultural and environmental specialists to come and give talks. The lodge can also arrange game walks, night drives and even mountain biking excursions with an armed ranger, and they have their own safari vehicles for fly-in visitors. (it is outside the park).
4.Swala Tented Camp – 60 km south from the park gate
Nestled in a remote pocket of Tarangire National Park, Swala is sited in a copse of majestic acacia trees at the edge of the Gurusi wetlands and the unfurling Savannah beyond. Swala's nine private, permanent tents feature en suite bathrooms with showers, complemented by fittings and fixtures crafted from local materials.
Meals are taken in the comfortable dining tent, with full silver service, Pan-African cuisine and fine wines adding to the "country house under canvas" ambience. Swala's accomplished hosts, personal tent attendants, safari guides and Masai askaris that accompany you to your tent at night enhance your stay with their own personalized African affability, professionalism and knowledge.
5.Kikoti Tented Camp
On a ridge overlooking Tarangire National Park, seasonal home to one of the densest concentrations of wildlife in Africa, Kikoti is a haven fit for the most discerning traveller. Kikoti Safari Camp offers game viewing in open 4x4 Vehicles by day or by night, guided bush walks or safaris and large concentration of game within minutes of camp. Guests can also go on cultural visits to Nomadic Maasai bomas.
6.Tamarind Tented Camp
A luxury tented camp in the bush just beyond the actual boundaries of the park, sitting snugly in a clearing surrounded by dense bush. Each tent has its own shower and loo, and comfortable, sturdy wooden beds beneath the ample canvas awning. All tents face onto a centralised bar tent, and the impressive dining tent containing a long communal table that is sumptuously arrayed each night with remarkable culinary delights prepared by the camp chefs.
7.Oliver`s camp – 68 km south east from the gate
A small tented camp just outside the boundaries of the park, in its own wilderness. It is a tough drive home, being situated way down in the western reaches, but has an authentic hard-nosed real bush appeal. The entire camp is tented, with a dining tent, laundry tent, kitchen tent, etc, with each spread out among the rocks and trees. As such the camp does not have much of a central focus, and is perhaps better suited to the determinedly anti-social. Vast and ancient boulders nearby provide a good vantage point for sunset watchers, and attract admirably agile rock climbing klipspringer antelope, which are impressively small and quick.
8.Maweninga Tented Lodge – 28 km south from the gate
9.Public camp site – 5 km south from the Park gate
A SAMPLE OF ITINERARY FOR TARANGIRE.
Day 1:Arusha
You will be met in Arusha and be transferred to Tarangire National Park. Dinner and overnight at Tarangire Safari Lodge.
Day 2: Tarangire
After breakfast drive to Tarangire. Afternoon game drive. Dinner and overnight at Tarangire Safari Lodge. All meals included.
Day 3: Tarangire
After breakfast go for a morning game viewing drive in Tarangire National Park. Return to your lodge for lunch before you depart. It is also possible to go to the the Oliver`s Camp for guarded walking Safaris.
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