My top tips for planning a Tanzania family safari

1. Think like your kids

My first (and probably biggest) tip when travelling as a family is to keep the kids happy. If your kids are happy, you will be too. Sometimes it can be hard to see things through kids’ eyes but engaging them in the planning and building some fun in your overnight stops is essential. Try to factor in memorable experiences beyond the safari, such as meeting local Maasai and getting involved in tribal crafts.

Equally, staying at lodges with swimming pools will always be a winner with the kids! If your children are anything like mine, they’ll probably love a good beach too. Tanzania is a great destination for this, with easy flight connections to the turquoise waters of Zanzibar or Pemba - the perfect spots to relax after your mainland adventures.

2. Choose an excellent safari company

The expertise and support provided by a good tour operator is THE key to a good safari. A brilliant driver guide with incredible local knowledge is essential for getting the most out of your safari. The drives can be long, with bumpy roads and remote landscapes. An expert driver guide and 4x4 will take your safari to the next level - they will spot wildlife you would never notice yourself. I travelled with our local partners who I cannot recommend highly enough. The beauty of having your own private 4x4 and driver/guide is flexibility, you can stop whenever you want.  Whether that's for wildlife, or if you spot something interesting on your journey passing through local towns and villages. Just go at your family's own pace.  

3. Be realistic about your budget

It’s important to be realistic about your budget, as a Tanzania family safari isn’t something that you can do ‘on the cheap’. Remember that a large part of the cost involved goes towards National Park fees, as well as your driver/guide, 4x4 safari vehicle and everything involved with getting around. Family tents cost more than standard tents, and, for the best game viewing, you might be paying ‘peak’ rates too.

Is it worth it? YES. This sort of experience is life-changing and worth every single penny. Very little spending money is required locally, as most mainland camps include all meals. My mission on this trip was to unearth some safari gems that offer value for money, interest for the kids, breathtaking locations, and beautiful views. So, with all this in mind, where do you start?

4. Fly straight into Kilimanjaro Airport

Where you arrive in Tanzania will depend on your ‘must do’ wish list and budget, but Kilimanjaro International Airport offers a brilliant starting point. It’s far better located than Dar Es Salaam for the northern circuit of National Parks, including Arusha, Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro and the Serengeti. Tip: if you sit on the left side of the plane for the approach to Kilimanjaro, you’ll be treated to a stunning African sunrise over the mountain.  

5. Dive into the local culture

As your first stop after landing in Tanzania, I highly recommend the Amini Maasai Lodge project. It’s incredibly special and the perfect first stop on a Tanzania family safari. Run by local Maasai, your stay can include a wide range of activities, such as nature walks, spear throwing, Maasai dancing, a visit to local school projects and a women's craft workshop. There’s also a lovely pool area set against the backdrop of Kilimanjaro.

Each morning, you can enjoy coffee and freshly baked whilst watching the sun rise over Kilimanjaro. My kids adored this place (as did we!). “One day, Dad, can we climb that?” asked my son, looking up at the mountain. Now there’s a bucket list adventure for the future!   Edit:  Recently we did just that!  Read here about us trekking the Lemosho route up Kilimanjaro.

6. Spend a night in Arusha

If time is short, then Arusha for a night is another great choice to relax after your arrival, with lodges to suit all budgets. Just a quick 30-minute journey from Kilimanjaro Airport, it’s a fantastic spot to spend your first night.

I enjoyed both Arumeru Lodge and the more upmarket Arusha Coffee Lodge, with its neighbouring Shanga workshop. Shanga is a social enterprise which employs local people with disabilities to create unique and high-quality crafts. It’s interactive too - don’t miss a glass-blowing demo from Kyalo and the team! I came home with some beautiful handmade treasures.

7. Combine Ngorongoro with Tarangire and the Serengeti

Once settled in Tanzania, we plan our family Tanzania safaris around the time that you have available, your budget and the month that you’re travelling. For me, the ‘must-sees’ are the incredible Ngorongoro Crater and at least one of the other main national parks.

I strongly recommend including both Tarangire National Park and Serengeti National Park. These two parks are both spectacular in their unique ways and, in addition to Ngorongoro, they guarantee a safari with constantly changing landscapes and wildlife.

8. Give Tarangire National Park a try

Tarangire is less well-known than Tanzania’s other national parks, but it’s a seriously special place with an atmosphere all its own. Here, it’s common to see herds of elephants roaming between the rivers and the unusual baobab trees. We even saw a group of the rarely spotted cheetahs.

For an unforgettable view with your sundowner, Maweninga Camp is simply unbeatable, and the neighbouring Ormatai Rock Camp is excellent too. At both camps, you’ll find beautiful tents with ensuite facilities, stunning vistas, and campfires to take the chill off once the sun goes down.

9. Get a glimpse of rural life

When you're travelling with kids, it’s always a good shout to break up the journeys. If you’re heading towards the Ngorongoro Crater, most routes will pass through the growing town of Mto Wa Mbu. This is a great place to learn a little about rural life in Tanzania.

We took a guided bike ride as a family (guided walks are also available). It was a fascinating side trip, and no two visits will be the same. During our tour, we were invited into local homes, kicked a football around with some kids, and even tasted homemade banana beer!

10. Stay close to the crater

If you’re planning a stop at the magnificent Ngorongoro Crater, the bustling town of Karatu makes for the perfect base. Karatu is situated just outside the national park, so it offers better value for money than staying on the crater rim, which is far more expensive. It’s a great strategic move.

I loved Bashay Rift Lodge - its gorgeous new pool area is the perfect spot to unwind after a long drive. With our kids, we also stayed at Rhotia Lodge. During our time there, we visited the neighbouring children’s home and school that is supported by the lodge. Staying at Rhotia directly contributes to the good of the local community (and the local bakery is amazing!).

With its fertile red soil, the area around Karatu is a veggies delight, a farming hub, and a glimpse into a different side of Tanzania. If you’ve got a more generous budget, gorgeous Gibbs Farm sits right in the heart of it all, with plenty of activities for everyone (great for guided walks or family bike rides around surrounding villages).

11. Experience the magic of Olduvai

After a day in the Ngorongoro Crater, the journey west towards Serengeti ranks as one of the most spectacular drives I’ve ever experienced. At the end of it, we passed the Olduvai Gorge Monument, where the fossils of our earliest ancestors were discovered, and then pulled into Olduvai Camp. Set in a moon-like wilderness and built around a kopje, this unique lodge is an ideal base for the night. We took a walk at sunset with the local Maasai - something everyone in the family will cherish.

12. Consider the seasons in the Serengeti

Where you stay in Serengeti depends on your budget and the time of year that you travel. The Great Migration is Africa’s circle of life in action, and it tends to follow a similar clockwise path each year. If you get the timing right on the Serengeti, you can see the birth of wildebeest calves, the predators in action and the risky river crossings during the migration. While no wildlife experience is guaranteed, we can certainly maximise your chances of being in the right place at the time.  

During my safari on the Serengeti Plains, we watched a small pride of lions feeding on a fresh kill, with hyenas waiting in the wings and vultures circling above. It was unbelievably close to the track – so close that we could hear the sound of the lions gnawing. Every safari is different, but each one is guaranteed to thrill.

13. Don’t scrimp on your Serengeti stay

There are some beautiful tented lodges in and around the Serengeti, and I recommend staying for at least two nights. We have everything from the more rustic up to the most luxurious tented camps, as well as mobile camps that move with the migration.

The Serengeti is also the ultimate spot to consider a hot air balloon safari. I've been fortunate enough to enjoy a hot air balloon in both the Masai Mara in Kenya and also the Serengeti on the Tanzania side.  Both were amazing, but my experience in the Serengeti somehow had a little extra magic.  It's hard to put into words, but the beautiful dawn light and the stunning backdrop were simply magical.  Peacefully gliding on the breeze, with wildlife galore starting their day it's an unforgettable experience.  Opportunities like this are rare in life, and if you can stretch to it I always recommend to just do it!

The Serengeti is somewhere that can burn through your budget, but we can guide you through the options and ensure you get your money’s worth. As with most things in life you tend to get what you pay for, but this is a once-in-a-lifetime family experience, and I'd argue this kind of adventure makes you richer!  We had a magical experience and, whatever happens in life from here, we’ll forever cherish the memories.

14. End your safari on a high

The Serengeti is a wonderful place to end your safari on a high. My final tip for a Tanzania family safari is to fly from the nearest airstrip to your Serengeti lodge to your onward destination (usually this is via Arusha but we'd take care of all this). Flying out of a remote airstrip is an experience in itself – you might even find zebra on the runway! It also saves a long drive and inevitable overnight stay somewhere, so the cost to fly is hugely offset by these savings.

15. Add some time out on Zanzibar or Pemba

I could write reams about Zanzibar and Pemba, with their turquoise waters and soft white beaches. We’ve handpicked a bunch of gorgeous properties that are ideal for families, stretching from the sleepy east coast to the lively north of Zanzibar.  Alternatively, the neigbouring island of Pemba is a personal favourite.  It's a little quieter and more off the beaten track than Zanzibar, but the marine life, beaches and turquoise waters are simply stunning.  To help understand the options read our blog on where to stay in Zanzibar.

Depending on how much time you can spare, I recommend staying in two different areas, adding further variety to your trip. Taking a boat to snorkel around beautiful Mnemba Island was another highlight for me and something the whole family will love. It's the perfect place to end a perfect Tanzania family safari. 

Ready to plan your own family safari?

We're experts in putting together extraordinary 'once in a lifetime' family adventures. If you're thinking of taking your kids on safari in Tanzania, we'll listen to your 'wishlist' and create a personalised trip full of unforgettable experiences, with the whole family in mind.  To get started please give us a call, fill in a quote request form or you can also contact Jonny who wrote this article directly. The world is waiting!