Safari Overview
This 7-day Tanzania family safari is designed for families travelling long-haul who want to experience the Serengeti properly — without rushing, long tiring drives, or one-night stops.
It’s the ideal balance between wildlife depth, comfort, and pacing, making it our most popular safari for families visiting Tanzania for the first time.
By combining Tarangire, the Ngorongoro Crater, and multiple nights in the Serengeti, this itinerary allows your family to settle into safari life, enjoy unrushed game drives, and create shared memories that last far beyond the journey.
Why Families Choose This 7-Day Safari
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Ideal length for longhaul travelers
Long enough to justify the journey, short enough to stay relaxed. -
Multiple nights in the Serengeti
No rushing — time to truly experience Africa’s most iconic wildlife region. -
Family-aware pacing
Private guiding allows flexible game drives, rest breaks, and child-friendly timing. -
Balanced routing
A natural flow through Tanzania’s top parks without unnecessary backtracking. -
Private guide & vehicle
Your safari adapts to your family — not the other way around.
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Big Five wildlife encounters across diverse landscapes
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Open Serengeti plains and classic safari moments
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Safe, comfortable lodges suited to traveling with children
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Time to learn, explore, and slow down together
Optional experiences — such as a hot air balloon safari or a Zanzibar beach extension — can be added based on your family’s interests and travel dates.
What Your Family Will Experience
What Wildlife You Might See on This Safari
This 7-day safari travels through three of Tanzania’s most wildlife-rich ecosystems —
Tarangire National Park, the Ngorongoro Crater, and the vast plains of the Serengeti National Park.
With multiple nights in the Serengeti and a well-paced route, your family has an excellent chance to enjoy diverse wildlife sightings, repeated encounters with favorite animals, and time to observe natural behavior rather than rushing from place to place.
Commonly Spotted Wildlife
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Big cats – lions, cheetahs, and leopards
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Elephants & buffalo – especially large herds in Tarangire
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Giraffes, zebras & wildebeest across open plains
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Hippos in rivers, pools, and the Ngorongoro Crater
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Plains antelope – including gazelles, topi, and eland
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Birdlife – ostriches, secretary birds, vultures, kingfishers, and more
Special Sightings
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Ngorongoro Crater offers one of the best chances in East Africa to see the endangered black rhinoceros
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Seasonal Great Migration sightings in the Serengeti, depending on travel dates
Wildlife sightings vary by season and animal movement. Your private guide continuously adapts game drives based on recent sightings, weather conditions, and your family’s interests — maximizing both excitement and comfort.
Day 1: Arrival in Arusha – Relaxed Welcome to Tanzania
Highlights
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Airport meet & greet
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Short private transfer
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Time to rest and recover after international travel
After arriving in Tanzania, your family is welcomed by your private driver-guide and transferred to a peaceful lodge near Arusha. The remainder of the day is intentionally left open — giving children time to rest, explore the gardens, or enjoy the pool, while parents unwind after the journey.
This relaxed arrival allows everyone to ease into the safari experience and sets a calm, comfortable pace for the days ahead.
Accommodation Options:
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Standard: Shamba Lodge
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Mid-Range: Rivertrees Country Inn
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Luxury: Arusha Coffee Lodge
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Ultra-Luxury: Legendary Lodge
Meal Plan: Dinner | Breakfast
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Ultra-luxury accommodation options are all-inclusive.
Day 2: First Safari Experience - Arusha - Tarangire National Park
Highlights:
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First safari experience in Tanzania
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Scenic drive through Maasai countryside
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Relaxed game drive with frequent wildlife sightings
Possible wildlife encounters:
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Large elephant herds, especially near the Tarangire River
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Giraffes, zebras, and wildebeest across open savannah
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Lions resting in shaded areas
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Buffalo and antelope grazing near water sources
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Birdlife including ostriches, hornbills, and colorful weavers
After breakfast, your family departs Arusha and travels to Tarangire National Park — a gentle introduction to safari life and one of Tanzania’s most wildlife-rich parks.
Upon entering the park, your first game drive begins at a relaxed pace, allowing everyone to ease into wildlife viewing. The landscape of baobab trees and riverbeds provides frequent sightings without long stretches of driving.
Game drive timing and duration are adjusted to suit your children’s energy levels, ensuring the experience feels exciting, comfortable, and never rushed.
Accommodation Options:
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Standard: Karatu Tented Lodge
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Mid-Range: Manyara's Secret Lodge
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Luxury: Escarpment Manyara Luxury Lodge
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Ultra-Luxury: Lake Manyara Kilima-moja Luxury Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
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Ultra-luxury accommodation options are all-inclusive.
Day 3 – Tarangire → Ngorongoro Highlands into the Serengeti National Park
Highlights:
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Morning game drive
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Midday rest & downtime
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Optional afternoon exploration
Possible wildlife encounters
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Predator sightings (lions, cheetah) at prime hunting times
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Leopards resting or moving in shaded riverine areas
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Elephants and large herbivores in wide grasslands
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Plains game and grazing herds — especially wildebeest or zebra
Today is all about balance. Enjoy a morning game drive searching for lions, elephants, giraffes, and zebras across the Serengeti plains. After lunch, return to the lodge for rest time — swimming, relaxing, or simply enjoying the views.
In the afternoon, your guide offers a second short game drive or an early evening at camp, depending on how the children are feeling.
This flexibility is what makes private family safaris in Tanzania so special.
Accommodation Options:
Standard Accommodation: Tukaone Serengeti Camps | Mid-Range Accommodation: Serengeti Sounds of Nature
Luxury Accommodation: Kubu Kubu Luxury Tented Lodge | Ultra Luxury Accommodation: Melia Serengeti Lodge
Meal Plan:
Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Ultra-luxury accommodation options are all-inclusive.
Day 4: Full Day Serengeti Safari – Deeper Wildlife Encounters
Highlights:
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Full day exploring the Serengeti at a relaxed pace
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Flexible morning and afternoon game drives
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Time to slow down and observe wildlife behavior
Possible wildlife encounters:
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Lions resting with cubs or active during cooler hours
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Cheetahs scanning the plains or stalking prey
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Leopards in riverine areas and acacia trees
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Elephants and giraffes moving across open grasslands
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Large herds of wildebeest and zebra, depending on season
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Birdlife including vultures, eagles, and secretary birds
With a full day in Serengeti National Park, your family can explore at a pace that suits you best. Your private guide plans the day around wildlife activity, weather conditions, and your children’s energy levels.
You may choose early morning and late afternoon game drives with time to relax at the lodge in between, or a longer game drive with a picnic lunch in the bush. The flexibility allows everyone to stay engaged without feeling rushed.
This unhurried day gives children time to recognize animals, understand behaviors, and build confidence — turning wildlife viewing into a meaningful learning experience rather than a checklist.
Accommodation Options:
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Standard: Tukaone Serengeti Camps
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Mid-Range: Serengeti Sounds of Nature
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Luxury: Kubu Kubu Luxury Tented Lodge
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Ultra-Luxury: Melia Serengeti Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast | Lunch |Dinner
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Ultra-luxury accommodation options are all-inclusive.
Day 5 - From the Serengeti to the Highlands - Wildlife to Culture
Highlights:
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Morning game drive in the Serengeti
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Scenic journey to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area
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Cultural interaction with a Maasai community
Possible wildlife encounters:
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Lions and cheetahs active during the cooler morning hours
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Elephants and giraffes moving across open plains
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Zebra and wildebeest grazing in large numbers
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Hyenas and jackals following wildlife movement
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Birdlife including vultures and raptors
After an early breakfast, your family enjoys a final morning game drive in the Serengeti, taking advantage of the cooler hours when wildlife is most active. This is often a rewarding time for predator sightings and quiet moments on the plains.
Later in the morning, you begin your journey toward the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Along the way, the landscape shifts from open savannah to rolling highlands, offering a change of scenery and pace.
In the afternoon, your family visits a local Maasai community for a cultural experience designed to be respectful, interactive, and engaging for children. Through storytelling, traditional practices, and daily-life demonstrations, children gain insight into a different way of life, adding a meaningful human connection to the safari experience.
The day balances wildlife, travel, and cultural discovery without feeling rushed.
Accommodation Options:
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Standard: Ngorongoro Wild Camp
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Mid-Range: Embalakai Camps Ngorongoro
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Luxury: Lions Paw
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Ultra-Luxury: Melia Ngorongoro Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
Day 6 – The Ngorongoro Crater Experience - High Impact Wildlife Days
Highlights:
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Full-day game drives on the crater floor
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Exceptional wildlife density in a compact area
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Picnic lunch surrounded by nature
Possible wildlife encounters:
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Lions often seen resting or moving across open grasslands
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Large hippo pods in pools and wetlands
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Buffalo herds grazing in the open plains
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Elephants, particularly older bulls
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Endangered black rhinoceros, occasionally sighted
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Flamingos and water birds around soda lakes
After breakfast, your family descends into the Ngorongoro Crater, often described as one of the most remarkable wildlife areas in Africa. The crater’s enclosed ecosystem supports an extraordinary concentration of animals, making wildlife viewing frequent and rewarding throughout the day.
Game drives take place at a relaxed pace, with plenty of time to stop, observe, and ask questions. The crater’s relatively compact layout means less driving and more viewing — ideal for keeping children engaged without fatigue.
A picnic lunch on the crater floor offers a chance to pause, take in the surroundings, and reflect on the morning’s sightings before continuing the afternoon game drive.
Accommodation Options:
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Standard: Farm of Dreams Lodge
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Mid-Range: Ngorongoro Farm House
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Luxury: The Manor at Ngorongoro
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Ultra-Luxury: Ngorongoro Crater Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner
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Ultra-luxury accommodation options are all-inclusive.
Day 7 — Lake Manyara & Farewell to Tanzania
Highlights:
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Morning game drive in a scenic national park
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Diverse landscapes in a compact area
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Relaxed end to the safari before departure
Possible wildlife encounters:
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Tree-climbing lions (occasionally seen resting in fig trees)
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Elephants moving through forested areas
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Giraffes, zebras, and buffalo along the park’s open sections
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Hippos in groundwater forests and pools
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Birdlife including flamingos, hornbills, and pelicans
After breakfast, your family travels to Lake Manyara National Park for a final safari experience. Set between the Rift Valley escarpment and the lake itself, the park offers a refreshing contrast to the open plains of the Serengeti and the crater landscapes of Ngorongoro.
Game drives are relaxed and unhurried, allowing time to enjoy the changing scenery — from lush forest to open floodplains — and to spot wildlife in a calm, natural setting. It’s a gentle way to conclude the safari, especially for families, before beginning the journey home.
Later in the day, you are transferred to Arusha or Kilimanjaro International Airport for your onward flight, or continue on to a beach extension in Zanzibar.
Accommodation Options:
Day use or departure day – no overnight accommodation scheduled
Safari rewards patience and presence. Wildlife sightings are shaped by natural movement rather than schedules, but expert guiding makes all the difference. Your private guide reads the landscape daily — balancing opportunity, comfort, and timing — to create a safari that feels unrushed, engaging, and rewarding for the whole family.
Inclusions & Exclusions – 6 Days Tanzania Family Safari
✅ What’s Included:
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Professional, English-speaking safari guide experienced in family and teen safaris
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All park fees (Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Lake Manyara)
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Private 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof for optimal wildlife viewing
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All transfers from/to Kilimanjaro Airport in Arusha
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Accommodation throughout the safari
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Drinking water in the safari vehicle
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Wildlife spotting and educational talks tailored for teens
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Emergency communication and safety support throughout the safari
❌ What’s Not Included:
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International flights to/from Tanzania
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Visa fees for Tanzania
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Travel insurance (strongly recommended for family safaris)
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Optional activities (hot air balloon safari, night drives, guided walking safaris)
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Alcoholic drinks and premium beverages
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Personal shopping, tips, and souvenirs
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Zanzibar extension (if applicable)