Kenya may be more established, but for sheer wild drama, enormous open landscapes and wildlife density, Tanzania has no equal.
Over one third of Tanzania’s under some form of environmental protection; remarkable, considering it’s a developing country. It’s also home to the Serengeti National Park and Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain. Safari areas are divided into northern, southern and western circuits and almost all operators have multi-centre tours incorporating at least one major park. And, thanks to the fame of the Great Migration, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Kilimanjaro, Tanzania has outstanding family hotels, lodges, camps and eco-resorts.
Northern Circuit parks, including Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Tarangire, are open year round for safari vacations.
Wide range of small-group and private family safari tours incorporating both northern and southern circuit parks, beach and safari holidays and walk/drive safaris.
Good selection of family camp and lodge accommodation from mid-range to luxury.
Tanzania has seven UNESCO World Heritage sites including: Kilimanjaro; Ngorongoro Crater; the Serengeti; and Zanzibar Stone Town.
Over 33% of Tanzania has some form of protected status compared to South Africa’s 9% and Kenya’s 12%. More than 28,000 square miles of the country is dedicated to national parks, conservation areas and reserves.
Tanzanian safaris aren’t malaria-free and most operators advise against them for very young children and toddlers. All parks are unfenced and you can expect the experience to be significantly wilder than in South Africa or parts of Botswana.
Older children (10 and over) and teenagers get the most out of Tanzania. Visiting in the dry-season (June to October) reduces the malaria risk and several parks have family friendly lodges and hotels ranging from the likes of Four Seasons Serengeti to excellent privately owned camps in Tarangire and Ruaha.
Tanzania’s unofficial ‘Safari Capital’, Arusha’s the hub for famous Northern Circuit parks and the closest city to Kilimanjaro. It’s more functional than attractive and mostly serves as either a base for visiting surrounding reserves or as a starting point for multi-centre safaris taking in north, west and south circuits parks and the coast at Dar Es Salaam and Zanzibar.
The world’s most famous safari park is a UNESCO World Heritage site and known for the Great Migration between late January and August.
Another UNESCO World Heritage site, Ngorongoro is a stunning setting thanks to a serious of enormous volcanic craters. The Big Five are guaranteed here and it’s a leading park for predators.
One of the best dry-season northern circuit parks, Tarangire River attracts large herds of elephants and migrating wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, impala and gazelle.
Remote Ruaha isn’t the park for young kids. But, large prides of lions, rare wild dogs and an uncrowded and wildly beautiful landscape will appeal to adventurous, eco-conscious teenagers.
Gombe is world famous for Chimpanzees, first recorded here by Jane Goodall in the mid-20thcentury. The primates are well established and close encounters are common in this remarkable park.
In the Indian Ocean to the east of Tanzania, Zanzibar’s an idyllic end to a family safari. An exotic spice island with all the beaches, blue-green seas and lush beauty of the Seychelles or Maldives, it’s infinitely more interesting and historic than either.
Family safari holidays with everything, from transport to park passes, accommodation and experiences, included is by far the safest and easiest way to see Tanzania with kids. Self-drive holidays can be arranged, but their success depends on the weather and how confident you are travelling independently. Tanzanian’s are friendly and hospitable, wonderful with kids and you’ll be welcome almost everywhere you go. Always be aware that parks and reserves are unfenced and children should never be left without adult supervision at any time.
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