Tarangire

Covered on this page:

Hire a TANAPA ranger – Costs around USD 40 per day (plus tip) and can be arranged at the gate. A ranger joins your vehicle, helps spot wildlife, and shares insights. (Note: Rangers do not drive the car.)
Night game drives – Unique to Tarangire, and offered by most lodges. Go out with a certified ranger in an open vehicle with spotlights to see bush babies, porcupines, civets, hyenas, lions, leopards, and other nocturnal animals.

Tarangire Baobab Tented Camp

Camp manager: Sam, +255 698 056 872
Inside Tarangire NP, 1 hr game drive from the main entrance. Located at the Kanga Area Seasonal Campsite.
From Main Gate: continue to the main bridge → first right → second right → straight until you see a stone sign to Baobab Camp.
From Sangaiwe Gate: first left → then right at the sign for Baobab Camp.
Both routes are signposted (look for “Kanga Special Campsite”).

Ang’ata Tented Camp

Sangaiwe Tented Camp

Sangaiwe Mbuyu Tented Camp

Camp manager: [add number]
Not plotted on Google Maps.
Close to Sangaiwe Tented Camp — follow those directions, then use the signposts to Mbuyu.

Tarangire Simba Lodge

Distances & time (from Tarangire Main Gate)

Route

Exit Tarangire and head east on the A104.
Roads are paved, well signposted, and in excellent condition.
There is a petrol station at Makuyuni junction, 33 km from Tarangire Main Gate.
For JRO: continue through Arusha and head east on the A23.

Good to know

Traffic around Arusha can be heavy, especially at rush hours. If you need to hand over your car or catch a flight, make sure to allow extra time.

Distances & time (from Tarangire Main Gate)

Route

From Sangaiwe Tented Camp / Mbuyu Camp: take the dirt road to Mbuyu wa Mjeruman village.
Join the paved A104, which runs parallel to Tarangire NP.
Follow the A104 for 40 km to Makuyuni junction (petrol station on your left).
Turn left onto the B144 and continue to Mto wa Mbu.
Drive through town. After Lake Manyara NP, the road climbs steeply up the Rift Valley escarpment with sweeping views. Watch out for baboons!
After the climb, the road descends into Karatu.

Distance & time (from Tarangire Main Gate)

Route

Exit Tarangire and head east on the A104.
From Sangaiwe Tented/Mbuyu Camp: first follow the dirt road to Mbuyu wa Mjeruman village, then join the paved A104.
Continue 40 km to Makuyuni junction (petrol station on your left).
Turn left onto the B144 towards Mto wa Mbu.
Pass through town. After Lake Manyara NP, the road climbs the Rift Valley escarpment with great views — and baboons!
Descend into Karatu. Just past town, turn left at the junction towards Lake Eyasi. The dirt road is narrow, bumpy, and rough in places. You’ll pass farmland (sunflower and teff fields) and Maasai herders with cattle.

On the way

Mto wa Mbu: good for a coffee, lunch, or stroll through the craft markets.
You’ll pass Lake Manyara on your left.
At the top of the Rift Valley, make sure to stop at the viewpoint and take a picture!
ATMs, small supermarkets, and petrol stations are available in both Mto wa Mbu and Karatu.

Tip