8 Days Tanzania Family Safari and Wildlife Tour

Day 1: Arrival in Arusha and Transfer to Tarangire National Park

Your family safari begins when you arrive in Arusha, where you will be welcomed by your Verdant Safaris representative and introduced to your safari guide. After a short briefing about the journey, you will depart for Tarangire National Park, travelling through the scenic countryside of northern Tanzania. The journey gives you your first opportunity to see local villages, farms and the changing landscapes surrounding Arusha. Upon reaching Tarangire, you will enter the park and begin your first wildlife drive, searching for elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, buffaloes, impalas and many bird species. The park is especially famous for its large elephant herds and enormous baobab trees, which create an impressive backdrop for family photographs. After the game drive, you will proceed to your accommodation, where you can relax, enjoy dinner and settle into the peaceful surroundings of the Tanzanian wilderness.

Accommodation Options: Tarangire Simba Lodge, Sangaiwe Tented Lodge, Tarangire Sopa Lodge

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 2: Full-Day Family Safari in Tarangire National Park

After breakfast, you will spend a full day exploring Tarangire National Park with your family. The park’s combination of open plains, acacia woodland, seasonal wetlands and the Tarangire River provides an excellent environment for observing wildlife. You will search for elephants, lions, leopards, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, warthogs and several species of antelope. Your guide will explain interesting facts about the animals and their habitats, making the game drive both entertaining and educational for younger family members. You will have a picnic lunch at a suitable location before continuing your afternoon exploration through different sections of the park. There will also be opportunities to stop for photographs and enjoy the spectacular scenery without rushing between sightings. In the late afternoon, you will return to your lodge for dinner, relaxation and a comfortable overnight stay.

Accommodation Options: Tarangire Simba Lodge, Sangaiwe Tented Lodge, Tarangire Sopa Lodge

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 3: Tarangire to Lake Manyara National Park and Karatu

After breakfast, you will leave Tarangire and drive towards Lake Manyara National Park, enjoying the changing scenery of northern Tanzania along the way. Lake Manyara is a beautiful park located beneath the Great Rift Valley escarpment and is known for its diverse landscapes and abundant wildlife. During your game drive, you will explore areas of forest, woodland, open grassland and wetlands while searching for elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, hippos and baboons. The park also offers excellent birdwatching opportunities, with colourful birds commonly seen around the lake and forest habitats. Your guide will also keep an eye out for the park’s famous tree-climbing lions, although wildlife sightings are naturally dependent on animal movements. After your safari, you will continue to Karatu, check into your accommodation and enjoy a relaxed evening with your family.

Accommodation Options: Ngorongoro Farm House, Marera Valley Lodge, Karatu Tented Lodge

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 4: Ngorongoro Crater Family Wildlife Experience

You will have an early breakfast before travelling to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area for one of the highlights of your family safari. You will descend into the magnificent Ngorongoro Crater, a vast natural amphitheatre surrounded by dramatic volcanic walls. The crater supports an incredible concentration of wildlife, giving you excellent opportunities to see lions, elephants, buffaloes, zebras, wildebeest, hippos, hyenas and numerous antelope species. Your guide will make the game drive informative and engaging, explaining how the crater’s unique environment supports its wildlife and local communities. You will stop for a picnic lunch in the crater before continuing your exploration through its grasslands and wetlands. The crater is also home to the endangered black rhinoceros, and your guide will look for opportunities to observe this rare animal from a suitable distance. After the game drive, you will ascend from the crater and return to your accommodation in Karatu for dinner and a relaxing evening.

Accommodation Options: Ngorongoro Farm House, Marera Valley Lodge, Karatu Tented Lodge

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 5: Karatu to Serengeti National Park

After breakfast, you will depart Karatu and travel towards the world-famous Serengeti National Park. The journey takes you through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and across landscapes that gradually transform from highland scenery into the expansive plains of the Serengeti. As you approach the park, you may begin seeing wildlife along the route, creating an exciting introduction to one of Africa’s most famous ecosystems. Once inside Serengeti, you will enjoy a game drive while travelling towards your accommodation, searching for zebras, wildebeest, giraffes, elephants, buffaloes and other wildlife. Your guide will explain the importance of the Serengeti ecosystem and the seasonal movements of the animals that live here. Depending on the season and wildlife locations, you may also have opportunities to see predators such as lions, cheetahs and hyenas. You will arrive at your lodge or tented camp in the evening, enjoy dinner and settle down for a peaceful night surrounded by the sounds of the African wilderness.

Accommodation Options: Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge, Serengeti Simba Lodge, Serengeti Kati Kati Tented Camp

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 6: Full-Day Serengeti Family Wildlife Safari

Today you will enjoy a full-day safari through the vast plains of Serengeti National Park. After breakfast, you will head out with your guide to explore different areas of the park in search of its abundant wildlife. Serengeti is famous for the Great Migration, during which enormous herds of wildebeest and zebras move through the ecosystem following seasonal rainfall and fresh grazing. You may also encounter lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, hyenas and many other animals during your game drive. Your guide will provide fascinating explanations about animal behaviour, predator-prey relationships and the importance of conservation, creating an educational experience for the whole family. A picnic lunch will be enjoyed during the safari, followed by more wildlife exploration in the afternoon. You will return to your accommodation later in the day for dinner and a relaxing evening after an exciting day in the Serengeti.

Accommodation Options: Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge, Serengeti Simba Lodge, Serengeti Kati Kati Tented Camp

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 7: Serengeti Morning Game Drive and Return to Arusha

You will wake early for a final morning game drive in the Serengeti, providing one more opportunity to experience the park’s wildlife before leaving. The cooler morning hours can be particularly rewarding for spotting predators, while large herds of wildebeest, zebras and antelopes may be seen moving across the plains. You will also have time to enjoy the sunrise and take final photographs of the spectacular Serengeti landscape. After the game drive, you will return to your accommodation for breakfast before beginning your journey towards Arusha. Depending on your schedule, you may travel by road or use a domestic flight option, with the arrangements determined by your selected safari package. Upon reaching Arusha, you will check into your hotel and have time to relax after the journey. Your final evening will be spent enjoying dinner with your family and reflecting on the unforgettable wildlife experiences from your Tanzania safari.

Accommodation Options: Arusha Serena Hotel, Mount Meru Hotel, Gran Melia Arusha

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 8: Departure

After breakfast, you will have some final time to relax at your hotel before your departure. Depending on your flight schedule, you may enjoy a short walk, relax at the hotel or make a final purchase of souvenirs and locally made crafts. Your Verdant Safaris representative will arrange your transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport or Arusha Airport according to your onward travel arrangements. The transfer will be timed carefully to provide sufficient time for airport check-in and other departure procedures. As you leave Tanzania, you will take with you memories of family game drives, close encounters with wildlife and the spectacular landscapes of the country’s northern safari circuit. From the elephants of Tarangire and wildlife of Lake Manyara to the Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti plains, your family will have experienced some of Tanzania’s most remarkable natural attractions. Your 8 Days Tanzania Family Safari and Wildlife Tour officially ends at the airport, bringing your family adventure to a comfortable conclusion.

Meals: (Breakfast)