Tarangire is one of the best-known and most popular national parks of Tanzania’s northern circuit. On this one-day safari, you can immerse yourself in its magical scenery: savannah, dotted with mystical baobab trees and the majestic Tarangire River. Tarangire is known for its large herds of elephants roaming the park. But you can also spot buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, warthogs and the beautiful waterbuck antelope. Your expert local guide will share many useful facts about the region’s wildlife. From the window-seat and the pop-up roof of your 4×4 safari vehicle, you have the best view to take in this magical day.
We’ll depart from Moshi early in the morning and drives traight to the Tarangire National Park. The park’s landscape is awe-inspiring; dotted with colossal termite mounds (some now the homes of Mr and Mrs Mongoose and all the little mongoose) and ancient baobab trees, as well as golden savannah. The park has a year-round water supply and that’s why it’s so rich in wildlife. Bird lovers won’t be disappointed. The park hosts over 550 species of bird, including the world’s largest, the Maasai ostrich. (Yes, Tarangire is a small park but it attracts the biggest animals!). You’ll have a great view from the open roof of your sturdy 4×4, so get your camera ready for giraffe, warthog, impala, cheetah, mongoose, buffalo, and baboons. Look up at tree-level to spot one of the famous climbing leopards of Tarangire, and look closer – is that a python? But don’t forget those elephants! You’ll spot herds of elephants of all ages; bachelor herds or herds of females – babies, teenagers, young mums and older mums all led by a matriarch. You might spot a majestic bull elephant, too, who travel alone. After a stop for a tasty lunch somewhere picturesque and, of course, safe (we don’t want you to BE lunch), you’ll spend the afternoon back in the 4×4, drinking in all the sights and sounds of this perfect little park. We’ll drive you home to Moshi to arrive in the cool of the evening.
We recommend arriving one day early (what we refer to as “arrival day”).
This will give you time to relax, meet your fellow trekkers, and get a proper briefing before the climb starts. More importantly, if there’s any delay to your flight or your luggage goes AWOL, there’s enough wiggle room so that this delay doesn’t derail your climb. Seriously – this extra day really is a good idea, especially with post-pandemic airlines being in a little bit of a pickle right now.
All that said, we understand that travelling to Kilimanjaro can be a challenge. So we’ll accommodate your arrival time as best we can (for example, if you only arrive late at night the day before the climb starts, we’ll still be there to collect you!).
Yes, most foreigners need a Tanzanian visa to visit the country. US, Canadian, British and most European citizens can simply obtain a visa upon arrival at the airport. The cost is US$100 for US passport holders and $50 for others. US citizens do get a longer visa, however.
If you’re a citizen of a different country, please check with your embassy if you can obtain a visa upon arrival – of if you even need one. Certain African nationals, for instance, can enter Tanzania without a visa.
Please also note that you need a passport that’s valid for at least six months after your departure date.
There are no specific vaccine requirements for entry into Tanzania. However, be aware that the Government of Tanzania requires proof of yellow fever vaccination upon arrival if you are travelling from a country with risk of yellow fever.
While it’s not mandatory by any means, we suggest you talk to your doctor about getting the following vaccinations (which are standard in developed countries): Hepatitis A & B, typhoid, yellow fever, tetanus, polio, MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) and meningococcal meningitis (Africa and Asia).
There are seven different Kilimanjaro routes up the mountain. We recommend the eight-day Lemosho, seven-day Machame and nine-day Northern Circuit routes. These routes offer the best balance of a high success rate and beautiful scenery.
Kilimanjaro requires no technical climbing experience nor climbing equipment. This makes it the most accessible of the Seven Summits in many ways.
Any decently fit person can summit the mountain. That said, for most people, it will be one of the most difficult things they ever do in their lives!
Kilimanjaro is climbable all year round. Yippee!
The best months to climb, however, are July to October and December to February, as these are the warmest and driest months respectively.
