10 Days Family Tanzania Safari and Zanzibar Beach Holiday Family Safari
Description
This 10-day family Tanzania safari and Zanzibar beach holiday is the ultimate family Tanzania experience. Seven nights of Big Five game drives across Tanzania's iconic northern parks, followed by three nights on the family-friendly beaches of Zanzibar Island - adventure and relaxation perfectly combined.
After the excitement of watching elephants, lions, and the Great Migration, the whole family unwinds on Zanzibar's calm turquoise lagoons, snorkeling with tropical fish, watching dolphins, and building sandcastles. This is the complete Tanzania family holiday that creates shared memories to last forever.
Safari Highlights
7 nights of family safari followed by 3 nights on Zanzibar's family-friendly beaches
Children love Zanzibar's calm lagoons, snorkeling, and dolphin watching
Complete Northern Circuit family safari with expert family guide throughout
Zanzibar family-friendly beach resort with water sports and activities for kids
Perfect family holiday combining adventure and relaxation
Junior ranger activity books and wildlife identification cards for children
Age-appropriate wildlife education makes every sighting a learning experience
Family campfire storytelling and guide-led star-gazing sessions every evening
Safe, private family vehicle with child-safe doors and comfortable rear seating
Day-by-Day 10-Day Family Tanzania Safari & Zanzibar Itinerary
Day 1: Family Arrival in Arusha
Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) or Arusha Airport (ARK) and meet your private family safari guide. Enjoy a comfortable transfer to your family-friendly hotel in Arusha. Your guide will provide a safari briefing, introduce the children to Tanzania’s wildlife, and share exciting information about the animals you will encounter. Relax and enjoy your first evening in Tanzania.
Accommodation: Arusha family hotel | Meals: Dinner
Day 2: Arusha → Tarangire National Park — Elephant Kingdom
After breakfast, depart for Tarangire National Park, famous for its huge elephant herds, ancient baobab trees, and beautiful landscapes. Families enjoy close wildlife encounters with elephants, giraffes, zebras, buffalo, and many bird species. Your guide will make the game drive exciting for children with wildlife stories and interesting facts. Enjoy a picnic lunch inside the park before an afternoon game drive and transfer to your lodge.
Accommodation: Tarangire area family lodge/camp | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3: Tarangire → Ngorongoro Highlands — Culture & Scenic Landscapes
After breakfast, continue through the scenic landscapes of the Great Rift Valley toward the Ngorongoro Highlands. Visit the cultural surroundings of Mto wa Mbu or a Maasai community where the family can learn about local traditions, farming, and daily life. Continue to Karatu, located near the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, for a relaxing evening before entering the Serengeti.
Accommodation: Karatu family lodge | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: Karatu → Serengeti National Park — Into the Wild
Enter the world-famous Serengeti National Park after breakfast. Enjoy the spectacular drive through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area before reaching the endless plains of Serengeti. The afternoon game drive introduces the family to this iconic ecosystem with opportunities to see lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, and other wildlife. Arrive at your camp for dinner surrounded by the sounds of the African wilderness.
Accommodation: Central Serengeti family camp/lodge | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5: Full Day Central Serengeti — Big Cat Safari
Spend a full day exploring Central Serengeti, one of Africa’s best wildlife areas. Search for lion prides, cheetahs, leopards, and other predators while exploring the Seronera Valley. Families enjoy unforgettable sightings of elephants, hippos, giraffes, and large herds of plains animals. A picnic lunch is enjoyed during the game drive before continuing your wildlife adventure.
Accommodation: Central Serengeti family camp/lodge | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6: Full Day Serengeti Exploration — Wildlife Discovery
Another full day in Serengeti allows more time to explore different wildlife areas and increase chances of amazing sightings. Depending on the season, you may witness wildebeest movements of the Great Migration. Enjoy morning and afternoon game drives with your expert guide, including a picnic lunch in the wilderness.
Accommodation: Central Serengeti family camp/lodge | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7: Serengeti → Ngorongoro Crater — Big Five Adventure & Zanzibar Flight
After breakfast, enjoy a final Serengeti game drive while heading toward the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Descend into the spectacular Ngorongoro Crater for an unforgettable game drive. The crater offers one of Africa’s highest concentrations of wildlife, including elephants, lions, buffalo, hippos, and the rare black rhino. After the crater experience, drive back to Arusha and transfer to the airport for your evening flight to Zanzibar.
Accommodation: Zanzibar beach resort | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8: Zanzibar Arrival — Beach Relaxation
Enjoy a relaxed morning after your safari adventure. Transfer to your beachfront family resort and spend the day enjoying Zanzibar’s white sandy beaches and turquoise waters. Families can swim, relax, enjoy hotel activities, or explore the beautiful surroundings at their own pace.
Accommodation: Zanzibar family beach resort | Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 9: Stone Town & Spice Farm Cultural Experience
Discover the cultural side of Zanzibar with a guided excursion to historic Stone Town and a traditional spice farm. Explore the narrow streets, local markets, and historical landmarks before experiencing Zanzibar’s famous spices including cloves, cinnamon, and vanilla. Return to your beach resort for your final evening.
Accommodation: Zanzibar family beach resort | Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 10: Zanzibar Beach Relaxation & Departure
Enjoy your final moments in Zanzibar with a relaxing morning at the beach. Depending on your flight schedule, you may enjoy additional resort facilities before your private transfer to Zanzibar Airport for your onward journey.
Accommodation: N/A | Meals: Breakfast
Includes & Excludes
All national park entry and conservation fees
Private 4x4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof
Professional English-speaking guide
Full board accommodation
All meals during safari
Bottled water during game drives
Airport transfers (arrival and departure)
Junior safari packs and family-friendly activity programs throughout
International flights
Tanzania visa fees
Travel insurance
Tips and gratuities
Personal expenses and souvenirs
Alcoholic beverages
Frequently Asked Questions
Tanzania offers excellent wildlife viewing year-round. The dry season (June to October) is ideal as animals gather near water sources making game viewing easier. The short dry season (January to March) is great for bird watching and the calving season. For the Great Migration river crossings, plan for July to October in Northern Serengeti. Contact us to discuss the best time for your specific interests.
Yes, all our safari itineraries are fully customizable. We can adjust the number of days, parks visited, accommodation category (budget to luxury), add Zanzibar beach extension, Kilimanjaro trekking, cultural experiences, or any other special request. Simply contact us with your preferences and we will design your perfect Tanzania safari.
Pack light, neutral-colored clothing (khaki, beige, olive green), a warm fleece or jacket for early morning drives, comfortable walking shoes, wide-brim hat, sunglasses, high-SPF sunscreen, insect repellent, binoculars, camera with extra batteries and memory cards, and any personal medications. A detailed packing list is provided upon booking confirmation.
We welcome children from 5 years old on standard game drives. Walking safaris or boat safaris require a minimum age of 12. Children under 12 must share a vehicle with parents at all times. Our guides are experienced with children of all ages and know how to keep young travellers engaged and excited throughout.
Safari vehicles are enclosed 4x4s with roof hatches for photography — children remain inside the vehicle at all times during game drives. Accommodation is family-friendly and child-safe. Your guide receives a full family briefing on day one covering safety protocols, what to do at camp, and how to behave around wildlife. Tanzania is a very family-friendly destination with excellent child safety records.
All camps and lodges on our family itineraries offer full children’s menus including familiar foods like pasta, rice, grilled chicken, eggs, and fresh fruit. Packed picnic lunches include sandwiches, fruit, and juice boxes. Please advise of any dietary requirements or allergies when booking and we will ensure all camps are informed in advance.
