Why choose Tanzania for your family safari?

There are no direct flights from London or the USA so we would fly you on KLM via Amsterdam or an alternative hub. Travel to the northern reserves, such as the Serengeti, are by small plane or overland in a private safari vehicle with your own private guide. Travel between the southern and western reserves, such as Selous and Mahale, are by light aircraft. The main rains in Tanzania fall from early April to mid-June. There is a shorter rainy season in November. The rest of the year is mainly dry and sunny which means that the school holidays (unless Easter falls in April) are a good time to travel.

Another factor that may influence your timing is the wildebeest migration. It traverses the Serengeti throughout the year; though it largely moves into the Kenyan Masai Mara July to September. During these months, we can select one of the superb smaller camps right up in the north, which will enable you to see it.

The national parks of the north and the south offer different kinds of safari. We explain this in more detail here. The north includes the Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire and Kilimanjaro and these are suitable for families of all ages. The south includes the Selous and more remote areas like Ruaha and to the west Katavi and Mahale. These areas are perfect for a family with older teenagers and offer more adventurous activities such as walking,chimp trekking, canoeing and fly camping.

Parts of Northern Tanzania can get busy. We make sure you avoid the crowds, staying in smaller luxury lodges and camps. We can even arrange your own private mobile camp with its own support team. We have devoted 30 years to discovering and building relationships with the best small safari properties in Tanzania. Some are located on private wildlife reserves notably in the Serengeti. Here are some of our favourite family lodges and camps.

Zanzibar and the Indian Ocean coast are just a short flight from northern Tanzania or the Selous. Your family can move seamlessly from lion and elephant to dolphin and a hundred kinds of reef fish. We know delightful ocean hideaways which complement the style and service you will have enjoyed on safari. Zanzibar and the islands of Pemba and Mafia have superb beaches, snorkelling and diving. For centuries the island was a port linking Africa and Arabia and the Old Stone Town has a colourful history.