Tarangire National Park

A major stop on the Northern Tanzania safari circuit, this national park is a great place to see dense concentrations of animals—such as elephants, zebras, giraffes, and wildebeest—as they congregate near the Tarangire River. It's often visited on 2-night safaris (in conjunction with the Ngorongoro Crater) and on longer trips that include other key safari destinations—notably Serengeti National Park and Lake Manyara National Park, famous for its flamingo population.

• Wear plenty of bug spray and avoid dark colors, as they attract tsetse flies.

• If you’re camping in the region, make sure to pack warm clothes—temperatures can drop significantly after nightfall.

• Most guides have a pair or two of binoculars to pass around, but you may want to bring your own pair if you’re on a group tour.

Tarangire National Park is located a 3.5-hour drive from Arusha and about a 4-hour drive from the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater. The best way to visit is by joining a single-day or multi-day guided safari, and both private and small-group options are available. These generally include round-trip transportation from Arusha. Some also depart from Moshi near Mount Kilimanjaro.

Tarangire National Park is at its best during the dry season, which runs roughly from June through October, when animals descend en masse to the Tarangire River. This is, however, the most crowded time of year to visit, so it's wise to book early if you want to come during these months.

While many people are aware of some of the differences between Asian and African elephants, there are actually two different types of African elephants: bush elephants (also known as savanna elephants), which are found in Tarangire, and forest elephants. Bush elephants are the larger of the two (in fact, they're the largest land mammal on earth) and are characterized by their outward-facing tusks and lighter skin color.