Tanzania is one of the greatest wildlife destinations on earth. The majesty of the Serengeti and the splendor of the Ngorongoro Crater would be tremendous even without the extraordinary concentration of animals. But the combination of wildlife and spectacular natural beauty makes a Tanzania family safari a winner with all age groups, including grandparents.
Nothing can prepare you and the children for your first glimpse of a lion as it hunts its prey or a herd of elephants as they drink from a watering hole. Solitary acacia trees provide a backdrop to the graceful giraffes as they feed on the top branches and lumbering rhinos munch their way through low shrubs. Tanzania is such a rewarding country for a family holiday.
Tanzania is ideal for a family safari experience
Leopard, zebra, buffalo, wildebeest are all found here, together with a huge variety of species of deer, birds, and smaller mammals. The landscape rises into the rocky escarpment of the Great Rift Valley and then to the snow-capped peak of Mount Kilimanjaro. There are also game-rich rainforests in the south of the country with both the Selous and Ruaha national parks offering families a true wilderness experience.
Lastly, there is Zanzibar, the spice island of legend, with its gorgeous white sandy beaches and a melting pot of Arab, African, European, and Indian cultures. It provides the perfect place to round off a Tanzania family safari and is guaranteed to delight the kids.
Why take the kids?
Some of our reasons for choosing a family safari holiday in Tanzania include:
Provided that the itinerary includes plenty of non-vehicle-based activities to complement the game-viewing, children will love everything about a Tanzania family safari [see our Tanzania with kids blog for ideas on what to do between game drives]. It is tremendously exciting and you will never see your children as quiet as when the ranger tells them that they need to be silent so as to approach a pride of a lion. They will become quickly adept at identifying all the different species and particularly at catching glimpses of the magical big-five (lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo, elephant). The adult vision quickly seems second-rate compared to the eagle eyes of your children!
Example Tanzania family itineraries
All of our itineraries are bespoke which means that they are tailor-made for your own specific family, taking into account the ages of your children, your interests, your budget, and so on.
However, to give you an idea of what you could do on a family safari in Tanzania, have a look at our example itinerary, Tanzania Safari, and Beach. For those seeking a challenge, we can also arrange for you to conquer Africa’s highest peak on our Kilimanjaro Family Climb itinerary.
Also, check out some of the other places that you might like to visit on your trip, and if you need further inspiration have a look at our Tanzania photo gallery.
Lastly, don’t forget to check what the weather will be like at the time that you want to travel. Or simply give us a ring and we’ll be delighted to advise you on the best Tanzania holiday for your family.
Will all children enjoy a Tanzania family safari?
It is important to give careful consideration as to whether your children are old enough to enjoy a safari. Tanzania is not a cheap destination and you want to be sure that all members of the family will get the most out of their holiday. After all, what parent wants to be asked the dreaded ‘are we nearly there yet?’ just when you are watching a lion stalk its prey?!
There is no simple rule as to what age children need to be for a safari. For a general discussion on this see our safari overview page. But the main thing to remember is that every itinerary we create will be tailored to your family. We will ensure that we include activities that will appeal to your children (bearing in mind their ages) and will select accommodation that we think will suit them.
To discuss whether a Tanzania family safari would be suitable for your family does please give us a call.
Is a Tanzania family safari safe for children?
Seeing lion, buffalo, and hippo up-close sound wonderfully exciting, but in the back of most parents’ minds is the tentative question as to whether it is really safe to be quite so close to wild animals.
Fortunately, it is. All camps and lodges in Tanzania have strict safety controls, including regular patrols by trained safari staff. There are also strict safety guidelines that apply in many camps. For example, guests must keep on the camp paths and cannot walk around after dark unless escorted by a member of staff. Safety is of utmost importance and good practice will be explained to you all on arrival.
When out and about on safari, it is of course imperative that the children don’t get out of the vehicle at any point. If anyone needs a toilet stop the driver will find a safe place to pull over (which may take a few minutes). This will usually be a wide-open space so you may only have the vehicle to hide behind, but it means that the driver will have a good view of any nearby game and can be sure it is safe.
If these practices are followed, then we have absolutely no safety concerns about recommending a Tanzania family safari.