Tanzania Family Safari Holidays

A Tanzania safari is a delight for all ages, and as such is an ideal family holiday. The excitement of the adventure is truly shared, allowing parents, grandparents and children to treasure memories for ever after. Every Tanzania safari is so different; each wildlife moment is so distinct, that even old timers cannot claim to have seen it all before.

We’ve created many fabulous Tanzania family holidays – however, careful consideration and planning is required on many fronts when putting together an ideal family itinerary. The option of family suites (or extra beds), child-friendly activities and special child rates vary enormously from lodge to lodge.

Why go on a Tanzania Family Holiday?
Tanzania is in the best possible safari and beach combination location! It has a fantastic coast line, and also the colourful and activity-packed island of Zanzibar is just a short hop away. The beach has never been easier to access, and this is especially important for family holidays – as you are paying for children, you save money on long flights and also time better spent lazing around with your loved ones on the beach.
The South of Tanzania can offer a really diverse safari experience for the whole family with excellent boating, and walking or fly camping for the over 12’s – a family adventure of a lifetime. A short added hop to Ruaha, and your family can enjoy spying on a neighbor – the mega prides of lion which the park is so famous for. You can also get some amazing value for money accommodation here, which is a welcome surprise when paying for the whole family.

The North – The Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater – provides a completely action-packed and beautiful Africa safari experience. Seeing the Great Wildebeest Migration will not be something your kids will forget in a hurry. Some people like to introduce their children to a cultural experience, and this comes in its buckets in the Ngorongoro Highlands with the traditional and proud Masai people. Here, you have the privilege of a private vehicle for a really intimate and freeing safari – a huge plus for a Northern Tanzania family itinerary.
Special offers for families are available in many of the safari companies in Tanzania – we have been working with them for 20 years so can get some amazing value deals. Tanzania loves families and their child rates and offers reflect this!

We really can’t think of a reason not to choose Tanzania for your once in a lifetime family holiday!

Which are the most family friendly safari lodges in Tanzania?
Family units are available on safari at Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, Sasakwa in the Northern Serengeti and at Lake Manze in the Selous in the South. For your beach time, the charming island of Zanzibar includes our family accommodation favourites Breezes, Zuri Zanzibar and The Residence.

Our all-time favourite family safari-camp options are the Tanzania Nomad selection. Firstly, Nomad love children! They have child rates for all children under 21 years old. The guides are expert in making sure kids are well entertained and looked after just as much as Mum and Dad. They are such a well-established company, that they have perfected the family safari experience. In the North, their camps include the Serengeti Safari Camp and Nomad Lamai in the Serengeti, and the brilliantly placed Entamanu on the Ngorongoro Crater rim. In the South, Sand Rivers is a fantastic choice for a intimate safari with your older kids, and in Ruaha, Kigelia offers a similar bare-foot luxury in the wilderness experience.

In the Selous there is also a super luxurious option of Bailey’s Banda, which is a private dining/everything family suite from Beho Beho – this is family accommodation for a trip of a lifetime!

Please note that many lodges and camps will not accept children under the age of 6.

Tanzania Family Safari itinerary planning
There is no correct family itinerary in Tanzania – both the Northern Circuit and Southern Circuit are equally family friendly.

In the North, a great itinerary for families goes as follows: One night in Arusha to recover from your international flight, then on to the Ngorongoro Crater for 2 nights. Then, take a flight to the Serengeti for at least a 4 night stay – which area depends on where the Migration is at the time. After this, take a short flight to Zanzibar for around 6 nights relaxing on the beach. We find this is perfect for teenagers who thrive on the hugely dense Serengeti and Crater game, and also want to try their hand at water sports with Zanzibar’s huge array of activities and fantastic beaches.

Depending on your family’s preferences, you may prefer going a bit more off the beaten track to the wild Selous Game Reserve and Ruaha National Park. Here you can enjoy amazing prices, a more relaxed safari experience, and depending on your children’s age, walking and boating. You can even combine a Ruaha Safari with the Serengeti with a fantastic new direct flight – this is a really spoiling combination and definitely one to consider… Note that, especially when with children, safaris can get very tiring with early rises if you want to catch the best game. As a result, we would not recommend extending your safari time over 8 nights. Pop over to the beach after any Tanzania safari to unwind and catch the rays before your flight home.

Whatever the ages of your children, your preferences as a family and your special requirements, we will carefully put together an itinerary to fit them all and to give you the very best possible safari experience and value for money.