5 Day Family Safari
Short drives, lodges with pools and plenty of wildlife: an easygoing family safari through Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater and Mto wa Mbu village.
- Duration
- 5 days
- Route
- Arusha – Tarangire – Mto wa Mbu – Lake Manyara – Karatu – Ngorongoro Crater – Arusha
- Start / end
- Starts and ends in Arusha (pick-up from your hotel or Kilimanjaro Airport)
- Best time
- This safari works year-round, with the dry months of June to October and the school-holiday period around December to February usually the most popular.
- Trip style
- Private safari in a 4x4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof and your own driver-guide, staying in comfortable mid-range lodges with pools and family rooms.
Tour overview
This safari is designed around families. Driving times are kept short, game drives are paced so that younger travelers stay engaged, and every lodge has a swimming pool and family-friendly rooms, so there is always time to cool off and run around between adventures.
You will see elephants by the hundred in Tarangire, tree-climbing lions and flamingos at Lake Manyara, and the extraordinary density of wildlife inside the Ngorongoro Crater, where rhino, lions and hippos share one enormous volcanic bowl. A guided bicycle ride through the village of Mto wa Mbu adds a hands-on cultural experience that children tend to remember long after the trip.
Your private Land Cruiser with pop-up roof gives everyone a window seat and a great view, and your driver-guide is happy to adapt the day to nap times, snack stops and the questions of curious young explorers.
Highlights
- Large elephant herds and giant baobab trees in Tarangire National Park
- A full game drive on the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater, home to black rhino
- Guided bicycle ride through Mto wa Mbu village, farms and markets
- Forest, baboons and lakeshore birdlife in Lake Manyara National Park
- Family-friendly lodges with swimming pools and short daily drives
- Private 4x4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof and a patient, experienced guide
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1Arusha to Tarangire National Park
Your guide collects you from your Arusha hotel in the morning for the drive of about 2 to 2.5 hours to Tarangire National Park. Pop up the roof and start looking: Tarangire is famous for its big elephant herds, ancient baobab trees and the Tarangire River, which draws zebra, wildebeest, giraffe and buffalo. Stop for a picnic lunch at a scenic viewpoint, then continue exploring in the afternoon. Arrive at your lodge in time for a swim in the pool before dinner.
Day 2Tarangire to Mto wa Mbu village bike ride
Enjoy a relaxed morning game drive in Tarangire, when animals are active and the light is beautiful. After about an hour and a quarter on the road you reach the lively town of Mto wa Mbu at the foot of the Rift Valley escarpment. After lunch a local guide leads a gentle bicycle ride along flat paths through banana plantations, rice fields and village markets, with stops to meet artisans and taste local food. Child seats and smaller bikes can be arranged. Spend the evening at your lodge above Lake Manyara.
Day 3Lake Manyara National Park to Karatu
Lake Manyara National Park is just minutes from your lodge, so this morning is easy for little ones. The drive begins in a lush groundwater forest busy with baboons and blue monkeys, then opens onto grassy plains by the lake where elephants, giraffes and hippos gather and flamingos sometimes color the shallows. Keep watch for the park's famous lions resting in the trees. After a picnic lunch, drive about 45 minutes up to Karatu and spend the afternoon at the pool or strolling around the farm.
Day 4Ngorongoro Crater game drive
Today is a highlight for the whole family. Set off early with a packed breakfast and drive up to the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater, then descend about 600 meters to the crater floor. Inside this enormous caldera you can see lions, elephants, buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, hyenas and, with luck, the rare black rhino. Stop for a picnic lunch beside a hippo pool, then climb back up the crater wall in the early afternoon, within the six-hour crater limit. Return to your lodge to relax and swim.
Day 5Karatu to Arusha
Take a slow start with a leisurely breakfast. If time allows, join an optional walk around the lodge's coffee and vegetable gardens to see where your meals come from. Then drive back to Arusha, about 2.5 to 3 hours, with a stop at a craft market along the way for souvenirs. You arrive in Arusha in the early afternoon for lunch, before your guide drops you at your hotel or at Kilimanjaro International Airport for your flight home or onward journey.
What is included
- Private 4x4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof and professional driver-guide
- All park entrance and conservation fees, including the Ngorongoro Crater service fee
- 4 nights' accommodation in family-friendly lodges as listed or similar
- Meals as listed in the itinerary
- Guided bicycle ride in Mto wa Mbu with a local guide
- Unlimited drinking water in the vehicle
- Pick-up and drop-off at your Arusha hotel or Kilimanjaro Airport
Not included
- International flights
- Tanzania visa
- Travel insurance
- Tips for your guide and lodge staff
- Drinks at the lodges
- Personal items and laundry
- Optional activities not listed in the itinerary
Good to know
- Children of all ages are welcome on this private safari, and we can provide child seats on request.
- Lodges offer family rooms or connecting rooms, subject to availability, so book early for school holidays.
- Bring sun hats, sunscreen and a warm layer for the cool early morning on the Ngorongoro rim.
- Your guide can shorten or adjust game drives to suit your family's energy levels.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum age for this family safari?
There is no minimum age because this is a private safari in your own vehicle. Daily drives are short and we can bring car seats for young children. Some lodge activities may have their own age limits.
Are the lodges safe for children?
Yes. The lodges we use are fenced or staffed with escorts, and they are used to welcoming families. Children should always stay with an adult and follow staff advice around the grounds.
Can we add Serengeti or a beach stay?
Absolutely. Many families add two nights in the Serengeti or extend with a few days on the Zanzibar coast. Our 8 Day Family Safari and Zanzibar Beach tour is a popular option.
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