Family Safari Vacations in Tanzania

For the ultimate family safari, look no further than Tanzania. An enormous country with a wide range of ecosystems, Tanzania offers sensational wildlife watching and it’s home to some of Africa’s most iconic wilderness areas, including the Serengeti National Park and the UNESCO World Heritage Site the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Just off the coast, Zanzibar is a tropical island paradise, with pristine beaches, watersports, and family-friendly resort hotels for some well-deserved post-safari relaxation.

Tanzania boasts a rich wildlife population thanks to its variety of habitats. The Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater are home to all Big Five species (lion, rhino, leopard, elephant, and buffalo), and Tarangire National Park is home to massive elephant herds. Farther south, you’ll find large numbers of wild dog in Nyerere National Park, while Ruaha counts lion, leopard, and elephant among its residents.

Tanzania offers a wide variety of accommodations, many of which are perfect for families travelling with children. Some lodges have interconnecting suites or spacious family rooms for four or five guests. Others operate exclusive-use private bush villas built specifically with children in mind – these feature connecting rooms, kids’ plunge pools, and private safari vehicles, so families can create their own game-viewing schedules.

For many families, a safari is a once-in-a-lifetime trip, so they want to maximise their time and cover as much ground as possible. A post-safari beach vacation is an extremely popular way to spend those last few days together. Zanzibar has all the ingredients for a fabulous family beach vacation, including some great hotels, Robinson Crusoe-style beaches, turquoise water, and a gorgeous tropical climate.

Tanzania has a well-established safari infrastructure, making domestic air travel a breeze despite the long distances. National parks and conservation areas are well connected, and flights usually run to schedule, which counts when you’re on a multi-stop trip with kids in tow!

Tanzania’s wide variety of game parks, conservation areas, and accommodation options allows plenty of scope for budget flexibility. You can benefit from significant savings as part of a larger group, especially if your dates fall outside peak season. However, great deals still exist even during the most popular times of the year, especially if you choose some of the less-frequented regions.

The Serengeti is a beautiful area of vast open plains and rocky kopjes teeming with wildlife. Thousands of animals move with the annual Great Migration, culminating in epic river crossings and dramatic predator–prey interactions. Besides the wildebeest migration, it’s one of the best places in the world to encounter lion, rhino, leopard, elephant, and buffalo. You can't go wrong with the Serengeti for a family safari full of stunning wildlife sightings!

Formerly Selous Game Reserve, Nyerere National Park is a remote, watery terrain in southern Tanzania characterised by a landscape of lakes, palm trees, hot springs, and monkey-filled forests. With its small, intimate camps and wonderful boating opportunities, Nyerere is ideal for families seeking a quieter, more remote safari experience. The area is home to Africa’s largest concentration of wild dog, and you’ll also be able to spot lion, elephant, sable, zebra, crocodiles, and a magnificent array of birds.

As we’ve mentioned, Tanzania is a vast country with varying climatic conditions. Broadly speaking, June through October are dry months, representing an excellent time of year for wildlife viewing. Mid-June usually signals the start of the wildebeest river crossings and the most dramatic part of the Great Migration, when enormous herds make the treacherous journey north across the Mara river. The increasingly unpredictable long rains occur in March, April, and sometimes part of May. A second short rainy season in November and December is typically characterised by relatively light downpours, followed by a dry spell in January and February.

Wildlife-dense Tanzania is ideal for day and night game drives, allowing families to cover plenty of ground. Exclusive-use properties supply private vehicles and dedicated safari guides, so you can create your own schedule and even spend the whole day in the bush with a picnic lunch. Your guides will always know the best routes to take, ensuring you see as much wildlife as possible.

Walk the same path as a lion, see fresh elephant dung and know that a herd of gentle giants recently passed through, and marvel at the size and shape of a termite mound. Bush walks allow up-close encounters with nature that aren’t possible from a vehicle. Safari walks are best suited to families with older children, as the minimum age for this activity is usually 12 or 16 years.

Explorers can spend a night beneath the stars in a private sleep-out – usually a simple set-up with a mesh-covered tent that allows you to fall asleep gazing at the night sky. Gather around the campfire for storytelling and enjoy dinner on a lantern-lit deck accompanied by the sounds of nature. Don’t forget to listen out for lion calls in the distance as the big cats begin a long night on the prowl!

Travelers can also take to the spectacular Rufiji river in Nyerere National Park for some of Africa’s best boating safaris. This area is a great option for fishing too.

Visit the island of Zanzibar, and you’ll have plenty of watersports to choose from, including windsurfing, kite surfing, sailing, stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, snorkelling, and diving amidst gorgeous coral reefs. You can also take a dhow excursion and sail along the coast, perhaps stopping for a snorkel or a spot of line fishing. Sunset cruises and full-day boat charters are also popular, particularly with lunch served on a secluded island.

Some of Tanzania’s lodges are on working farms, where visitors can see young offspring, such as lambs and baby piglets, at certain times of the year. You can also choose to enjoy a hands-on experience on many of these working farms, by helping with day-to-day tasks like harvesting vegetables and collecting eggs. This activity is particularly popular with small children, who love the freedom of being outdoors without too many restrictions!

Tanzania is a country of remarkable biodiversity, home to some of the highest concentrations of wildlife on Earth. All Big Five – lion, rhino, leopard, elephant, and buffalo – inhabit the iconic Serengeti plains and Ngorongoro Conservation Area, alongside huge counts of zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, hippo, and multiple antelope species. Chimpanzee troops populate the dense, forested slopes of the Mahale Mountains, and other notable primate species include bush babies, vervet monkeys, and the black-and-white colobus. Tanzania’s birdlife is also epic, and perhaps most notable are the millions of flamingos that flock to its Great Rift soda lakes.

Tanzania offers excellent, family-friendly accommodations, depending on your budget and personal tastes. Some camps have designated kids’ clubs with fun-filled activities, including shooting bows and arrows, identifying small animals and birds, cooking, stargazing, and checking fresh animal tracks and spoor. Lodges often have family rooms or interconnecting suites that work perfectly for children. For the ultimate luxury, exclusive-use houses provide families with complete privacy, upscale accommodations, flexible dining arrangements, and a designated safari vehicle and wildlife guide.

Wilderness Usawa Serengeti is an exclusive mobile tented camp that follows the Serengeti National Park’s annual Great Migration. Families are welcome to join the action, and two luxury tents are connected to create a spacious unit for two adults and three children.

Gibb’s Farm is an idyllic coffee plantation lodge on the outer slopes of the Ngorongoro Crater that welcomes children of all ages. There are two family houses, and besides safari, kids can enjoy farm activities, painting, and splashing around in the pool.

A great-value, well-located option in the centre of Tarangire National Park with a swimming pool, Tarangire Ndovu Tented Lodge has two family suites, ideal for children aged 6 years and above. Please note that families with children must book a private vehicle during high season.

Jabali Private House is Asilia’s sophisticated exclusive-use residence in Ruaha National Park with a pool. Best suited to families with slightly older children, the house has three en-suite bedrooms and comes with its own chef, butler, and safari guide.

In the far northern part of the Serengeti, close to the Mara river, Kaskaz Mara Camp is a terrific family-friendly option with spacious tents, some interconnecting, and safari guides that keep kids engaged with bush-wise knowledge and incredible stories!

Kiba Point is a wonderful exclusive-use property operated by Nomad and ideal for those travelling with children aged 8 years and above. All rooms come with private plunge pools. Kiba is located in Nyerere National Park, and boating safaris, fishing, hot springs, and fly camping are some of the highlights. All Nomad camps offer children’s rates to families with kids up to age 20, along with private-use vehicles and guides – their offers are wonderfully flexible for families!

Mkombe’s House Lamai is a superb exclusive-use option in the Serengeti, designed specifically with little children in mind. Two en-suite doubles each connect to a children’s bedroom, there’s a kids' plunge pool, and the guides are brilliant at keeping young safarists entertained! Children of any age are welcome.

Located deep within the Manyara National Park, this lovely little camp is often known as Wayo’s ‘family adventure camp’. There are family room set-ups available that accommodate up to two younger children on daybeds in their parents’ tent. Similar family accommodation arrangements are available at Wayo Serengeti Green Camp too. Stand-out family-friendly activities include canoeing, night safaris, and a mountain biking village tour of Mto Wa Mbu. Please note, these activities have a minimum age of 8 years.

With spacious interconnecting family tents that accommodate up to four adults and two children, Lemala Mara is a great-value option for families travelling to Tanzania. The luxury mobile tented camp is seasonal, moving twice per year between the northern Serengeti and re-opening at Lemala Ndutu in the south. Lemala Cubs is a great safari programme for under 12s, offering fun and educational activities such as animal and bird identification, nature walks and learning how to use bows and arrows with the Maasai, and lessons on tracking and spoor identification with Lemala’s guides.

Taking the family to Zanzibar is a fantastic way to complete a safari adventure in Tanzania. Located on a white-sand beach on the Michamvi Peninsula, Breezes offers family-friendly accommodation and plenty of activities for kids to enjoy. The Breezes staff are happy to arrange all sorts of tours and excursions around the island, too.