Two hours drive away from Arusha, the Tarangire National Park in Tanzania takes its name from the river which flows through the park - a vital watering point for the animals of the park as well as those from the surrounding area, especially during the dry months of June to October. During this time thousands of animals - zebra, wildebeest, eland, hartebeest and fringe eared oryx migrate from the dry Masai steppe to the Tarangire River for water. Predators follow the herds.

Resident species include large herds of elephant, buffalo, lion, giraffe, impala, kudu and dik-dik. The open acacia woodland is scattered with giant baobab trees - when not in leaf, their branches look just like roots and legend has it that a displeased god turned them upside down at the time of Creation.