On the path of an annual elephant migration, Elewana Tarangire Treetops sits alone in a 312 km2 private wildlife area bordering Tarangire National Park. Amid a landscape of rolling, baobab-studded hills. Elevated “tree house” suites are perched high up with views over the adjacent baobab and marula trees. Giving Tarangire Treetops an adventurous and exotic feel.
As you arrive at the Lodge, you are immediately greeted by a blaze of color and a host of smiles all of which belong to the local Maasai tribesmen who have become part of the enchanting story that is Tarangire Treetops.
Encasing an impressive baobab tree, the spacious and tranquil reception, lounge, and dining room overlook the swimming pool and a waterhole that sees a steady flow of wild animal visitors. With the natural beauty of the hills and dry river beds begging to be explored, guests can enjoy guided walking safaris, day or nighttime game drives, and the enchantment of bush dining.
Main area with pool
Situated in its own private conservancy, Randilen conservancy, guests of Tarangire Treetops enjoy a secluded and private safari experience; but with easy access to Tarangire National Park. Tarangire has the greatest concentration of wildlife outside the Serengeti ecosystem. A smorgasbord for predators. Migratory wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, impala, gazelle, hartebeest, eland, and of course, 300 herds of elephants. All of which crowd the shrinking lagoons.
The rooms of Tarangire Treetops are one-of-a-kind. Elevated platforms place guests among the baobab and marula trees, creating the feel of a luxury tree house. The 20 x Treetops Suites boasts one of the largest bedrooms to be found in any lodge in East Africa. A floor space of 65 square meters with an exotic double shower en suite bathroom. The furnishings create warmth and demonstrate a commitment to local craftsmanship, the ‘up-in-the-air’ experience. The open-fronted room design is completed with a private balcony. The rooms are either sunset-facing, sunrise-facing, or overlook the camp’s waterhole and animal trail.
Interior of a Treehouse Suite
There is a motorized buggy for transport to/from rooms and ramp access to five rooms. This is to assist guests with limited mobility. There is Wi-Fi internet in the main areas and a swimming pool.
Tarangire Treetops Family Safari
Family Safaris at Tarangire ↓
Families are welcome at Tarangire Treetops. The spacious treetop suites can take up to 2 extra beds for the kids. A children’s menu is also available.
What could be more exciting for a child than spotting their first leopard? Learning how to throw a Masai spear? Or roasting marshmallows over a campfire to the calls of distant lions? Guided Camp “bush” walks looking at the trees, flowers, grasses, insects, birds and bird calls, mammals, tracks, and droppings. This is a real education for your young ones. Learn about the baobab tree, its African folklore, and its importance in the ecosystem. Including all the animals that make it their home.
Child Policy
Rate
Children under the age of 12 years sharing with an adult
Child(ren) free of charge plus adult single rate
Children aged 12-17 years in their own room (2 minimum)
75% of the adult sharing rate
Child(ren) aged 12-17 years sharing with 1 adult
50% of the adult sharing rate for the child, adult per person sharing rate
Child aged 12-17 sharing with 2 adults
Triple rate applies
Kids are welcome at Tarangire Treetops
What to expect at Tarangire National Park
Tarangire is the sixth largest national park in Tanzania. The park is famous for its huge number of elephants, baobab trees, and tree-climbing lions. Visitors to the park can expect to see any number of resident zebra and wildebeest in addition to the less common animals. Other common animals include water buck, giraffe, and olive baboons. The area is also very good for spotting wild dogs. And the little creatures like the very quaint pancake tortoise.
Home to more than 550 species, the park is a haven for bird enthusiasts who can expect to see dozens of species even in the dry season. The swamps are the focus of the largest selection of breeding birds anywhere in the world. You will also discover the Kori bustard, the heaviest flying bird. The stocking-thigh ostrich, the world’s largest bird. And small parties of ground hornbills blustering like turkeys.
More ardent bird lovers might keep an eye open for screeching flocks of the dazzlingly colorful yellow-collared lovebird, and the somewhat drabber rufous-tailed weaver and ashy starling. All endemic to the dry savanna of north-central Tanzania.
The park is also famous for the termite mounds that dot the landscape. Those that have been abandoned are often seen to be home to dwarf mongooses.
About Tarangire Treetops Wildlife Management Area
Elewana Tarangire Treetops is located in Randilen – a private Wildlife Management Area (WMA) bordering Tarangire National Park.
With Tanzania’s growing population, it has become even more important to support WMAs like Randilen. They encourage communities to live in harmony with wildlife. The communities in the area benefit from; crop protection, grazing plan, support in education, and healthcare clinics. They also receive a percentage of the revenue made. Therefore, they realize the value of preserving the area to ensure future generations can marvel at the wildlife and the stunning landscape. This is a ‘win-win’ for all involved. The Randilen communities benefit financially as well from additional support. The WMA and Elewana Tarangire Treetops further their objectives to develop sustainable tourism, and equally important, the wildlife in the area is protected.
Understanding the significance of grazing land to the Masaai is key. They place great value on their cattle. The more cows a Masaai owns the more wives he can acquire. And in turn, more children. Which elevates his wealth and status in the community. This has an impact on the land. As communities get larger so do the cattle and land becomes increasingly scarce.
Masaai culture
By staying at Elewana Tarangire Treetops, visitors contribute to the WMA and thereby complete the cycle and reinforce the benefits of sustainable tourism.
More Information and Activities ↓
Tarangire Treetops Activities and Unique Offerings
Game Drives in the morning and afternoon are in both the Randilen Wildlife Management Area and Tarangire National Park.
Bush walks
Because the camp is located outside the National Park, it is able to conduct bush walks / walking safaris. This activity allows guests to get “up close and personal” with nature. And experience the bush to a more intimate degree. The flora, the fauna, the animal tracks, the insects. The things that can be missed from a game drive vehicle. You’ll not only learn about nature, the local guide will also explain the traditions and culture of the Masaai. Therefore, a walking safari allows guests to begin to understand the true majesty of the indigenous peoples that live and thrive on the land. Walks can be a relaxing ramble or an energetic hike.
Bush Walks in Randilen Wildlife Management Area
Night game drives
Often taken just after dusk, a night game drive at Tarangire Treetops is a rare opportunity to see how the bush ‘comes alive’ after dark. Driving with an experienced and qualified Elewana guide, this 1.5-hour drive around the environs of Treetops provides an insight into the nocturnal wildlife that is often overlooked. Or not accessible to visitors who stay within the confines of the national parks. From wide-eyed lesser bush babies (galagos) to ambling porcupines and elusive leopards. The African bush hosts a different assortment of creatures after dark.
Maasai Village Tour
The Maasai Village is about a 20-30 minutes drive from Treetops and gives a perfect insight into the life of the Maasai. This village with its varying age of inhabitants is very warm and friendly and eager to meet guests from Treetops.
Community visit
Boma Dinner & Masai Dancers
Sample the delights of eating under the stars in a traditional Maasai Boma. Flavors of the bush as well as international cuisine, is done by lantern light and the glowing embers of a large bonfire. While enjoying the dancing and singing of Maasai menfolk.
Boma Dinner
Sun downers
Experience the drama and beauty of Africa in one of the most iconic locations that Tarangire has to offer. Sunset Hill is the perfect location to sit atop and enjoy the deep orange sunsets that are often welcome in the starry skies. With food and drinks on-hand. This is truly a magical experience.
Bush Meals
After a game drive through the private conservancy of Randilen Wildlife Management Area, there is nothing more enjoyable than arriving at an excluded area for a delicious and relaxing luncheon. We can also arrange a Bush Breakfast if booked in advance.
How To Get to Tarangire Treetops
Getting to Tarangire Treetops can be done either by driving directly from Kilimanjaro or Arusha. Or flying from Arusha to Kuro airstrip. Transfer time to/from Kuro airstrip: 3 hours game drive (approx) The transfer time to/from Arusha Coffee Lodge by car: 2 hours 30 minutes (approx) Transfer time to/from Arusha Town center by car: 2 hours 55 minutes (approx) Flight time to/from Kuro airstrip from/to Arusha airstrip: 25 minutes (approx) Transfer time to/from Kilimanjaro airport: 4 hours (approx) With permission, a helicopter can land at a school football field, a 20min drive to the lodge
When to go
During the rainy season, the seasonal visitors scatter over a 20,000 sq km (12,500 sq miles) range until they exhaust the green plains and the river calls once more. But Tarangire’s mobs of elephants are easily encountered at all times of the year. The swamps, tinged green year round, are the focus for 550 bird varieties. The most breeding species in one habitat anywhere in the world.
In the dry season, the fierce sun sucks the moisture from the landscape, baking the earth a dusty red. The withered grass as brittle as straw. The Tarangire River shrivels to a shadow of its wet season self. But it is choked with wildlife. Thirsty nomads have wandered hundreds of parched kilometers knowing that here, always, there is water.
Herds of up to 300 elephants scratch the dry river bed for underground streams. While migratory wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, impala, gazelle, hartebeest, and eland crowd the shrinking lagoons. It’s the greatest concentration of wildlife outside the Serengeti ecosystem. A smorgasbord for predators. And the one place in Tanzania where dry-country antelope such as the stately fringe-eared Oryx and peculiar long-necked Gerenuk are regularly observed.
The wet months are from November to May, March, and April with the heaviest rains. The rest of the year has warm, dry days & cool nights, and low humidity.
Tarangire Treetops is located in a dry area of low population density, as such, it has a very low malaria risk. Tree house suites have mesh screens.
Tarangire Treetops Accommodation Rates
Rates at Tarangire Treetops are either on a full-board basis (meals and accommodation) or the game package basis. The game package rates are ideal for guests flying into the camp as they include many of the activities. See below for more details.
Tarangire Treetops Indicative Rates in US$
Full Board
Game Package
Mid Season: 4th January to 31st March 2024, 1st to 30th June 2024, 1st November until 19th December 2024
Per person sharing
726
901
Single room
1,065
1,353
Triple room
1,591
2,016
Green Season: 1st April to 31st May 2024
Per person sharing
508
698
Single room
763
1,049
Triple room
1,141
1,567
High Season: 1st July to 31st October 2024, 20th December 2024 to 3rd January 2025
Per person sharing
847
1,030
Single room
1,241
1,548
Triple room
1,857
2,313
All rates are in U.S. Dollars and include the service charges, VAT, and Tourism Development Levy.
The rates exclude champagne, private cellar wines, and premium spirits.
The Tarangire National Park fee is only payable when visiting Tarangire National Park. However, the game package rates above are inclusive of a per person per night Wildlife Management Area fee for accommodation. For some extra activities, the fee may be applicable and attract an additional fee.
The Full Board (FB) Rates Include
Full board rates include accommodation, all meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), soft drinks, beer, house wines, selected spirits, teas, coffees, refreshments (on the property), and laundry services.
The Game Package (GP) Rates Include
Game package rates include the full-board package, PLUS Scheduled and shared day and night game drives, guided walking safari, bush sun downers, transfers to and from our designated airstrips
Tarangire Treetops Accommodation Special Offers and Packages
Tarangire Treetops is part of the Elewana Collection. A collection of luxury boutique lodges, camps and hotels in iconic locations across Kenya and Tanzania. Stay longer at any combination of these properties and get great discounts in 2024: 6+ nights: 10% 9+ nights: 15% 12+ nights: 20%
Valid in mid and low season at Arusha Coffee Lodge until 31st May 2024* but all year at all other Elewana properties.
*1st November 2023 until 19th December 2024 and 4th January to 31st May 2024.
Get an extra 5% discount when you return to any Elewana property. Plus a 20% discount on Spa treatments*. *Spa services not available in Masai Mara and Serengeti
