There’s no place on earth like Tarangire National Park. Just a couple of hours south-west of Arusha, this 2,850 square kilometer park is known for its beautiful and diverse wildlife. Within its bounds lives Tanzania’s largest population of elephants; in fact, in all of Africa, only Botswana has more of these majestic creatures.

The Tarangire River and wetlands attract animals throughout the year, guaranteeing that when you come to Tarangire, you will likely see everything Tanzania is famous for, including wildebeest, waterbuck, giraffe, impala, gazelle, lions, cheetahs, wild dogs, leopards, and, at times, thousands of zebra too. You can’t go far without coming across huge herds of hundreds of buffalo, for which the park is renowned.

Peak time in Tarangire is from July to October. This is the dry season, which draws thousands of animals to the river and swamps. It’s also when the number of elephants in the park can reach a spectacular 3,000.

With more animals and fewer visitors than some of the better-known wildlife spots, this often-overlooked park gives you something that’s hard to find elsewhere: solitude. Here, you’re more likely to see large game and birds in complete serenity, with no one else around.