The opportunity to see animals in their natural habitat, to watch a herd of elephants walk past their vehicle, to spot a cheetah with its cubs, or listen to a pride of lions roaring at night. It is a magical experience that your children will never forget.
Under 5 Years Old
If traveling with very young children, the main priority is to travel to areas that have no malaria. As virtually all of Africa lies within the Malaria belt.
For families with children between the ages of 6 and 12, we would recommend a safari vacation to Tanzania as an extremely good destination for family safari vacations. The Serengeti National Park offers superb big-game viewing, while the Tarangire, Lake Manyara, and Ngorongoro Crater offer wildlife as well as a large range of activities, and interaction with local cultures.
The whole of East Africa opens for families with older children, especially as children of this age do not necessarily need the range of non-safari activities offered in the destinations we recommend for younger families.
One of our favorite destinations for families with older children in Tanzania, especially the north of the country (northern circuit) where the Serengeti and Ngorongoro region has the perfect balance of the big game and great lodges, as well as authenticity and adventure. Trips to Tanzania can also include a cultural element, as the Masai tribe live throughout the region. The beaches of the Zanzibar Archipelago are also a superb place to finish.
If you think your children can handle the kind of wild experiences Tanzania can offer, we really recommend that families with children over 8 consider a more adventurous trip.
Southern Tanzania is particularly ideal for adventurous families, as it has many small camps where the focus is on adventurous activities such as boating, fly camping, and walking safaris. Climbing Kilimanjaro is also an option for a family wishing to do something different during their safari-focused vacation.
