“The greatest legacy we can leave our children is memories.”

Tanzania is home to a total of 22 national parks. Among them, the Serengeti National Park is one of the most well-known and popular African safari destinations around the world – constantly voted Africa’s leading national park. From rich vegetation and rugged terrains to diverse wildlife, Serengeti National Park has everything to make your family safari holiday in Africa unforgettable. With its endless savannah, this national park is home to the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhinoceros). And it is not just that; the Serengeti is also home to the world-famous Great Migration, making it a popular African safari destination for families.

Arusha National Park

Arusha National Park is one of the tamest national parks in Tanzania. With the absence of predators, you can just take a guided stroll through the park to spot the beautiful and diverse wildlife, including the rare colobus monkey and a wide variety of birds like the sliver-cheeked hornbill and long-crested eagle, as well as flamingos. You also have the option of canoeing on the Momella Lakes in Arusha National Park.

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Dubbed “Africa’s Garden of Eden”, the Ngorongoro Crater is Tanzania’s second most popular destination after the Serengeti. This crater, an ancient collapsed volcano, is laden with scenic beauty, rich vegetation, and the highest density of diverse wildlife, making it an ideal family safari holiday experience. Located on its rim, the crater offers beautiful lodgings overlooking the crater floor…an enriching experience for both children and adults, as they get to witness nature at its finest.

Tarangire National Park

Tarangire National Park is known for its big elephant population and its baobab trees sprinkled throughout the park. It is also one of the most underrated national parks, housing the second largest wildlife population after the Serengeti, and is home to a large variety of species of birds, predators, and prey animals. You can also go on a walking safari here or head out on a night game drive in search of nocturnal wildlife.

Best Time for a Family Safari in Tanzania

Even though Tanzania is a great place to visit year-round, arguably the best time to go on a family safari holiday in Tanzania is between the months of January to March. This period of time marks the end of the highly crowded holiday season, making it a great time to explore the parks with your family. Also, you can find a lot of off-road activities and predator-prey action in the Southern Serengeti during that time of year.

The months of January, February and March are the peak of the calving season. The wildebeest herds arrive and stay in the southern Serengeti and Ndutu plains from the end of December until the end of March, with most wildebeest calves born in a short window around February. Then around May/June, they start their great migration north.

Experience the Wildebeest Migration

Experience the journey of almost two million wildebeest, zebra and gazelle when they embark on a continuous journey across the endless plains of the Serengeti. Nicknamed “The Greatest Show on Earth,” this will, without a doubt, be an action-packed adventure for your family to enjoy nature at its best.

Witness the Calving Season

Witness the circle of life displayed right in front of your eyes when thousands of wildebeest herd together and give birth to an average of 8,000 calves each day. View with glee as they learn to walk, run, and bond with their mothers within a few minutes of their birth…and experience the survival of the fittest.
Visit an Animal Rescue Center.
Nurture the love for animals by taking your kids to the Center for Rescue, Education, and Wildlife in Machame, where they can meet orphaned and injured animals taking refuge and time to heal. The center’s goal is to preserve Tanzania’s natural treasures through educational projects, as well as practical animal and environmental protection.

Take Part in Day-to-Day School Activities

Walk through the life of a Tanzanian student and learn about the successes and challenges they face by taking part in day-to-day activities of school children and joining them in various activities (tour the school campus, sample traditional Tanzanian lunch with the students, attend a weekly assembly, and watch dance and music performances). 

Learn from the Maasai Tribe
Visit the Maasai tribe and learn about their culture, history, and traditions and gain an authentic insight into their lives. How about going on a donkey ride through Maasai land, learning how to properly throw a spear or how to craft traditional Maasai jewelry, and joining the Maasai at a traditional sundowner dance?

Give the Gift of Light and Clean Water

Experience the joy of giving by positively contributing to the lives of Tanzanian families when distributing solar lights and water filters to families living off the grid. It is a life-changing experience for many and improves the quality of life of these families at the same time.

Learn more about this experience here

Visit the Tortoise Sanctuary on Prison Island

When you visit Zanzibar, you have the option to visit the tortoise sanctuary on Prison Island, also known as Changuu Island. The sanctuary is home to a large colony of giant Aldabra tortoises imported from the Seychelles by Sultan Said in the 19th century. These exotic creatures weigh around 200 kilos and live over 100 years on average. The visit will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for your family to be up close with this endangered species.

Give Your Family the Gift of Travel

Of all the destinations in the world, Tanzania offers some of the best family safari vacation. Where else can you see the beloved creatures that inspired a dozen Disney movies, or pack healthy fun in the great outdoors into once-in-a-lifetime, child-friendly itineraries? There is nothing quite as wonderful as witnessing your child’s reaction to spotting their first majestic cheetah or wallowing hippo. Whether you’re visiting chimpanzees in Mahale Mountains National Park or marveling at The Great Migration of wildebeest in Serengeti National Park, the guarantee we offer is that the adults will be just as amazed as the children!

A family African safari in Tanzania is a great way to expose your kids to nature and wildlife, fostering their love and amazement for animals and the great outdoors. As all our Tanzania safaris are tailor-made to your family’s needs, we will create a bespoke itinerary jam-packed with things to keep everyone in the family happy. Children view the world with so much wonder that we often find that family safaris have a greater sense of amazement than other kinds of trips. Safaris can also become outdoor classrooms for children where they can learn about African wildlife in a fun and interactive way. From following and reading animal tracks to identifying dung, your little ones will learn about the wonders of nature outside the confines of a classroom. Teachable moments are everywhere on an African safari in Tanzania— meaning that your children will have a true appreciation for the value of Africa’s unique wildlife and ecosystem, as well as how to protect it for future generations. One of the best ways to experience Tanzania is to include one (or several) of our Ol-lerai Africa safari; these include meeting the local people, learning about their culture and their way of live, and even trying out their hunting methods, pottery, and so much more.

Your children will also have the unique opportunity to meet and learn about the people of Tanzania. Traveling with your kids to Africa will open their eyes to the world, teaching them to celebrate differences and become citizens of the world. Ol-lerai Africa safari curate’s itineraries that invite families to connect with local communities, visit tribes and get involved in philanthropic efforts, an invaluable experience for kids.
The variety and novelty of a family safari vacation in Tanzania also provides a rich setting for you to reconnect with each other through sharing memorable experiences. And, as all aspects of your trip are taken care of – you don’t have to worry about a thing and can free yourself from your phone and wallet to focus on taking in the experience with the people you love most in the world. The most difficult decision will be what to have to drink when your game drive pauses to enjoy the setting African sun!

From Africa’s diverse cultures to its legendary wildlife, a family African safari holiday in Tanzania is one of the most exciting and eye-opening travel experiences a child can have. With a few of Africa’s safari lodges now catering specifically for families in terms of accommodation and activities, it is now easier than ever to introduce your child to Africa! If you have any questions about our family African safari holiday tours for families, please don’t hesitate to get in touch!