I think Tarangire is great any time of year, but I'm not sure if it's worth crossing into Tanzania ($100 visa for Americans)from Kenya for it. I think you'd be better off going to the Mara and not using your time to travel to and from Tanzania. I assume that you'll have to fly back to Jo'burg from Nairobi.

Thanks ShayTay, we have to go to Arusha to see some children we sponsor, so I picked Tarangire. We may re think it.

If that's the case, then going to Tarangire makes better sense. What are your travel arrangements from Amboseli onwards? Flying? Driving? Going from NBO to JNB? If you don't want 3 nights at Tarangire and are visiting the children in Arusha, you might want to spend a night there (might need to anyway depending on how you're getting there.) You could also spend a day in Arusha NP, a great park that's often overlooked.

Driving Nairobi down to Tarangire, flying from Kili to Nairobi.
And yes then NBO to JNB.
Might see if we can stay another day and do Arusha anyway, thanks.

Hi sallysaab
Mara, Samburu amd serengeti are the best choices IMHO, but i can see your trip going through amboseli and overland to Arusha - Reasonable!!
Tarangire is a really nice park; can't be matched when it comes to Baobabs esp at dusk + Elephant herds + best place by far to find Python(!) some of my friends have seen the Lycaon wild dogs there...

i would add a few hours in Arusha NP- fantastic forest with different species e.g. beautiful B&W Colobus monkey and the Ngurdoto Caldera ("mini Ngorongoro") Strangler Figs etc' Plus really nice views at Momela Lakes esp towards sunset (different colours of blue-green) + chance for thousands of flamingoes...

aby