Tanzania Family Safari Tours and Packages
Private safaris designed around your kids' pace, with an optional Zanzibar beach add-on. Every trip is fully adjustable.
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PRACTICAL GUIDE
Planning a Family Safari in Tanzania
Honest answers to the logistics questions parents actually ask — bathrooms, food, screen time, and what to pack.
Most national parks have basic restroom facilities at picnic sites and park gates. Between stops, your guide will find a suitable bush spot — this is completely normal on safari and guides handle it discreetly.
Lodges and tented camps all have proper bathrooms. For younger children, having a portable potty in the vehicle is a practical backup your guide can arrange.
Most lodges can arrange kid-friendly meals when requested — pasta, rice, grilled chicken, and fresh fruit are widely available. Breakfast buffets usually include familiar options like eggs, toast, and cereal.
For game drives, packed lunches are standard. Let your operator know about allergies or dietary needs in advance so lodges can prepare.
Wi-Fi is often available in lodge common areas and sometimes in rooms. Speed varies — enough for messaging and email, but streaming can be unreliable. Inside parks, cellular coverage is limited.
Consider downloading offline content (movies, games, audiobooks) before the trip for downtime between drives.
We aim to keep most drive days manageable with regular breaks. Shorter routes (Tarangire to Ngorongoro, for example) take around 2–3 hours. Longer transfers happen on some routes — particularly when entering or leaving the Serengeti.
Fly-in options can eliminate the longest road days entirely. Your itinerary will note expected drive times so there are no surprises.
Early morning game drives (around 6:30 AM) offer the best wildlife activity, but they are not mandatory. On a private safari, you set the schedule. Some families do an early drive one day and a late-morning start the next.
Rest afternoons at the lodge (pool time, reading, naps) are a smart way to keep energy levels up, especially for younger children. Fewer lodge moves also helps — two nights in one place is easier than moving every day.
Key items to pack:
- Sun hat and high-SPF sunscreen
- Insect repellent (DEET-based, per travel clinic advice)
- Light long-sleeved layers for mornings and evenings
- Binoculars (even a cheap pair makes a big difference for kids)
- Snacks for the vehicle — crackers, dried fruit, granola bars
- A small activity bag — colouring, sticker books, a wildlife ID card
- Reusable water bottles
Keep luggage soft-sided if flying between parks — most light aircraft have strict weight limits (usually 15–20 kg per person including hand luggage).
FAMILY SAFARI COSTS
Tanzania Family Safari Cost (2026 Guide)
Estimated total cost for a family of 4 (2 adults + 2 children) on a 7-day private safari. Child rates applied according to current tariffs.
| Package Tier | Family of 4 Total | Per Person/Day | Accommodation |
|---|---|---|---|
Budget AdventureValue | $5,000 – $8,000 | $250 – $400 | Public Campsites & Budget Lodges |
Mid-Range ComfortPopular | $8,000 – $14,000 | $400 – $600 | Tented Lodges & Mid-Range Hotels |
LuxuryPremium | $16,000 – $30,000+ | $800 – $1,500+ | Private Luxury Camps & Fly-In Lodges |
$5,000 – $8,000
$250 – $400 per person/day
Stay:Public Campsites & Budget Lodges
$8,000 – $14,000
$400 – $600 per person/day
Stay:Tented Lodges & Mid-Range Hotels
$16,000 – $30,000+
$800 – $1,500+ per person/day
Stay:Private Luxury Camps & Fly-In Lodges
Based on a 7-day private safari for a family of 4. Prices vary by season, lodge level, and itinerary.
Get a Custom QuoteMain cost drivers
- Travel season (peak June–October vs green season March–May)
- Lodge tier and room type (family rooms cost more than standard doubles)
- Number of safari days (more days = more park fees)
- Internal flights (optional — reduces road time significantly)
- Zanzibar add-on length and hotel level
What's Included
in Every Package
Every private family safari covers the essentials below. Exact inclusions are confirmed line by line in your personalised quote.
- Private 4x4 safari vehicle with dedicated driver-guide
- Park and conservation fees (with child rates applied where applicable)
- Safari accommodation and meals as listed in itinerary
- All transfers between airports, parks, and lodges
Not included
OPTIONAL ADD-ON
Add Zanzibar After Safari
Most families add 3–5 nights in Zanzibar after safari. It works well: kids decompress on the beach, parents relax, and the flight from Serengeti (via Seronera airstrip) to Zanzibar (ZNZ) takes about 90 minutes.
Choose a beach area with calm swimming conditions and short transfer times from the airport. We match the resort to your family — some properties have kids' clubs, others are better for teens who want snorkeling and water sports.
Mention Zanzibar in your quote request and we'll include it as a combined safari and Zanzibar family package.
Plan your Tanzania family safari
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FAMILY SAFARI FAQ
Tanzania Family Safari FAQ
Answers to the most common questions parents ask when planning a family safari in Tanzania.
Children aged 6 and older tend to get the most from a Tanzania family safari — they can sit through game drives, use binoculars, and remember the experience. That said, families with toddlers (3+) travel successfully with shorter drives, fewer lodge moves, and lodges with pools. We adjust the itinerary to match the ages in your group.
There is no legal minimum age. Most national parks allow children of all ages. Some luxury lodges and tented camps set their own minimums (often 5 or 6) for safety reasons. Budget and mid-range lodges are generally more flexible. We check age policies for every property in your itinerary.
Yes, when traveling on a private guided safari. Your driver-guide is trained in wildlife behavior and safety. Children stay in the vehicle during game drives, and lodges have clear safety protocols.
The main health consideration is malaria — Tanzania is a malaria zone. Families should consult a travel clinic before departure for up-to-date prophylaxis advice, insect repellent recommendations, and any required vaccinations.
Children under 16 pay reduced national park entrance fees in Tanzania — the exact rates depend on age brackets and are set by TANAPA (Tanzania National Parks Authority). Lodge rates also vary: some offer free stays for under-5s, others discount children sharing a parent's room. Child rates are applied according to current tariffs in your quote.
A 7-day private family safari in Tanzania typically costs $5,000–$8,000 total at budget level, $8,000–$14,000 at mid-range, and $16,000–$30,000+ for luxury fly-in options (family of 4: 2 adults + 2 children).
The main cost drivers are season, lodge level, number of safari days, and whether you add internal flights or a Zanzibar extension.
All three are family-friendly, but each suits different ages:
- Tarangire: Excellent for younger kids. Short drives from Arusha, huge elephant herds, baobab trees. Less crowded.
- Ngorongoro Crater: Compact area with high wildlife density — you see a lot without long drives. Cooler highland climate means fewer mosquitoes.
- Serengeti: Best for older kids (7+) who can handle longer drives and appreciate the scale. Big cat sightings are almost guaranteed.
Yes. Scheduled flights connect Serengeti airstrips (like Seronera) to Zanzibar airport (ZNZ), usually with a brief stop in Arusha. Total travel time is around 2–3 hours including the connection. This is the most popular way for families to transition from safari to beach without a long drive back to Arusha.
Most transfer days between parks are 2–4 hours. The longest commonly driven route is Ngorongoro to Serengeti (around 4–5 hours via the main gate). We aim to keep most drive days manageable with breaks. For families wanting to minimize road time, fly-in options can eliminate the longest transfers entirely. Your itinerary will list expected drive times for each day.
Essential items for children on safari:
- Sun hat and high-SPF sunscreen
- DEET-based insect repellent (per travel clinic advice)
- Light long-sleeved layers for cool mornings and evenings
- Binoculars — even a cheap pair keeps kids engaged
- Snacks for the vehicle (crackers, dried fruit, granola bars)
- Small activity bag (colouring, stickers, wildlife ID cards)
- Reusable water bottles
Keep luggage soft-sided if flying between parks — light aircraft have strict weight limits (usually 15–20 kg per person).
Yes — most families add 3–5 nights in Zanzibar after their safari. It's the most popular add-on. Just mention it in your quote request and we'll include beach accommodation, transfers, and the inter-island flight as part of a combined safari and Zanzibar family package.
