Top 10 Family Activities in Tanzania

This is a fairy-tale land, where forested mountains fall into a crystal clear lake that is as big as an ocean but without the salt!

Understated luxury awaits in this beautiful little bush-camp. The gentle simplicity of the design blends seamlessly into the bush, allowing a more intimate connection with the wildlife living alongside

In a remote section of Ruaha National Park, the Jongomero Camp is an idyllic safari retreat waiting to greet you. The staff here are superb and will endeavour to make your stay as comfortable and memorable as possible.

Jabali Ridge is a truly luxurious retreat in Tanzania’s stunning Ruaha National Park. Here you will be treated to an exceptional safari experience.

Zawadi Hotel offers the most intimate beach getaway, with a fine attention to detail. Elegant, relaxed luxury awaits.

Now, this is what dreams are made of, a private island experience! Get ready to enter an unadulterated paradise.

Baraza Resort and Spa is a stunning beachside property on the island of Zanzibar. The eclectic mix of Arabic, Indian, and Swahili influences gives this resort a truly luxurious feel.

Nyerere National Park (previously Selous) may be the largest wildlife reserve in Africa – and it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site – but it’s surprisingly little visited. This is a marvellous destination for a private safari.

Beho Beho is probably the finest safari lodge in the reserve, set in beautiful hill country overlooking riverine forests, miombo woodlands and plains. It was the first lodge sited in the reserve so has arguably the most privileged position, the most comfortable temperatures all year round, and the most superb views.

Looking out across a vast blanket of trees to the beautiful Manyara Lake from, all from the luxury of the refreshing lodge pool. This is just one of the memories Escarpment Luxury Lodge firmly imprinted on our hearts. Escape from the world amongst the beauty of the valley, enjoy every comfort you desire and experience adventures that will stay with you forever.

The original Sand Rivers was built in 1984 by the pioneering guide Richard Bonham. Its successor, Nomad, still occupies this privileged position.

The Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater are truly spectacular settings filled with great herds and big cats. We take you far from the crowds and minibuses with your own private guide, staying in exclusive accommodation. Families with older teenagers will love the wildly remote Selous, Ruaha and Mahale, where you can walk, canoe and even track chimpanzees. Round it off on exotic Zanzibar.

We’ve collated a list of our ten favourite Tanzanian experiences to show you what’s possible in this incredible country.

At Journeysmiths we take you out into the wilds to enjoy all kinds of activities with expert, personable guides. Read our top ten Tanzania family safari experiences.

Mkombe’s House is the first and only private house in the Serengeti. This is one of the best choices for families who want a classic Tanzania safari in exclusivity with expertly personal and attentive service.

Cresting the rim of its namesake, Ngorongoro Crater Lodge is a favourite of ours for parents and children alike. The vistas of the crater are visible from everywhere in your suite, surrounding you with the sunlit beauty of one of Africa’s most spectacular landscapes. Children of all ages are welcome here and will love picnics on the crater floor as well as the WILDChild programme.

Kilindi Zanzibar is Tanzania’s very own beach paradise. Set in 50 acres of lush tropical gardens, this is a luxury boutique hotel which connects you to nature. This gorgeous hotel was originally designed for ABBA’s Benny Andersson. It achieves a perfect blend of Scandinavian minimalism and Middle Eastern architecture.

A secluded hideaway in one of the most remote game reserves in Tanzania, Kiba Point is a rustic retreat from modern life. Here your days pass at your own pace, whether you choose to explore by open-sided jeep with a private guide, or intrepidly explore the bush on foot. Since you won’t see any other people while you’re here, it’s the perfect African escape to enjoy with your family.

If you’re looking for a true adventure, Expeditionary Walking Camp is perfect for you. It offers a back-to-basics experience, exploring the wilds of Tanzania, but with all the comforts you need. Your camp moves every couple of days and so will you, spending most of the day hiking through the wilderness. This is an opportunity to explore some of Africa’s most beautiful and remote landscapes on a deeper level than ever before.

The best time to visit Tanzania will depend on the activities you are interested in and the wildlife you'd like to spot. Read our month-by-month seasonal guide, and responses to your most popular Tanzania safari questions

Mnemba Island, a tiny island in the Zanzibar archipelago, is a place so breathtakingly beautiful you can’t quite believe it’s real. Its lush tropical forest fringed by white powder-soft sands is surrounded by the glistening turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean - simply idyllic. We love this exclusive beach paradise, perfect for families and couples alike.

A sumptuous champagne breakfast follows your morning hot air balloon ride. Sayari Camp is known for its intimacy, excellent food and unparalleled personal service. However, it is most famous for being right in the path of the wildebeest migration between the months of June and November.

Acacia-dotted savannahs, winding waterways and spectacular sunsets – this is quintessential Serengeti. Spot prides of lions laying in the shade as elephants lumber past, or feel the energy of thousands of migrating wildebeest as they lope across the plains.

Arusha is more than just a thriving city for passing through – it’s an excellent stopover for cultural experiences and hiking trails in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro or Mount Meru.

Formed 2.5 million years ago after an ancient volcano erupted and then collapsed, the Ngorongoo crater is one of Tanzania’s most unique safari destinations. Thousands of birds and animals live here among the grasslands and Lake Magadi.

Over 2,500 elephants meander through Tarangire, but this park is also great for spotting leopard and admiring gigantic baobab trees that are hundreds of years old.

Famously described by Hemingway as the loveliest lake in Africa, Lake Manyara is home to flamingos, hippos and, curiously, tree-climbing lions. Flanked by the Rift Valley escarpment, this is one of the most scenic spots in northern Tanzania.

Katavi National Park sits in western Tanzania with a high density of wildlife and a rather low density of visitors. It’s an exclusive safari destination that is easily paired with the Mahle Mountains.

Dense rainforest cascades down the slopes of the Mahle Mountains to the shores of record-holding Lake Tanganyika. At 1,436 metres deep, this lake is a haven for wildlife and watersports alike.

Ruaha National Park has Tanzania’s largest population of elephants with over 12,000 migrating through each year. Somehow, the park remains one of the country’s least-visited.

There’s no better place to relax after a safari than on the island of Zanzibar. Surrounded by the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean and known for its vibrant spices, Zanzibar is bliss for body and mind.

Create memories of a lifetime together on an epic family safari in Tanzania. Witness the endless, game-filled plains of the Serengeti, explore the natural wonder of the Ngorongoro Crater and experience the magnificent wildlife in Tarangire.

This is where sustainability and luxury met, and fell deeply in love. Nomad Tanzania brings you Lamai Serengeti, an intimate permanent camp with conservation at its heart. Offering panoramic views of the surrounding landscapes, each of the lodge’s cosy rooms preserve the peace and rustic charm of this incredible region.

Inspired by a botanical theme, Singita’s riverside Faru Faru lodge welcomes you to barefoot elegance in a laid-back rustic setting. Here you will find every comfort you desire where nature takes centrestage. The nearby Grumeti River is famous for its large numbers of crocodiles and hippo, the lodge offers amazing contrasts through the seasons.

The chic and cosy Arusha Coffee Lodge is the perfect spot to acclimatise before your safari or unwind afterwards. Each cottage has been mindfully positioned across the lush coffee grove to provide privacy and tranquillity for those who value solitude.

Rivertrees Country Inn is a small country inn only accommodating up to thirty guests, this guarantees privacy, personal attention and spectacular service. Rivertrees is a truly welcoming place to stay at the start or finish of an exciting safari or an exhilarating attempt on nearby Mount Kilimanjaro.

The personal approach to Onsea House leaves a lasting impression. Every guest is treated with the utmost care. The daily fresh flowers in your room are a beautiful touch. This bed and breakfast truly lives up to its home-from-home ethos.

Perched on the rim of the crater with awe-inspiring views and surrounded by this tapestry of spectacular flora and fauna, Ngorongoro Crater Lodge offers you some of the most sumptuous accommodation in Africa. Everything at the lodge has been designed to invoke awe and delight the imagination.

Ngorongoro Manor is reminiscent of an elegant up-country farm home in the Cape Dutch style of architecture. The Manor is one of the finest luxury safari properties in the region to fuse East African safari hospitality with old world Afro-European architecture and décor.

Entamanu Ngorongoro is a gorgeous tented lodge, perched high in the hills of Tanzania’s Crater Highlands. Set just back from the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater on a plateau, surrounded by acacia forest, look forward to the most incredible panoramic views out over the crater.

Oliver’s Camp was established in 1992 by Paul Oliver. His vision was to recreate the old-world charm of a traditional African safari. We can confirm that he and his wonderful team have more than achieved this. Here you look forward to an intimate and exclusive safari experience, with direct access to nature.

We find the main dry season (between June and October) to be one of the most exciting times to be in Tanzania and stay in the luxury of Swala Camp. The waterhole within sight of the camp is one of the few permanent sources of water for many miles, attracting a regular procession of elephant, antelope, lion and giraffe.

Take to the Tarangire Treetops for the most magical stay. The views from the treetop rooms are as thrilling as the vast amounts of African elephants roaming around the nearby Tarangire National Park.

Lake Manyara Tree Lodge is a luxury safari lodge, set in the heart of northern Tanzania’s Lake Manyara National Park. The lodge comprises a number of romantic treehouse suites, each built on wooden stilts and with fabulous views of the mahogany forest.

The name Singita is synonymous with ultra-luxury in the depths of the African wilderness and Singita Milele is no exception. This property comprises five luxurious suites, and grand, well-equipped shared areas in the heart of a private wildlife reserve in the Serengeti National Park. If you’re looking to see the Great Migration in privacy and comfort, Singita Milele is simply perfect.

Unforgettable wildlife and epic landscapes from sea to summit.