7-Day Northern Tanzania Family Safari

Itinerary information

Upon arrival at the airport, a private road transfer will take you to Gran Meliá Arusha for a one-night stay on a beautifully cultivated coffee and tea plantation. The rich aroma of fresh brews lingers as you soak in majestic views of Mount Meru rising in the distance.

With warm Tanzanian hospitality, your holiday begins amid an atmosphere of elevated relaxation. After your flight and drive, enjoy an afternoon swimming in the sparkling infinity pool. The little ones can spend the day splashing under the watchful eyes of attentive lifeguards, while you and your partner indulge in a soothing spa treatment. 

If you are feeling more energised, you can opt to spend the afternoon exploring the vibrant markets with your kids. You'll find plenty of colourful curios and trinkets to commemorate your Tanzanian journey.

Your first night concludes with your choice of casual or sophisticated dining at the on-site restaurants, building eager anticipation for the safari adventures to come.

Itinerary information

Your safari begins with a scenic flight from Arusha Airport to Lake Manyara Airstrip. From here, you'll board a comfortable game vehicle and set off to explore the Rift Valley, pausing to marvel at hippos wading in the lakes and flamingos standing gracefully in the shallows. Travel across the lush escarpment, with distant volcanoes on the horizon, as excitement for fresh sightings builds.

After a full-day safari, you'll drive to Gibb's Farm for a two-night stay in a charming cottage set along the slopes of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The warm and welcoming atmosphere makes this stay ideal for families, with opportunities to explore the grounds, watch the dairy farmers at work, and even lend a hand feeding the pigs. It's a wonderful chance for children of all ages to connect with farm life and discover the daily rhythms of a working farm.

The next morning, your safari adventure continues with an early breakfast, followed by a drive across the Ngorongoro Crater, home to Africa's highest concentration of large mammals and predators. Big Five sightings are a common delight. You'll pause for a picnic lunch on the crater floor, a perfect opportunity to capture photos of the whole family enjoying tasty dishes with the breathtaking scenery unfolding behind you. Before heading back to camp for fireside drinks featuring house wines and hot chocolates while recounting the day's sightings.

Itinerary information

Next, enjoy a short game drive to Lake Manyara Airstrip before boarding a light aircraft to Kogatende Airstrip for the final stretch of your safari. With three nights at Nimali Mara Camp, the days are yours to shape. Its sublime location along a remote section of the Mara River makes it ideal for intimate family gatherings.

You'll head out on game drives across the northern Serengeti, with the chance to witness the seasonal Great Migration as vast herds of wildebeest and zebra cross the river in search of grazing. An unforgettable memory for young children and a bucket-list sighting for adults. Even out of season, game viewing remains remarkable, with opportunities to spot the Big Five, the rare African Wild Dog, and playful warthogs with their antennae tails held high.

Afternoons can be spent swimming with your family, creating lasting bonding moments. The infinity pool, nestled inside a natural cave, offers a fun way to beat the sun. Sundowners are best enjoyed on plump cushions around a fire pit, as little ones snack on marshmallows and you sip local wines, savouring the tranquillity of the sun setting over the bush.

Itinerary information

After a final breakfast in the Serengeti, you'll fly to Kilimanjaro International Airport, for your journey onwards.