5 Best Places in Tanzania for Family Safari Adventure
Are you dreaming of an amazing family vacation, but don’t know where to go? You’re not alone. Traveling with a family in tow can be daunting, but it’s just the planning process that seems difficult, after which everything goes smoothly.
With a myriad of attractions in Tanzania, it may be tempting to choose one or two for your family trip. We’ve rounded up the five best destinations, and of course, these are our favorites:
1. Serengeti National Park
The Serengeti comes first in our list. If wildlife adventures like seeing the Big Five, the Great Migration, and a variety of animals and birds are what you want, just head to this park. Spanning 14,763 sq km in Northern Tanzania, Serengeti will bring the adventurous side of your family to life.
Having your kids stare at large wildebeest herds (a familiar scene in wildlife documentaries) is interesting. You can also search for the big cats – lion, leopard, and cheetah in the Seronera or the Big Five.
Families can experience Serengeti all year round. June to October is interestingly good for game viewing and witnessing the Great Migration river crossings, but the park receives more traffic, hence, it becomes expensive. A short dry window – from December to March – is good for a budget-friendly family safari.
Regarding places to stay, Serengeti boasts plenty of family-friendly lodges and camps. In the central part, you can stay at the female-led Dunia Camp, One Nature Nyaruswiga, or the Four Seasons Serengeti. In the north, you can stay at the Sayari Camp or Serengeti Kati Kati Tented Camp. In the south, you can stay at the Mwiba Lodge, while in the west, you can stay in any of the Singita camps: Singita Sabora, Singita Sasakwa, and Singita Faru Faru.
2. Zanzibar
You might be heading to Zanzibar directly for beach relaxation. Or we can suggest. A safari in the mainland parks like Serengeti feels so great when concluded with a beach holiday in Zanzibar. Either way, this idyllic archipelago has a lot to offer.
You can head for an adult-only diving trip to Mnemba to discover the diverse marine life. The other day, take your kids for a walk in the Stone Town streets. That feeling is amazing as you’ll pass through streets with amazing doors and Tinga Tinga decorated art.
If you want more adventurous boat trips, catch a boat ride to Changuu Island (also Prison Island) to feed the oldest tortoises and explore the ruins. Want a quiet option? Set off for Pemba, Mafia, or Misali Island.
For places to stay, budget is king. Lots of places are there, including private island resorts and lodges. You can stay at Zuri Zanzibar on the famous Kendwa Beach, Baraza Resort & Spa on Bwejuu beach, Melia Zanzibar on Kiwengwa Beach, BlueBay Beach Resort & Spa, and the Residence Zanzibar.
3. Nyerere National Park
This large yet unspoiled park deserves a family vacation. Nyerere (previously Selous Game Reserve) hosts a large population of animals, but sees very few visitors yearly. So, it is ideal for families seeking seclusion.
You may go there to search for the Big Five – lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, and buffalo – something your kids would love seeing. The thing is, you’ll search for the Big Five with no crowd.
A canoe ride in the Rufiji River is more than an adventure as it brings you closer to the hippos, crocodiles, and water birds.
You can head out for adult-only drives to search for African wild dogs or rare antelopes like roan antelope, greater kudu, and Lichtenstein’s hartebeest. These may take long enough to bore your kids. Leave them at the lodge.
Nyerere is remote, but you won’t run out of kid-friendly places to stay. You can stay at the Beho Beho Camp, Sand Rivers Selous, Siwandu Camp, Roho ya Selous, or the Retreat Selous. For more budget options, you can pick Selous Impala Camp, Selous Serena Camp, or Lake Manze Camp.
4. Ruaha National Park
Probably not as famous as northern parks (like Serengeti), but it’s a quiet, kid-friendly escape. The park is the country’s second-largest, nestled on the remote Southern Circuit. It holds 10% of Africa’s lions – enough to inspire your kid’s Lion King memories. Short drives in the vast plains always reward with large prides of lions.
The park is also a refuge for large elephant herds, inhabiting the riverine forests and dense woodlands. Nothing amazes kids like these gentle, grey giants moving slowly, swaying their trunks. The giant baobabs make a perfect backdrop, ideal for photos.
Here, you can go for game drives, boat rides, or even night safari adventures. Common animals include lions, wildebeest, giraffes, elephants, buffalo, warthogs, and occasional wild dogs. A gentle glide over the vast wilderness is awe-inspiring. You can book for this heart-stopping experience (for kids, the age limit is 7 years).
Besides its diverse wildlife, Ruaha boasts many cultural and historical sites worth visiting. You can head to the Mkwawa Museum to study the history of the Hehe tribe or visit the Ruins of Isimila to see stone tools and artefacts dating back millions of years.
Ruaha has much better lodges and camps catering to any kind of family. For luxury and comfort, you can stay at the Ikuka Camp, Kokoko Camp (accepts children over 12), Jabali Ridge, Jongomero Camp, and Kichaka Camp. For a rustic and budget safari, choose Kigelia Ruaha, Kilimatonge Camp, and Mwagusi Safari Camp.
5. Ngorongoro Crater
You may have come across craters anywhere in the world. But the moment you descend into the Ngorongoro Crater, you notice something interesting. This crater is unbroken and unfilled, unlike many craters, which are covered by a lake.
On top of that, this caldera boasts over 25,000 large animals, making it a perfect spot for game drives. Start the morning with a game ride to find the Big Five because there’s a good chance to spot all of them. You’ll also see wildebeest, impala, spotted hyena, zebra, gazelle, jackal, cheetah, and more.
Between game drives, take your kids on a guided nature walk with a lodge staff member and a ranger (walking is not permitted inside the crater). By evening, walk slowly to the setting to witness sunset on the crater rim. You can combine this experience with a family bush dinner on a perfect, well-prepared site.
From this crater, you can go for a drive in the conservation to search for giraffes, which are not present on the crater floor. Or head out for a village visit to the nearby Maasai bomas. Let your kids play with these friendly locals. If you have some cash, you buy beads, necklaces, and rings from these talented craftsmen.
The crater has no lodges or camps on its floor. But there are several camps on its rim, with most of them being kid-friendly. You can stay at the Entamanu Camp, Kirurumu Ngorongoro Camp, Lemala Ngorongoro Camp, and Ngorongoro Crater Lodge.
For cheaper options, consider the Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge, the only more affordable option on the crater rim. You can also visit the lodge and camps lying in the conservation area or the highlands zone. These include Plantation Lodge, The Manor at Ngorongoro, and Lion’s Paw Camp.
Tips for a rewarding Tanzania safari with kids.
Well. Kids are fantastic explorers when it comes to the safari. Though they may not remember everything, traveling always changes their perception of the world. We’ve prepared five best tips for an inspiring family adventure in Tanzania.
1. Keep the kids busy.
Bring some interesting things to keep your kids busy. You may bring an animal toy or their favorite game. An animal book or a tablet may be a good idea here.
2. Keep game drives short.
As adults, you may be enjoying a crucial wildlife sighting in the wild that may cause you to pause for a long time. But we all know attention span in kids lasts from just a few minutes to 3 hours. Doing the same thing over and over makes them bored. So, keep drives short between 2 and 3 hours.
3. Leave them at the lodge.
If you want adult-only adventures, better trust the professional nanny at the camp. But be sure the lodge has adventure activities to keep you busy.
4. Tell them a beautiful story.
Here comes a role of being a storyteller. Create an imaginable story from the scenes before you, make it interesting, then share it with your child. Let the guide narrate to them a beautiful story about local legends or a myth. Children do pay attention to thrilling adventures being told to them by adults.
5. Hand them a diary and a pencil.
Yes! Kids love imitating adults. If they see you taking note, they may also want to do so. You may teach them how to draw an animal, sketch a tree, or anything. This makes them want to be close to you and pay attention to the wildlife views.
6. Bring tasty snacks and drinks.
It’s a good idea to bring delicious snacks for your kids during the safari. They have unpredictable mealtimes. So, the best way to keep them occupied is to give them their favorite snacks.
The bottom line
Going on a family adventure is more than just leaving home for a new place; it’s finding the right place to connect with both nature and family members. We know how precious your holiday is, and that’s why we are here to help you choose the perfect spot for a family adventure.
Our expert safari planners are here to assist you with planning. As always, your safety is one of our core values – from the moment you start your flight to the moment you leave Tanzania. If you’re ready for your family trip, please call us.
