8 Days Luxury Family Safari

Day by day
Day 1: Arrival – Arusha
Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport, where your private guide warmly welcomes your family. Transfer to your luxury lodge in Arusha. Enjoy a relaxed afternoon by the pool or in the garden before a short family-friendly safari briefing. Family Activities: Easy garden walk, Pool time & relaxation
Overnight: Gran Meliá Arusha (or Arusha Coffee Lodge – family suites)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 2: Arusha – Serval Wildlife Sanctuary (Soft Start Safari)
After a leisurely breakfast, depart for the renowned Serval Wildlife Sanctuary for an exclusive and intimate wildlife encounter designed especially for families. Set within a pristine natural environment, this sanctuary offers a rare opportunity to interact with wildlife in a safe and ethically managed setting. Upon arrival, you’ll be welcomed by expert guides who will introduce your family to the sanctuary’s conservation efforts and the unique stories behind each animal. Children and adults alike will enjoy close-up encounters with graceful giraffes, curious monkeys, elegant elands and other gentle wildlife creating unforgettable moments that go beyond a traditional safari. Family Activities: Animal feeding (supervised), Wildlife education session, Photography moments. After your visit return to your lodge in Arusha where you can unwind at leisure perhaps enjoy the pool, spa treatments or simply relax in your private suite surrounded by lush gardens.
Overnight: Gran Meliá Arusha (or Arusha Coffee Lodge)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Arusha → Tarangire National Park
After a relaxed breakfast, depart from Arusha and journey towards Tarangire National Park, a landscape dotted with ancient baobab trees and home to some of Africa’s largest elephant herds. The scenic drive offers children a chance to observe local villages, Maasai herders and changing landscapes along the way. Upon arrival, begin a family-tailored game drive designed to keep young explorers engaged, comfortable and excited throughout the experience. Family Activities: “Safari bingo” for kids (spot animals). Learning about animals and ecosystems. Picnic lunch in nature, pause for a beautiful picnic lunch in a safe, shaded area overlooking the Tarangire River, where wildlife often gathers. Freshly prepared meals with kid-friendly optionsTime to relax, play and enjoy nature that the opportunity to watch animals come to drink at the river. Continue with a short afternoon game drive before heading to your lodge, where the family can unwind with pool time or simply enjoy the peaceful surroundings.
Overnight: Tarangire Treetops (or Nimali Tarangire – family suites)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Tarangire – Relaxed Safari & Lodge Experience
Wake up to the gentle sounds of the African bush and enjoy a leisurely breakfast at your lodge, surrounded by the iconic baobab-dotted landscape of Tarangire. Set out for a short, relaxed morning game drive, perfectly timed when wildlife is most active. This drive is intentionally unhurried, allowing children to fully enjoy the experience without feeling rushed. Spot elephants gathering along the Tarangire River and look out for giraffes, zebras, wildebeests and playful warthogs. Your guide shares fun and educational insights tailored to children. Return to your lodge before midday to relax and escape the afternoon heat. Enjoy a leisurely lunch overlooking the bush, followed by free time to unwind take a dip in the pool, relax on your private terrace or in your family suite, while parents may opt for a spa-treatment and children enjoy quiet activities like reading or drawing. Optional: Short evening game drive.
Overnight: Tarangire Treetops (or Nimali Tarangire – family suites)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Tarangire → Lake Manyara National Park → Karatu
Drive to Lake Manyara National Park for a scenic game drive set beneath the dramatic Great Rift Valley escarpment. Explore a variety of habitats from lush groundwater forests to open lakeshore offering excellent opportunities to spot playful monkeys, vibrant birdlife and flocks of flamingos along the lake. Your guide will keep the experience engaging for children with fun wildlife insights and easy-paced exploration. Pause midday for a scenic picnic lunch in a designated area within the park allowing the family to relax and enjoy the natural surroundings. After the game drive, continue your journey to Karatu in the afternoon, arriving at your lodge in time to relax and enjoy the peaceful highland surroundings.
Overnight: The Retreat at Ngorongoro (or Neptune Ngorongoro Luxury Lodge)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Ngorongoro Crater – Big Five Experience
Descend at first light into the breathtaking Ngorongoro Crater, where the morning mist lifts to reveal one of Africa’s most extraordinary wildlife havens. Enjoy an unhurried, family-friendly game drive across the crater floor, where each turn brings new encounters lions resting in the grass, elephants moving gracefully through the plains and with a bit of luck, the rare black rhino. The shorter well-paced drives keep the experience exciting and comfortable for children while allowing time to fully absorb the beauty around you. Pause for a beautifully arranged picnic lunch in a scenic spot, often near a hippo-filled pool where you can dine surrounded by nature and the sounds of the wild. In the early afternoon, ascend the crater walls and return to your lodge, where a relaxed afternoon awaits giving the whole family time to rest, reflect and enjoy the peaceful highland atmosphere. Family Activities: Big Five checklist challenge, Learn about animal behavior, Picnic near hippo poolIn the early afternoon, ascend the crater walls and return to your lodge where a relaxed afternoon awaits giving the whole family time to rest, reflect and enjoy the peaceful highland atmosphere.
Overnight: The Retreat at Ngorongoro (or Neptune Ngorongoro Luxury Lodge)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7: Ngorongoro Conservation Area → Arusha (Cultural & Shopping Experience)
After a relaxed breakfast overlooking the Ngorongoro Highlands, begin your scenic journey back to Arusha, taking in the rolling landscapes along the way. En route, enjoy a meaningful cultural visit to a traditional Maasai village, where your family will be warmly welcomed with traditional songs and dances. Engage with the community, learn about their customs and way of life and experience an authentic cultural exchange that is both enriching and memorable especially for children. Continue to a carefully selected stop for a relaxed lunch, served in a pleasant setting where you can unwind before the afternoon journey. After lunch, enjoy a leisurely shopping experience with visits to a selection of different artisan shops and local markets, each offering its own unique style and craftsmanship. These meaningful keepsakes serve as lasting reminders of your Tanzanian adventure. Arrive in Arusha in the late afternoon, where you can relax at your lodge or prepare for your final evening.
Overnight: Gran Melia Arusha (or Arusha Coffee Lodge)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8: Departure
After breakfast, transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your departure.
Meals: Breakfast

THE END OF YOUR UNFORGETABLE SAFARI