Family safari in Tanzania: ages, parks and what actually works

The age question

There is no legal minimum age for a Tanzanian safari, but there are practical ones. Most lodges accept children of any age; some high-end camps set a minimum of six or twelve for shared areas and walking activities. Balloon flights require a minimum height of around 1.4 metres. Chimpanzee trekking is 12 and over. Kilimanjaro is 10 and over, though we rarely recommend it below 14.

Our own view, from running these trips: five and up works well, eight and up works very well. Under five, the driving distances do the damage rather than the animals.

Design the itinerary differently

The single biggest change is pace. An adult itinerary moves parks every two nights and accepts long transfer days. A family itinerary should stay three nights in each place, cut the number of parks, and treat the middle of the day as off.

• Three parks in ten days rather than five. Tarangire, Ngorongoro and the central Serengeti is a complete trip.
• Morning game drive out by six thirty, back by eleven. Afternoon drive from four. The middle of the day at the pool.
• Fly one leg. The Serengeti to Arusha flight turns a nine-hour drive into ninety minutes and is worth the cost on any family trip.
• Book a private vehicle. Non-negotiable with children — you set the pace, stop when needed, and are not answering to four other guests.

Which parks suit children

Tarangire is the best family park in Tanzania. Elephants in large, visible herds, baobabs, short distances, and a game density that keeps a child occupied without a two-hour search. Ngorongoro delivers a high volume of animals in a single contained morning, which suits short attention spans.

The central Serengeti works if you stay three nights. The northern Serengeti, the western corridor and the southern circuit parks mostly do not — too much driving between too few sightings for a young child.

The practical list

• Malaria prophylaxis for children needs a paediatric prescription — arrange it six weeks out.
• Bring binoculars each. Sharing is the main source of argument in a safari vehicle.
• Car sickness on corrugated roads is common. Bring what works at home.
• Most camps have family tents or adjoining rooms, but they are few — book early in high season.
• Yellow fever certificates are only required if arriving from an endemic country, children included.