Tarangire Budget Safari Tours

4.2/5 – 267 Tarangire Reviews

Often overlooked because of its proximity in northern Tanzania to the more famous Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti National Park, Tarangire National Park is a really special place. The wildlife here is first-rate, from the elephants for which the park is renowned to the big cats that are commonly seen. The park is also famous for its baobab trees and stunning landscapes of hills, savannahs and riverine woodlands. If you’re on a budget safari, there aren’t many choices for accommodation inside the park. But there is a campsite, with further affordable options outside the park. And best of all, you can expect safari trails in Tarangire to be quieter than many other parks in these parts.

1-20 of 394 cheap tours, packages and holidays to Tarangire National Park

5 Questions About Tarangire Budget Safaris

Expert

Answered by

Anthony Ham

Anthony has written numerous Lonely Planet guidebooks, including ‘Tanzania’ and ‘East Africa’. He writes about Tanzania and the wider region for magazines and newspapers worldwide. He is also the author of ‘The Last Lions of Africa’.

› More about Anthony

Which other parks should I visit on a budget safari to Tarangire National Park?

“Tarangire National Park is a wonderful place to spend your holiday, and you should allocate at least a couple of days on your trip to this fantastic park. Once you’ve explored Tarangire, its location on Tanzania’s stunning Northern safari circuit means that there are plenty of other options not far away. For example, it’s an easy drive from Tarangire to Lake Manyara National Park, with its tree-climbing lions and large herds of elephants. If you make it as far as Lake Manyara, you really should keep going a little farther to Ngorongoro Crater. And then, of course, you’re just down the road from Serengeti National Park. If mountains are your thing, another option is to choose from the packages and tours that include a return to Arusha. From there you can head to Arusha National Park (for Mt Meru) and/or Mt Kilimanjaro National Park, where you could climb Africa’s highest mountain.”

Can you describe a typical day on a Tarangire budget safari?

“On a Tarangire budget safari you can have one of the most fantastic safari days imaginable. You’ll wake before dawn to a cup of something hot before setting out on your early morning game drive. This takes you out at one of the two times of day that are best for viewing wildlife: early morning and late afternoon are when animals are most active and easiest to see. You’ll usually return to camp mid- to late morning for a late breakfast or early lunch. If you’re on a really cheap safari, you may help out with the preparation of simple meals such as this one. You will then have time to relax before setting out on another game drive late afternoon, returning in time for dinner. Later, there will be time spent around the campfire telling stories and counting the stars in the incredible night sky.”

What type of accommodation can I expect on cheap Tarangire packages?

“Budget safari packages in Tarangire will most often mean that you will sleep in the national park campsite, which is not far inside the main northern gate of the park. Like all official park campsites in Tanzania, this one has a communal shower and toilet area (with separate sections for women and men), cooking facilities and a shared dining area. There’s plenty of shade and it’s an easy drive from here deeper into the park. All of the other places to stay inside the park fall outside the budget price category. Additional campsites lie scattered around the area surrounding the park, particularly close to the northern park entrance. Most of these are privately run and of varying quality: most have communal facilities (shower, toilet, kitchen and shaded dining area).”

How do I avoid the crowds on a Tarangire safari?

“Tarangire is a popular park, but it’s nowhere near as crowded as some of Tanzania’s better-known parks, even when it’s at its busiest. There aren’t many places to stay inside the park, so staying inside the park at the campsite can help you get a head start on those who sleep beyond the park boundaries. While they’re queueing to enter at dawn, you’re already on your way out to look for animals. Once you’re out exploring, head as quickly as you can towards the southern area of the park: it’s the least-visited corner of Tarangire. High season runs from June to October, and these are certainly the busiest months. Visiting outside these months can be a risk in terms of weather (rain is more likely from November to May) but is generally quieter. It can also be a little cheaper.”

How much does a Tarangire budget trip cost?

“The answer to this question will change from one operator to the next and will also vary according to the kind of safari you’re looking to enjoy. As a starting point, expect a Tarangire National Park budget safari to cost around US$150 per person per day. This includes the national park entry fees of US$53/17.70 per adult/child per day. Park fees should be included in the quoted price of your safari, but some operators add them as extras to the basic price. Otherwise, this daily cost should include all accommodation (including campsite fees and camping equipment), as well as food, water, guide, vehicle, driver and two game drives a day. For a really cheap safari, you may be expected to help around camp with setting up and taking down tents, meal preparation and general cleaning up.”

Tarangire Reviews

4.2/5 267 Reviews

Expert

Stephen Cunliffe –

Stephen is a travel writer and avid conservationist whose work appears in prestigious magazines such as Africa Geographic and Travel Africa.

Land of the giant tuskers

5/5

Named after the Tarangire River, which is a magnet for wildlife at the height of the dry season, this national park is well worth a visit. Tarangire is rightfully famous for its elephants – especially the giant tuskers (which have thus...

Full Review

Expert

Gemma Pitcher –

Gemma authored several Lonely Planet guidebooks, including the guides to Africa, Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa.

A dry season must

4/5

I love Tarangire, but remember that this is a seasonal park – if you’re after mammals you’ll need to visit during the dry season (June-November) to get the best out of it. It’s nice and accessible – only two hours from Arusha –...

Full Review

Linda S –

Reviewed: Feb 25, 2023

5/5

My favorite park - Tarangire is gorgeous, full of animals to see with minimum driving. Artificial ponds have been created to support the population of animals. This park has lots of Baobab trees, which the elephants love. So there is a...

Full Review

Lamia Zafrani –

Reviewed: Feb 10, 2023

5/5

We started our safari here, it’s a great park to start in, you see elephants giraffes and zebra as well as lions in relative close proximity. It’s less open like Serengeti or ngorogoro so it does feel more like a park than ‘nature’...

Full Review

Jan Robertson –

Reviewed: Aug 22, 2022

5/5

Our first big park on our journey - fantastic! We saw everything there in 2 days. Especially enjoyed all the big elephants, but saw many other animals. Highly recommend Tarangire. Seems less crowded than Serengeti, but depends on what part...

Full Review

Diana Calixto –

Reviewed: Aug 15, 2022

5/5

It was our first park, so the visit was full of emotions. We saw plenty of wild life. Very surprised at the entrance to see many cars and people entering in to the park. But then I realized that the park is so big, that cars dispersed, and...

Full Review

All 267 Tarangire Reviews

Cookie Settings

Manage Cookie Settings

Functional cookies

Analytical cookies (anonymous)

Advertising and social media cookies

Your Safari

Tour Length

Rates in USD $ – Change Currency

Starting From

Comfort Level

Private or Shared Tour

Safari Type

Operator Rating

Specialized Tours

Other Tour Features

Filter by Operator

Filter by Accommodation

Operators From

Tarangire Budget Safari Tours

4-Day Camping Safari Tarangire Ngorongoro and Serengeti

5-Day Safari (Manyara, Ngorongoro, Serengeti, Tarangire)

3-Day Comfortable Safari for Children

5-Day Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Manyara Budgets

5-Day Northern Parks Budget Safari Tent

6-Day Serengeti Ngorongoro Manyara and Tarangire NP

3-Day Budgeted Safari to Big 5 Parks and Maasai Boma

6-Day Arusha Park, Ngorongoro, Serengeti, Manyara

3-Day Tarangire, Ngorongoro and Manyara National Park

5-Day Northern Parks Adventurous Camping

4-Day Northern Tanzani Group Budget Sharing Safari

3-Day Zanzibar Tarangire National Park

5-Day Best National Parks of Tanzania (Camping)

3-Day Private Budget Lodge Safari Northern Circuit

3-Day Tarangire, Ngorongoro and Manyara

4-Day Popular Budget Safari Joining

4-Day Budget Tour to Tarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro

3-Day Northern Highlight Safari

6-Day Serengeti Wildebeest Migration Event Budget Safari

3-Day Experience Tanzania

Related Searches

5 Questions About Tarangire Budget Safaris

Answered by

Anthony Ham

5 Questions About Tarangire Budget Safaris

Which other parks should I visit on a budget safari to Tarangire National Park?

Can you describe a typical day on a Tarangire budget safari?

What type of accommodation can I expect on cheap Tarangire packages?

How do I avoid the crowds on a Tarangire safari?

How much does a Tarangire budget trip cost?

Tarangire Reviews

Land of the giant tuskers

A dry season must