Overview
This family trip has it all—whether your crew is into wildlife, culture, adventure, or just wants a bit of everything! Tanzania is the perfect destination for families to experience unforgettable moments together. From tracking lions in the Serengeti to exploring the stunning Ngorongoro Crater, this adventure is packed with wildlife encounters that feel straight out of a nature documentary. But it doesn’t stop there—this trip also includes a trek on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro and a stay on the paradise island of Zanzibar, where you can snorkel, explore Stone Town, and relax on beautiful beaches.
Whether it’s an exciting game drive, a hands-on cooking class, or just soaking in the magic of Africa’s landscapes, this adventure is designed to create lasting family memories while exploring some of the most stunning places on the planet.
What's Included?
- Airport Transfers & Private Local Transport
- Expert Local Guides
- Hotels in Arusha/Karatu, Moshi, and Zanzibar
- Tented Camps in the Serengeti
- Lodges near Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro
- Mountain Hut on Kilimanjaro
- Daily Breakfast, 9 Dinners, 8 Lunches
- Game Drives in Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater
- Guided Walking Tour in Lake Manyara National Park
- Trekking on Kilimanjaro (Mandara Hut)
- Traditional Cooking Class in Moshi
- Flight from Moshi to Zanzibar
- Entrance Fees & Permits
- International Flights
- Travel Insurance
- Soft Drinks, Alcohol or Drinking Water
- Tips for Guides
- Personal Equipment & Clothing
- Souvenirs
Trip Highlights
Game Drives in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater: Experience some of the world’s most famous wildlife spots, with the chance to see the “Big Five” and other incredible animals in their natural habitat.
Walking Safari in Lake Manyara National Park: Explore the stunning landscapes and diverse wildlife of Lake Manyara on foot, perfect for curious young explorers to connect with nature up close.
Trekking on Kilimanjaro: Hike through the lush rainforest to Mandara Hut, getting a taste of the world’s tallest free-standing mountain without the challenge of summitting.
Cooking Class in Moshi: Learn how to prepare traditional Tanzanian dishes with a hands-on cooking class, perfect for the whole family.
Relaxing on Zanzibar’s Beaches: Unwind on the stunning beaches of Zanzibar, with free time to snorkel, explore Stone Town, or simply relax by the ocean.
Daily Itinerary
Welcome to Tanzania! After arriving at JRO airport, we’ll transfer you to your hotel in Arusha (or Karatu, depending on your arrival time). After settling in, enjoy a welcome dinner where you can meet your guide and get an exciting overview of the journey ahead. The adventure starts now!
Meals Included: Dinner
Today, we head to Lake Manyara National Park, known for its incredible birdlife and those famous tree-climbing lions! After a morning game drive, we’ll embark on a guided walking tour, perfect for curious young explorers. Watch out for elephants, zebras, and flamingos along the way. After a full day of exploring, we’ll settle in at a nearby lodge for the night.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast, we journey towards the world-renowned Serengeti National Park. Along the way, we’ll stop for an en-route game drive, an exciting introduction to Tanzania’s wildlife! Upon arriving in the Serengeti, the landscape opens up before you, and the first of many unforgettable wildlife encounters begins.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Get ready for a full day of wildlife spotting! The Serengeti is home to the "Big Five" and so much more. We’ll spend the day tracking animals in their natural habitat, giving everyone the chance to experience the magic of the African savannah. Keep your eyes peeled—you never know what might appear! This is a great day for budding photographers to capture unforgettable moments.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After a final morning in the Serengeti, we make our way to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. On the drive, you’ll spot traditional Maasai villages, where the Maasai people live alongside wildlife. It’s an eye-opening cultural experience, showing how different communities thrive in harmony with nature.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The Ngorongoro Crater is one of the most spectacular wildlife spots in the world, and today we’ll experience it firsthand! After an early morning start, we’ll descend into the Crater for a game drive where you can spot the “Big Five” in a truly unique setting. Later, we’ll drive to Moshi for some well-deserved rest.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today, we take a scenic trek on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro. We won’t summit, but hiking through the lush rainforest to Mandara Hut is an unforgettable adventure in itself. Watch out for playful monkeys and listen to the sounds of the forest. It’s a great way for kids to experience one of the world’s most famous mountains, without the challenge of a summit attempt!
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast at Mandara Hut, we make our way back down from Kilimanjaro and return to Moshi. In the evening, we’ll have a traditional cooking class where the whole family can learn how to prepare Tanzanian dishes. It’s a fun, hands-on way to end the day, followed by a delicious local meal to refuel after the trek.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
It’s time for a change of scenery as we fly to the stunning island of Zanzibar! Upon arrival, you’ll have the chance to explore the historic Stone Town. Wander through the narrow streets, soaking up the rich culture and history. Later, we’ll head to Forodhani Gardens for some Zanzibar street food—an exciting way for the family to experience local flavors.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today is all about the water! We’ll spend the day on a traditional dhow boat, snorkeling and swimming in the warm, clear waters of Zanzibar. The kids will love spotting colorful fish and learning about marine life. After a full day of fun, we return to our beachside hotel for a relaxing evening by the ocean.
Meals Included: Breakfast
The next two days are yours to enjoy as you wish. Whether you want to explore more of the island, visit Nungwi Village to swim with turtles, or simply spend time on the beach, this is your chance to relax and recharge.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Another day of leisure awaits! Play beach volleyball, explore local villages, or take a boat ride to nearby islands. There’s plenty of family-friendly activities to choose from, so you can create your own perfect day in paradise.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Time to say goodbye to paradise. After breakfast, we’ll arrange your transfer to the airport or ferry terminal. Safe travels!
Meals Included: Breakfast
Where We'll Stay
We’ve taken on the tough task of staying at some of the best hotels and guesthouses around the world to hand-pick those that we think you’ll love. For this family adventure, you’ll experience a mix of lodges, tented camps, and beachside hotels that cater to both comfort and a sense of adventure.
In Arusha or Karatu, you’ll start your trip in a comfortable hotel, perfect for resting after your arrival. For your time in the Serengeti, you’ll stay in a tented camp that lets you fall asleep to the sounds of nature. Near Ngorongoro Crater, you’ll enjoy a cozy lodge with stunning views of the surrounding area.
On Kilimanjaro, you’ll have a more rustic experience, spending a night in a mountain hut nestled in the rainforest. In Moshi, relax at a river lodge where you can unwind after your trek. Finally, the trip wraps up with four nights at a beachside hotel in Zanzibar, where you’ll have plenty of time to relax and recharge by the Indian Ocean.
Each accommodation is chosen for its comfort, family-friendly atmosphere, and ability to make your stay unforgettable.
Like the sound of this trip, have a question or want to check something before you book? Maybe even have a great idea to customise this itinerary? Get in touch and start your adventure!
Interactive Route Map
Check out the interactive map of this trip below. You can simply zoom in and have a look at the route.
Or, if you’re wanting to get a feel for the route or to dive into the daily details then click on any of the steps and you’ll be redirected to our Polarsteps page.
What is Polarsteps?
We’ve loaded all of our itineraries onto Polarsteps. It’s an app that can help you plan, track and relive your travels. We’ve used it to display our trips in all their glory but anyone can easily create on-the-go mementos of their adventures.
Carbon Emissions
Total Emissions: This trip emits approximately 476 kg of CO₂e per person. This includes emissions from transport, accommodation, food, activities, and the operations behind the scenes to run the trip.
What does this mean?
This is roughly the same as driving a typical petrol car about 1,530 miles.
It’s equivalent to the carbon emissions from heating an average UK home with a gas boiler for about 21 days during winter.
Our Approach
We understand the impact of carbon emissions from travel and strive to create experiences that benefit the communities and environments we visit. This estimate allows you to make informed choices about your carbon footprint and consider offsets that resonate with you.
More Information
What's the fitness level required for this trip?
We grade all of our trips to try and make it easy to understand the fitness levels required. These are broad guidelines however so you’re welcome to chat to us about any specific concerns you might have.
You’ll find more information about these levels here and you can find the difficulty rating for this specific trip at the top of the page.
What if someone under the minimum age wants to travel?
It might not be an issue. Some destinations such as Rwanda have firm rules in place about how old people should be in order to visit the gorillas. In other destinations it’s more of a guideline.
Please do contact us and we’ll be happy to help.
Can I customise this trip in any way?
- adding in extra days or cutting out a day here or there;
- squeezing in other destinations or removing them;
- starting or finishing the trip in a different place;
- staying in a hotel or guesthouse that we don’t list as an option.
What are your payment terms and is my booking financially protected?
Yes, absolutely. Here’s a link to where you can read more about how we are an ABTOT member and have an ATOL licence and what this means for your financial protection when booking a trip with us.
Deposits vary from destination to destination and from trip to trip. Generally speaking we require a deposit of 25%. This amount may be higher for certain trips where more services that usual need to be booked and paid for in advance (such as gorilla permits in Rwanda). Deposits are non-refundable.
Balance payments are required up to 70 days prior to travel.
If you need to cancel your booking, the following fees will apply based on the time before your scheduled departure:
- Immediate loss of deposit (25% of total cost) upon cancellation.
- 50% of the total cost if cancelled after the balance is paid and up to 45 days before departure.
- 75% of the total cost if cancelled 30 to 45 days before departure.
- 100% of the total cost if cancelled within 30 days of departure.
These fees compensate for expenses and bookings made on your behalf in anticipation of your trip.
Which airport do I need to fly into and out of for my trip to Tanzania?
All of our trips to mainland Tanzania will start and end at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO).
If you’re also travelling to Zanzibar then flights can be booked from Zanzibar International Airport (ZNZ). You might also look at flights out of Dar Es Salaam (DAR) but please be aware that this will require you to take a ferry to the mainland.
Please let us know if you need assistance selecting flights for your trip.
How do I find out which hotels, meals and activities are included?
Unfortunately we can’t provide an exhaustive list of everything included in the ‘What’s Included’ section of this page as we include a whole bunch of stuff on our trips!
If it’s in the itinerary and we’ve not explicitly said that it’s an optional activity, then yes – it’s almost certainly included. If you’re not sure, please ask.
The meals that are included are all listed on the daily itinerary.
For the accommodation, we’ve got a shortlist of properties that we use. You can get a sense of the types of accommodation we use higher up the page in the ‘Where We’ll Stay’ section. We cannot guarantee any specific properties for your trip as it’s based on availability. If you are wanting to specifically request a property then please get in touch as we’re able to customise our trips.
What should I know about the possible cold climate?
This trip spends time in locations where there might be significantly cold temperatures (below freezing) during the day with further temperature drops at night. You might be staying in poorly insulated accommodation in rural locations. It’s important that you are adequately equipped and that you remain sufficiently hydrated and nourished.
Our guides are trained to mitigate the risks associated with undertaking activity in cold weather but you should be aware of the risks and ensure you’re appropriately prepared.
What should I consider about trekking at altitude?
A lot of our trips spend considerable time above altitudes of over 2,500m. Some people may experience symptoms associated with Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). It’s really important to note a couple of things. Firstly, past experience at high altitudes is not necessarily an indicator of how you’ll fare in the future. Secondly, our itineraries have been curated and our guides have been trained to mitigate the risks associated with trekking at altitude. However, due to the nature of trekking at altitude it’s vital that you report any symptoms to your guide immediately. It’s also important that you have travel insurance covering you up to the maximum altitude at which you’ll be trekking.
Is travel insurance mandatory?
Yes, it is. We run adventurous trips and it’s mandatory that you have suitable travel insurance in place to cover overseas medical treatment as well as evacuation or repatriation.
We can’t recommend which provider you use but the main things we’d encourage you to look out for is that you’re fully covered for the activities you’re taking part in (i.e., covers you up to the altitude you’ll be trekking at) and that it covers cancellation in the event that illness or other circumstances prevent you from travelling.
What information will I receive after I book?
After you book, we’ll get to work confirming that the dates you’ve selected are completely available.
There are extremely rare circumstances that may mean we’re unable to confirm your booking. These circumstances are limited to events beyond our control or not being able to secure the services that you wanted to book.
In the extremely rare event that we’re unable to confirm your booking you will be offered an alternative itinerary or a full refund without any fees. Please do not book any non-changeable travel plans until you receive the confirmation from us. This will be within 72 hours.
A detailed Trip Dossier will then be sent to you after you make your booking. It’ll contain all the information you might need to help you pack and get prepared for your trip, including information on visas, vaccinations, packing and training.
We encourage you to refer to the UK Government’s official travel advisory service when planning your trips. You can find the FCDO advice here.
And when you travel, we work closely with local experts to put together the best itineraries. We’ve worked with them exhaustively to provide safe adventures at great value. They know their destination better than we ever could so you’ll be in good hands! You can read a bit more about why we will only ever have locally-led trips here.
Book Now
Whether you’d like more information about this itinerary or to customise it to exactly what you want to do, drop us a line and let us know your plans!
