Tarangire National Park lies between the Maasai Steppe and the Great Rift Valley. The park is home to many species of animals but the most dominant inhabitants are the elephants.

The Tarangire River is the lifeline of the park; during the dry season, both resident and migratory animals concentrate around the river. In fact, during the dry season, the park has a very high concentration of wildlife and ranks only behind Serengeti for wildlife variety.