Family Safaris in Tanzania : Travelling with your family, especially if you have a big or extended family, can be a bit chaotic and more expensive, but there is something so special about going on a trip with your kids and partner. Most safari camps and lodges have one or two family suites with rooms or tents that connect. This way, mum and dad can have their own space, but the kids are still close by and safe, since you can move between the family tents or rooms at night without having to worry about wild animals. From the point of view of a family, it’s also important to point out that Tanzania is a mostly safe country where violent crimes against outsiders are very rare.
Tanzania is a magical place to visit with children. The northern safari route in Tanzania is a great place to see animals. Even though it’s not known for being cheap, kids will love seeing the animals that are used to people and the lively Maasai culture. There is a lot to choose from because there are a lot of lodges, camps, hotels, and places that are good for kids. The southern safari circuit is definitely more adventurous and should probably only be done by families with bigger children who will enjoy longer, wilder safaris in open-top game viewing vehicles.
On the other side families with young children and limited funds might find it easier to stay in big cities like Arusha, where there are shops, medical facilities, and other services, and then go on shorter trips from there. An easy and satisfying day safari would be to the nearby Arusha National Park, where there is a lot of wildlife. However, a trip to Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire, or Lake Manyara would be more impressive for the full safari experience.
Ngorongoro Crater is a great place for families with young children because there are places to stay nearby that are good for families. The wildlife is also very calm and plentiful, which should keep even the most restless children interested and excited. Also, kids under 18 get big discounts on daily park fees and climbing passes for Kilimanjaro.
It would be unfair, almost evil, to bring your kids to Tanzania and not give them at least some time to explore the Spice Islands and enjoy the warm water and white-sand beaches nearby. On the east side of Zanzibar Island, there are many beautiful beaches with soft sand and calm water. Most resorts also have a swimming pool. Mafia Island is a great place to take your kids if your family likes to try new things or wants to get away from the people. It has small beaches, fun dhow rides, and great snorkeling.
Travel Tips to Tanzania.
Tanzania may seem like a hard place to travel with kids at first. Prices for accommodations and park entrance fees can add up, road lengths can be long, and renting a car can be expensive. But families who like to try new things will find a lot of great things to do there, like wildlife, beaches, nice people, and great weather. Exploring the wilds of Tanzania is best done with a sense of excitement and humour, but it’s also important to plan ahead if you’re going with your family. Here are some things to think about before your trip and travel tips to get you going:
Families should check out Arusha National Park. From June to September, when it is cooler and drier, is the best time for families to visit. During the months of the dry season, it’s easier to get around and transportation is more reliable. Mosquitoes are also less common, but you should still take malaria medicine to protect yourself. Malarone and Children’s Malarone is the best drug for treating malaria in children because it works well and has few side effects.
Aside from malaria prevention, you should talk to your local travel clinic, doctor, or paediatrician about what vaccinations you should get. Remember that everyone over the age of two is needed to get a Yellow Fever shot.
At beaches, keep in mind that people can get hookworms, and if you wade or swim in shallow water, watch out for sea urchins with sharp spines. Bilharzia is a disease that can spread in lakes and ponds that don’t move. A fully filled first-aid kit for kids is a must-have when travelling.
The tropical sun in Africa can kill you, so always wear a hat, put on lots of sunscreen, and drink a lot of water to avoid getting sunburned and getting too dehydrated.
Most street food isn’t good for kids, and it can be hard to find “healthy kid-friendly snacks” on the road. If you’re going through a big town or city, stock up on fresh and dried fruit as well as fruit juices.
If you’re going with a baby, you might only find baby-changing stations in the most expensive hotels. Bring a small blanket or your own portable change mat to spread out when you need to.
Items like baby food, milk powder, disposable diapers, baby wipes, and similar things can only be found in big cities like Arusha, Moshi, and Dar es Salaam. Most of the time, you can’t rent or take a tour vehicle with a car seat for a child without planning ahead.
Many wildlife hotels and safari camps don’t let children under a certain age, so make sure you know the rules for each place you want to stay. On the other hand, some hotels and safari camps try to get families to stay there.
Most hotels, lodges, and national parks offer discounted rates for children, and babies under two years old usually stay for free. However, you have to ask for these deals, especially when booking through a tour operator like Focus East Africa Tours.
Aside from discounts based on the age of your children, many lodges, camps, hotels, and guesthouses offer seasonal discounts or are willing to change their stated rates outside of the peak season, so make sure to always ask and negotiate.
Tanzania’s parks and hotels and camps inside these wildlife areas have no fences, so it’s important to keep a close eye on your kids at all times. Wild animals often come into public places, so kids shouldn’t be allowed to walk alone, even for short lengths, around camp. Exercise particular caution after dark.
Tanzania’s wildlife areas and high-quality safaris are the main draw for any family travelling there. Legendary parks like Serengeti, Tarangire, and Ngorongoro Crater offer great views of animals, often from very close up. The fact that all parks charge much less for children to get in is a plus. If you’re staying inside the park, choose a lodge or safari camp with a pool so the kids can burn off some energy between game drives. You could also stay outside the park in a hotel with a pool and a lot of space for kids to run around. Then, you could only go into the park to look for animals at the right time.
The best safari hotels in Tanzania for families.
Here are a few of our best safari lodges in Tanzania that are good for families. Many provide safari activities for children – for example, Lemala has a kids club called Lemala Cubs that offers identifying small animals and birds, shooting bows-and-arrows, identifying tracks, cooking in the kitchen, and experiencing the local cultures. There are similar things to do at the legendary camps, Alex Walker’s Serian, and the Nomad sites on our list.
Lemala Ndutu Camp.
Ndutu, Ewanjan, and Mara, all in the Serengeti, provide really good interconnecting tents that are sufficiently spacious for most families.
They also have amazing special offers for children.
Kaskaz Mara Camp.
This camp is also in the Serengeti National Park , but in the northern part. It has very big tent rooms that can easily fit a family of four. Kaskaz also has great deals for kids.
Legendary Serengeti Mobile Camps.
Families with at least five people can book one of these camps for their own use. Private transportation and a guide are included, and the staff is very good with kids.
Serian’s Serengeti Camps.
These real camps have a nice family room that connects to other rooms and a staff team that is good with kids. There are great views of the short-grass fields, and the majestic acacia trees provide a lot of cool shade.
Kiba Point Selous.
The best private house for families in Nyerere, this one is in the middle of the reserve. Since the camp is reserved on an exclusive basis, you can choose when to go on adventure.
Breezes Beach Club & Spa.
Breezes is one of our best cheap places to stay on Zanzibar. It has rooms for families and lots of things for kids to do. Breezes is happy to set up any kind of tour or trip around the island.
Zuri Zanzibar.
Families looking for something special will love the high-end Zuri lodge. There are large bungalows with rooms that connect to each other, and the setting is great: on Zanzibar’s best non-tidal beach.
If you want to take your family on a tour in Tanzania, just let one of our experts know here at Focus East Africa Tours. They can help you start planning your trip right away. Enjoying cultural interactions and other events (like night drives) that happen outside of the national parks.
