Tarangire National Park derives its name from the Tarangire River that dissects the park. It is the only source of water for animals during the dry season, bringing thousands of migrating animals from Manyara National Park. The landscape and vegetation is incredibly diverse, and the hilly landscape is dotted with many age-old Baobab trees, high grasses and dense bush. The Tarangire is famous for its large herds of elephants that congregate under the spectacular Baobab trees. Huge herds of up to 300 elephants roam the national park while migratory wildebeest, zebra, impala, buffalo and eland crowd the lagoon and waterholes. The Tarangire is also home to more unusual species, such as the fringe-eared Oryx and the peculiar long-necked gerenuk. Tarangire National Park falls outside the nutrient-rich volcanic belt and receives a relatively low annual rainfall. It is therefore a semi-arid park with habitats that are unique in the region.