7-Day Tanzania Family Safari Experience

Your family safari in Tanzania starts with a friendly reception at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), which is about 50km from Arusha. This is followed by an exciting 2-hour (130km) drive in a 4x4 safari-style bus to Tarangire National Park, famous for its huge herds of elephants and ancient baobab trees. Activities include an afternoon game drive at the Tarangire River where both adults and children can watch elephants (up to 300 during the dry season from June to October) frolicking in the water, giraffes nibbling at acacia trees, zebras and wildebeests grazing in herds, lions lounging beside water holes, and if you are fortunate, the elusive leopard camouflaged in the trees. You will also have a chance to see over 550 species of birds including the lilac breasted roller and the yellow collared lovebird. After a packed lunch at the picnic spot, your guide will share interesting stories about animals’ behavioral patterns to engage the family before checking into a family tented camp with ensuite tents overlooking the river. Here you will have dinner under the sky while listening to the sounds of the African bush, and after enjoying the delicious food your guide has prepared, you will settle down for the night.

Activities: Afternoon game drive
Animals to See: Elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, lions, leopards (rare), lilac-breasted rollers, yellow-collared lovebirds
Accommodation: Family-friendly tented camp
Meals: Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast in the tented camp, embark on a morning game drive in Tarangire National Park; listening posts include catching elephants bathing, giraffes stretching for high branches, zebra and impalas dotting the grasslands, lions stalking prey near swamps, and ostriches struttin on the plains. Afterwards, set off on a short 1.5 hour drive (approx. 70km) to Lake Manyara National Park, a compact 330 km² park nestled beneath the Great Rift Valley escarpment; activities include an afternoon game drive through dense forests, open savanna, and lakeside habitats, where you can spot the parks’ famous tree-climbing lions lounging in acacia trees (a rare sight), buffalos grazing near water, hippos wallowing in muddy pools, baboons swinging in troops (the highest density in Africa), and, during the wetter months (November – April), flamingos adorning the shores of Lake Manyara, along with over 400 bird species like pelicans and storks. Your guide will stop at a scenic lookout for family photos with the lake as a backdrop, followed by picnic lunch in a tranquil setting before arriving at a comfortable lodge with family suites or interconnecting rooms, where you'll enjoy dinner and unwind watching the rift valley in the evening.

Activities: Morning game drive (Tarangire), afternoon game drive (Lake Manyara)
Animals to See: Elephants, giraffes, zebras, impalas, lions, buffalo, hippos, baboons, flamingos, pelicans, storks
Accommodation: Family-friendly lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Following breakfast at the lodge, depart Lake Manyara for a 4-5-hour drive (approximately 205 km) through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area to Serengeti National Park, a 14,763 km² UNESCO World Heritage Site celebrated for its endless plains and the Great Migration; activities include an afternoon game drive in the central Seronera region after a picnic lunch at Naabi Hill Gate, where you’ll encounter lions basking on kopjes (rocky outcrops), cheetahs sprinting after prey, hyenas scavenging across the savanna, hippos and crocodiles lounging in the Seronera River, and—if timed with migration season (June-July or December-March)—thousands of wildebeests and zebras thundering past, trailed by predators; your expert guide will captivate the family with tales of the Serengeti’s ecosystem and migration patterns, ensuring everyone feels part of the adventure, before checking into a family-oriented lodge with spacious rooms, where dinner is served amidst the sounds of the wilderness, followed by a cozy evening—perhaps with a campfire storytelling session under the vast African sky.

Activities: Afternoon game drive (Serengeti)
Animals to See: Lions, cheetahs, hyenas, hippos, crocodiles, wildebeests (seasonal), zebras
Accommodation: Family-friendly lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Rise early at the Serengeti lodge to embark on an all-encompassing wildlife safari adventure. An optional hot air balloon safari oned for pre-booking takes off at dawn, revealing seasonal herds of wildebeest, zebra, gazelle, and ostriches from above, followed by a bush breakfast with breathtaking views. For others, an early sunrise game drive offers the chance to see lions hunting at first light, leopards lounging in acacia trees, cheetahs roaming the open grasslands, and hyenas scavenging. A full-day game drive is scheduled after breakfast, including the Seronera Valley and Grumeti River areas. Drivers discover active waterholes, with freckled hippos splashing about and crocodiles basking on the banks. Elephants forage with their calves, towering giraffes grace the landscape, and peacefully grazing Antelopes like Topi complete the scene. After a relaxing picnic lunch at a busy shaded site, explore the area further before returning to the lodge. Dinner follows a relaxing evening, where children can enjoy lodge amenities like the pool or nature talks, and adults can savor a sundowner with panoramic views of the open Savanna.

Activities: Optional hot air balloon safari, full-day game drive
Animals to See: Wildebeests (seasonal), zebras, gazelles, ostriches, lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, hippos, crocodiles, elephants, giraffes, topi
Accommodation: Family-friendly lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Following breakfast at the lodge located in Serengeti, you can enjoy a morning game drive where you are likely to spot some of the most sought-after animals such as the lions, cheetah, elusive leopard, elephants, giraffe, and hyena, as well as seasonally wildebeests. You will depart on a three-hour drive (approximately 145 km) to the Ngorongoro Conservation area where you will stop for a picnic lunch at the view point of Olduwai (the cradle of mankind) gorge. This archaeological treasure where some of the earliest fossils of humans were unearthed contains a bounty. Activities include an afternoon game drive (4-5 hours) with descent of 600 meters into the 260 km² Ngorongoro Crater. This is volcanic caldera is rich with black rhinos (approximately 30 of them reside here), lion, hyena, buffalo, zebra, and even flamingoes at lake magadi (seasonal) with elephants every so often sighted and leopards in the forest which are rare. Your guide will stop for family photos which serve as great memories to cherish from the trip, at the breathtaking walls of the crater. He will tell you all about the biodiversity that makes this place a gem and then back to the lodge on the rim of the crater which has en-suite family rooms. Enjoy a gourmet dinner while taking in splendid view of the glowing natural wonder that is the Ngorongoro crater in the twilight.

Activities: Morning game drive (Serengeti), afternoon game drive (Ngorongoro Crater)
Animals to See: Lions, cheetahs, leopards (rare), elephants, giraffes, wildebeests (seasonal), hyenas, black rhinos, buffalo, zebras, flamingos
Accommodation: Family-friendly lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast at the Crater Rim Lodge, there are numerous family-friendly activities to fill the morning, such as guided nature walks around the Crater rim, where you can observe Highland flora and fauna like auger buzzards and bushbucks, or cultural visits to a Maasai Village pre-arranged. Here, the family is treated to a spectacular encounter with Maasai warriors and will spot goats and sheep in traditional bomas. Children can be seen learning traditional dances, while adults explore beading and daily life in the vibrant community. No game drive today, allowing time to soak in the Tanzania cultural heritage. After, we return to the lodge for lunch and a relaxing afternoon, perhaps swimming in the pool, playing board games, or enjoying the crater vistas. Dinner is served in the evening and offers a chance to relive the safari’s wonders alongside the guide in retrospect. Perhaps he will tell you stories of the people and wildlife of Tanzania, getting you excited for the trip back to Arusha the next day.

Activities: Optional crater rim nature walk or Maasai village visit, relaxation at the lodge
Animals to See: Birds (e.g., augur buzzards), small mammals (e.g., bushbuck) (walk), goats, sheep (village)—no game drive animals today
Accommodation: Family-friendly lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Following breakfast at the lodge, enjoy a lazy morning either going for a short walk around the property or reminiscing over the memories of the adventure; after which, you will depart for Arusha, a relaxed 4 hour drive (approximately 190 km) with a few stops for a lunch break at a local restaurant or picnic area that offers views of Tanzania’s scenic rolling hills and the distant Mount Meru. During the drive, your guide will illustrate notable landmarks, engaging you in possible wildlife spotting along the roadside like baboons and dik-diks, and answer any remaining queries about the safari. Arrive at Arusha by late afternoon (around 4-5 PM) for easy transfer to your hotel or Kilimanjaro International Airport. After the family safari, you shall have a wonderful collection of wildlife encounters, cultural moments, and experiences shared together in the wilderness of Tanzania.

Activities: Scenic drive back to Arusha
Animals to See: Baboons, dik-diks (roadside sightings)—no formal game drive today
Accommodation: None (Departure Day)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch