The Tarangire Conservation Area (TCA) occupies an area of over 585 sq km on the north eastern border of Tarangire National Park. The TCA comprises four distinct areas, the Lolkisale Conservation Area (LCA), the Naitolia Concession Area (NCA), the Makuyuni Elephant Dispersal Area (MEDA) and the Lolkisale Livestock and Wildlife Zone (LLWZ).

The Tarangire Conservation Area is an attempt to protect the important habitats outside the Tarangire National Park as well as providing an opportunity for the local communities to be involved in the management of the Conservation Area and the revenue generated through various low impact tourism ventures.

Masai girl

Tarangire National Park occupies an area of nearly 2,600 sq km in an ecosystem of nearly 8,358 sq km. The park was established to protect the dry season refuge surrounding the Tarangire River. During the wet season from mid November to end of May, eighty percent of all wildlife departs from the National Park and head into the village lands adjacent to the park. The establishment of the TCA is an attempt to not only protect the adjacent village lands for wildlife preservation but in attempt to involve the local communities in the management of their lands for community benefit.

Without a concerted effort to protect the village lands surrounding Tarangire National Park, the very future of the park itself will be in jeopardy.

Map of Tarangire Conservation Area

Lolkisale Conservation Area

The Lolkisale Conservation Area is the core preservation area within the Tarangire Conservation Area. Over 164 sq km in size the LCA encompasses the main watershed for the Tarangire River in the north, the migration routes for wildebeest and zebras to the breeding grounds towards Lolkisale Mountain, and the important wetlands surrounding the Gosuwa swamp. There are two tourist facilities within the Lolkisale Conservation Area, the 40 bed Tarangire Treetops and the 16 bed Boundary Hill Lodge. The LCA has been established by Lolkisale village.

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Naitolia Concession Area

The Naitolia Concession Area is approximately 55 sq km, within the village lands of Mswakini Juu and Makuyuni. The Concession Area protects the northern migration routes from Tarangire National Park to Lake Manyara and the Natron areas of the Tarangire Ecosystem. Within the Concession Area is the northern extent of the Lemiyon Plains and the Naitolia floodplains, both of very high importance in the Tarangire Ecosystem. Within the Concession Area is the small eight bed Naitolia camp, which is the only tourist facility in the area

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Makuyuni Elephant Dispersal Area

The Makuyuni Elephant Dispersal Area is approximately 38 sq km, within the village of Makuyuni. This area represents a critical dispersal area for the northern sub-population of elephants in Tarangire National Park and is used mainly from April through to early June.

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Elephants at Sand River and Lolkisale Clinic

Lolkisale Livestock and Wildlife Zone

The LLWZ was established to provide a buffer zone from agricultural activities around Lolkisale Mountain to the east, and to preserve an area for traditional pastoralist's activities such as the grazing of cattle and goats, firewood collection and bee keeping, whilst also preserving the wet season migration routes and breeding grounds. The LLWZ is approximately 328 sq km and lies within Lolkisale village lands.

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Purpose of Tarangire Conservation Area

The area bounded by the Tarangire Conservation Area is comprised of a variety of habitats of significant importance to the greater Tarangire ecosystem. Tarangire National Park itself represents only 13% of this ecosystem, with 80% of the large mammal population leaving its environs for six months of the year.

It is recognized that the health of the greater Tarangire ecosystem is vital to the long term survival of Tarangire National Park.

The Tarangire Conservation Area contains large wetland habitats that are utilized by a significant number of the Tarangire National Parks 2,800 strong elephant population during the rainy season. In addition, other mammal populations, such as wildebeest, zebra and buffalo, also transit the Conservation Area on a seasonal basis.

The Conservation Area also protects the main watershed for the Tarangire River system in the northern part of the park.

The purpose of the Conservation Area is to actively protect these important habitats otherwise threatened by farming and other intrusive activities performed by members of local communities pursuing the limited revenue choices previously available to them.

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