Tarangire National Park — Full-Day Elephant Safari

Tarangire National Park is one of the best places in Africa to see elephants. In the dry season, from roughly June to October, thousands gather along the Tarangire River, the park's only permanent water, among some of the largest baobab trees in Tanzania.

A day along the river

Leaving Arusha early, you reach the park gate as the morning light washes across the savanna. The game drive follows the river, where elephants, buffalo, zebra, wildebeest and giraffe come to drink, and the surrounding woodland, home to lion, leopard and, with luck, a sighting of the park's rarer animals such as fringe-eared oryx or greater kudu.

Birds, baobabs and a picnic

Tarangire has recorded more than 550 bird species, including the colourful yellow-collared lovebird. A picnic lunch at a viewpoint over the river breaks up the day, and the afternoon drive explores quieter corners of the park before you return to Arusha in the evening.