8-Day Family & Cultural Safari: Serengeti Wildlife and Maasai Traditions

The family trip to Tanzania begins in Arusha, which is the entry point to the Northern Circuit. A Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), your family will be met by an expert guide and after a short 1 hour drive, you will check into a comfortable and family-friendly hotel in Arusha. During the evening, relax as your kids have fun in the swimming pool or the play area. Savor dinner at the hotel, including international and local Tanzanian meals. The guide will have daily debriefings and answer any questions about the family safari vehicle in order to make certain that everyone is thrilled and ready to go. Stay in your family suite for one last night of a long sleep and wake early to begin the wildlife and cultural exploration the next day.

Accommodation: Arusha Planet Lodge or similar.

After enjoying a lovely breakfast that includes options for children, get ready to depart Arusha for Manyara Lake National Park. The drive takes 2.5 hours, but, this private 4x4 drive will feel shorter as it boasts breathtaking views of Tanzanian Countryside. The park is famous for its tree climbing lions, lake filled with flamingos, and other different ecosystems, it is a great national park to start off with as it will be very engaging for children. During the private game drives in the afternoon, children will not be bored as there will short educational stops. You will see baboons, giraffes, and many colorful birds, and learn interesting facts to spark your imagination. Later, check into Lake Manyara Kilimamoja where you will get family suites with a stunning view of the lake, a swimming pool, and comfortable beds. You will have a family style dinner, along with amazing stories about African wildlife, and then sleep comfortably while falling asleep to the sound of the national park.

Accommodation: Lake Manyara Kilimamoja Lodge

Starting the day with breakfast provides the perfect fuel for an early morning game drive at Lake Manyara National Park using your private vehicle. Children can participate using engaging wildlife checklists and fun facts targeting elephants, hippos, and the 400+ bird species. The menu for the bush breakfast will be tailored to keep the kiddos energized while encouraging them to eat, and it will be served in a safe and scenic spot. Family cultural experiences include visiting a nearby Maasai village, partaking in beadwork workshops where children are able to make their own jewelry, and watching a traditional dance where children are enthusiastically invited to participate. A Maasai guide shares stories about his people’s life and diet as pastoralists, promoting cultural appreciation. In the afternoon you'll return to Lake Manyara Kilimamoja where kids can swim or play while parents relax. Family dinner is served after campfire storytelling reflecting on the adventures of the day.

Accommodation: Lake Manyara Kilimamoto Lodge or similar.

Breakfast will be served before you leave Lake Manyara heading to Serengeti National Park, where you will enjoy a four hour drive in your private 4x4 vehicle. The scenic views of Tanzania will make the drive worthwhile and iconic. While on the way there, you are free to make picnic stops so the children can stretch their legs. Private game drives will be made available so you will arrive at the central Seronera region in the heart of the Safari around noon. Game drives through breathtaking sceneries filled with lions, giraffes, and the Great Migration’s two hundred pack strong herds of wildebeest and zebras. Your personal guide will enhance the experience by keeping toddler’s interest in mind with games like spotting animals from the car. You will check in at the midrange tented camp geared for families called Serengeti Kati Kati that features cozy tents with a bush atmosphere which is perfect for the kids. As part of dinner, the family will be treated to stargazing while having a wildlife quiz, falling asleep comfortable to the sounds of the Serengeti.

Accommodation: Serengeti Kati Kati Tented Camp or similar.

Spend a full day exploring the stunning landscapes of the Serengeti, starting off with an early morning private safari drive to catch sight of active cheetahs and leopards. Guides will tell engaging stories to the kids about the Great Migration and the Big Five. Apart from sighting elephants, the Serengeti is also known for its rivers, kopjes, and its abundant birdlife. Enjoy a light bush breakfast in the shade followed by a mid-morning drive to spot more animals such as hippos around the Seronera River. Following the picnic lunch, continue the afternoon game drive, customizing it to family interests like photography or specific animal tracking. Wind down the day with a family dinner at the lodge, enjoying Maasai stories around the campfire that spark young imaginations.

Accommodation: Serengeti Kati Kati Tented Camp or similar.

After family breakfast, explore the serengeti with any remaining wildlife spotted like leopards or birds. Your guide will entertain the kids by keeping them engaged in footprint identification. While having lunch, head towards the Ngorongoro conservation area which is a 3 hour commmute. Arriving at the Lodge near the crater rim, spend your afternoon leisure time at the pool or play area for children. In the late afternoon, have guided nature walk around the Lodge grounds about local plants and insects or partake in Maasai craft activities such as spear or jewelry making. Assemble and enjoy family dinner with the next days briefing, eating from a kid friendly menu.

Accommodation: Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge or similar

After breakfast, head to Ngorongoro Crater for a game drive through the UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has vast populations of wildlife and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The caldera is home to black rhinos, flamingos, lions, and other types of family-friendly wildlife. Your guide will make drives fun and educational with scavenger hunts and story-filled drives through the area. Enjoy a stunning picnic lunch hippo pool that isn't too far from the crater. This is great for children and provides excellent scenery from which they can view the crater. Return to the lodge in the afternoon to relax which gives children time to use the swimming pool, or join the Junior Ranger program which includes making animal footprint casts. During this time, parents can relax and enjoy the view they have of the crater. All of you will then come together for a delicious dinner with your family and share spectacular safari stories while recapping everything that you did in Tanzania.

Accommodation: Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge or similar.

Start off with a family breakfast and indulge in morning activities like a short visit to a Maasai village to a nature walk to learn about the area’s plant life for Guided Nature Walk. Drive to Arusha and visit a souvenir shop for some amazing Maasai beadwork and Tanzanite jewelry. Have lunch in Arusha and enjoy some local food with the rest of the family while reflecting on the safari experiences. After lunch, head for your scheduled flight.