Tarangire River Camp, Northern Safari Circuit

rooms

If you’re looking for an authentic under canvas dream bush camp experience, then a stay here in one of the 20 grass-thatched tents will not disappoint.  All rooms are well spaced out along the edge of a steep riverbank, allowing for extensive views across the African bushveld, each having extended viewing decks with patio chairs and tables.

Inside, your Double or Twin Room you will find an earthy tones and furniture, with mosquito-netted four-posters, luggage rack and bedside tables.   Depending on your actual room location, on clear days distant views of edges of Mount Meru and possibly Kilimanjaro are possible from your bed. Bushbaby recommends treating yourself to the King size deluxe tent built around a Baobab Tree if you are celebrating a special occasion or just child free for a change!

 All rooms have en-suite bathrooms, with flush toilets, wash-hand basins and showers, with constant running water provided by a borehole (bottled water is provided for drinking). Hot water is only available in the evenings upon your return from your safari game drives allowing you to freshen up before dinner. 

facilities & activities

We tend to recommend the Tarangire to guests who are planning on spending 6 or more nights on an overland safari through this northern region of Tanzania, or to those who are just seeking a short 2 nights’ safari post a Kilimanjaro trek.  

Most guests to this camp will arrive as part of an overland safari tour in their private vehicle with their driver/guide, giving you the freedom and flexibility to explore at your own pace. However, the lodge also has it’s own range of safari vehicles and guides.  Being on its own private wildlife area, you are able to explore its’ own concessionary area by game 4WD or on foot with an armed escort, though in reality the better game viewing will be found in the Tarangire National Park itself.  Game drives can either be full day exploratory drives into the Park or you could opt for early morning game drives and post lunch shortened afternoon game drives. As per park regulations, all guests need to be in camp or have exited the park by sunset. Cooler boxes will be arranged to keep picnic boxes and mineral water cool as well as your favoured drinks (not included in the price).

During the dry season, from the decks of the lodge, you may even see Elephants in the river below. Other activities available here include bird watching, with Lake Manyara National Park being close by, there is good opportunities to seeing waders.

The lodge has a swimming pool, sun-loungers, chairs and tables, which is great place to cool off in at the end of a days’ dusty game drive and enjoy an ice cold “Kilimanjaro” (beer) to quench the thirst.  There is a large, open dining room, bar and lounge or treat yourself to a momento from the Maasai gift shop.Through the lodge and your guide, cultural visits are possible to the nearby Maasai and Datoga Villages.   

Please note solar power prevails at Tarangire River Camp, with generators used as little as possible. Battery and phone charging facilities are available for those needing to keep in touch with the outside world!

dining

After the dawn chorus and “knock knock” call from the staff in the morning, tea or coffee will be served in the airy dining room, followed by fruit, local cheeses, fresh baked breads, cereals and yoghurt or hot meals cooked to order, including pancakes and eggs.

A generous picnic lunch is on offer for those contemplating a full day game drive in the Tarangire National Park.

For those who prefer to return to the lodge for lunch, there will be main meal offered with salads and delectable desserts all prepared in camp.

After your afternoon siesta, afternoon tea may be taken on a higher viewing deck to catch the cooling breeze as impalas nibble the riverside grass and mongooses whisk along the rock face.   As is traditional in many places in Africa, in camp you can enjoy traditional sundowners, when nothing tastes as sweet as your G&T, served with nibbles around the campfire on the lower decking of the camp.

Dining at the Tarangire River Camp safari is an adventure in itself.  Following your freshening up pre-dinner, you will be escorted from your room, by your “Askari”,Maasai guard, to the dining room where you will be served a  set menu of culturally inspired dishes, including salads, soups, roasts and grills.  Vegetarian guests will not be disappointed as they get to enjoy their own special options of dishes of fresh and cooked vegetables prepared in unforgettable African safari style and served in traditional pots over candle burners.

family

Whilst there is no minimum age in this camp, the camp may not be really suitable for children of less than 8 years or those who are not confident on their feet. The lodge is unfenced and all rooms are built on raised wooden decks with drops to the ground below and some of the public areas overhang longer more potentially dangerous drop-offs, as such adult supervision is required at all times.

Whilst there is no official childrens’ club or special facilities, the Masai guides are always keen to teach enthusiastic children bush-craft skills.

Early meals can be prepared for tired little ones and the house keeping staff will always be happy to offer childminding for a couple of hours if you are keen to spend some time adult time together.

Four Family tents welcome those travelling with younger guests and are suitable for families of 4 or 5. A King bed can be accompanied by 2 or 3 single beds.

location

As the camp is about two hours’ drive from Arusha, this makes for the perfect start to your overland private safari around Tanzania’s iconic Northern Parks.  From this camp it’s about an hour and a half drive onwards to Lake Manyara National Park.  Guests not in their own vehicle may opt to fly-in to the nearby Tarangire or Lake Manyara airstrip from where they can be collected by the lodge. 

This camp is located within a 25,000 hectare concession area 3,5km from the main entrance to the Tarangire National Park and overlooks a branch of the Tarangire River itself.  The Tarangire Park itself is one of the prettiest parks in the North of Tanzania and is not only home to a wonderful variety of wildlife, but also offers some of the best birding and is home to the incredible Baobab tree.

The best time to visit this park is between June and December, with peak viewing season being the months of July – October when it’s the height of the dry season. At this time of year, the permanent Tarangire River and its’ marshes attract some of the largest herds and numbers of Elephant found in Tanzania.  There is nothing quite as magical as being in your 4WD vehicle and surrounded by Elephants, watching their interaction as they wallow in the river!