TANZANIA WITH KIDS: BEST THINGS TO DO ON YOUR VACATION

Tanzania has it all: breathtaking national parks, incredible wildlife, exciting tribes and best of all - this East African gem is totally family-friendly.

We're seeing so many families come to Tanzania with kids, covering all corners of the country, from hot air balloon rides over the Serengeti to day trips to Lake Victoria.

Since starting our African Lion Safaris in Tanzania, our team has been on the move, scouting out the best things to do for families with kids to add them to our packages. We've found so many great locations as well as activities, that we decided to write this guide to showcase them all to you!

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A Tanzania cheetah yawns in amongst the long grass of the savannah / Image: @huchenme

Take a Safari Through the Serengeti National Park

Easily one of our most popular safari holidays for kids, the iconic Serengeti National Park is the best place to experience Tanzania's incredible natural regions as well as witness the Great Migration.

Take your little ones on a game drive to see the Great Migration of over 2 million wild animals, including wildebeest, zebra, gazelle, and more. Watch one of the greatest wildlife spectacles unfold in front of their eyes as these animals tackle the 1900-mile trek across the Serengeti between July and November.

Safaris aren't the only thing your children can do in the Serengeti National Park; hit new heights on a sunrise hot air balloon over the animals as they race across the savannah or let them relive scenes from the Lion King movie at the Kopjes Rock Formations.

2. Book Into a luxurious Family-Friendly Resort in Zanzibar

Tucked away off the eastern shores of Tanzania is the picture-perfect island of Zanzibar, one of the best places to visit for a break after an action-packed safari vacation.

You've so many options to choose from when it comes to resorts on the island. Many hotels in Zanzibar cater to families, offering amazing facilities, including play areas, kids' pools, board games, and child-minding services in case you and your partner need a break.

There are some wonderful activities you can do too, why not take the children to the dreamy Michamvi-Pingwe Beach or on a boat ride to see Uzi Island.

A birds eye view of a luxurious villa in Tanzania

3. Visit the Maasai Tribe

Open your children’s eyes to a whole new way of life on their tour through Tanzania with a visit to the Maasai Tribe.

Mainly located in the north of the country, the Maasai people cover much of the area in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Conservation Area and have over several hundred thousand members.

Compared to other tribes in Tanzania, the Maasai are quite accessible and open to visitors, so it's possible to take your children to experience their way of living with a registered tour guide.

You can spend a full day with the tribe, learning about their cultural traditions, including their red clothing attire, striking jewelry, and their unique way of dancing. Plus, you'll get an insight into how valuable cattle are to the communities and how they use them as a form of income.

Enjoy Tanzania with Kids and visit the Maasai Tribe. Here they are talking amongst themselves and selling their specially crafted jewelry.

4. Spend a Day at Lake Victoria

Lake Victoria is the largest lake on the continent of Africa, covering a surface area of 68,800 sq km. It borders three countries - Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya.

It's well worth spending some time here with your kids to give them a deeper insight into the natural regions of this untouched part of the country.

Some of the highlights include the interesting Bujora Cultural Centre and Sukuma Museum, where you can learn about the Sukuma Tribe. The Mwaloni Market, a famous fish market also offering fruits and vegtables is known to be a famous Tanzanian spectacle and well worth visiting.

If you'd like to get out onto the lake, plenty of boat tours will be available when you arrive. Local fishermen will take you and your family out to go fishing as well as bird watching; don't be surprised if you see some grey parrots or African fish eagles.

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5. Experience the Ngorongoro Conservation Area

When you see the Ngorongoro Conservation Area for the first time, you'll realize why this is one of the best activities for kids in Tanzania.

Children love to see the very first sights of this incredible Crater when they go through the Lodoare Gate. Its a wonderful experience for the whole family. The Ngorongoro Crater is an insane volcanic caldera 264 square km in size covering extensive areas of savannah and forest.

Of course, the Crater itself is the highlight of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area for many, but it's also home to an abundance of wild animals. In fact, up to 25,000 animal species can be found here, including the legendary Big 5, which includes lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and African buffalos.

A herd of Elephants gather in Ngorongoro Crater. Uncover many animals in the Crater when you safari in Tanzania with kids.

6. Check out the Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Songo Mnara

Any families who are traveling with teenagers that are fascinated with history will love the Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Songo Mnara. These Unesco World Heritage Sites reside on two islands across from the port of Kilwa Masoko.

They're highly significant as they're two former Swahili trading cities, which were once the most distinguished trading centers in Eastern Africa for goods such as pearls, perfumes, silver, gold, and more.

As you hop off the ferry and set foot around the islands, you'll be met by the fascinating remains of mosques and palaces built with just wood and coral stones.

Getting to the ruins is super easy, as they're only a short 2-kilometer ferry from Kilwa Masoko Harbor. If you really want to do something fun, you can also take a traditional dhow boat there. However, if the weather is poor, the boats may not operate due to their reduced stability.

7. Bring Your Kids to See Kilimanjaro (Without the Hike)

This mountain needs no introduction; Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa, reaching a whopping 5,895 meters above sea level. Kilimanjaro is located in the northeast of Tanzania, right beside the border with Kenya.

Most people who hike the mountain start from Arusha or Moshi. As you'll be with kids, the chances of you climbing Kilimanjaro will be slim, but that doesn't mean you have to cut it out of your itinerary entirely. It's still possible to see it from various points on the outskirts of the town of Moshi.

There are lots of viewpoints from which to see Kilimanjaro, but one of the easiest, if you have small kids, is at the Railway Bar in Moshi. As of writing this, the bar itself is closed, but you can go there and see the mountain in all its glory.

The bar is beside the old Moshi Train Station and can be found on Google Maps. Your best chance of getting a good view is either early in the morning for sunrise or in the evening if it hasn't been raining.

A spectacular view of Mount Kilimanjaro from afar / Image: @steve4c

8. Visit Lake Manyara and the fascinating tree climbing lions

Lake Manyara National Park is lesser known than some of the other big-name national parks in the country, like the Serengeti, and it's also a lot smaller. It lies north of Tanzania between Lake Manyara and the Great Rift Valley.

The big attraction here for visitors is the families of tree-climbing lions that scale the thick acacia trees scattered around the park. It's an interesting skill that scientists have yet to determine why lions in this area are able to do this, but the prediction is that they do this to protect themselves from the sun and also to scout out their prey while blending in.

Tree-climbing lions aren't the only animals you'll spot at Lake Manyara National Park; there's also pink flamingos that drink off the famous lake alongside other bird species, such as pelicans, herons, hornbills, storks, and kingfishers.

A liioness sleeping in the branches of a tree. Catch a glimpse of the famous tree-climbing lions in Lake Manyara National Park / Image: @ivansabayuki

9. Walk Around Stone Town in Zanzibar

What seems like an intriguing part of the western side of Zanzibar Island has a dark past waiting to be uncovered. The Stone Town was an old Swahili trading town that was once the heart of the slave trade in East Africa.

Today, it's filled with beautiful buildings and busy bazaars that are totally kid-friendly, but if they're old enough (teens) and you want them to learn more about history, you can take them to see the remains of the cells that were used for the slaves.

Explore Stone Town with your Kids. Here is a snippet of a historical side street of this famous part of Zanzibar / Image: @queenlj

Start Mapping Out Your Family Trip to Tanzania With Your Kids!

If you were to look at all the destinations in East Africa for a family getaway, it's hard to top Tanzania with your kids. You've got expansive national parks, sun-kissed beaches, secluded islands, rugged mountains, ancient sites, gorgeous resorts, and so much more.

When you think about it, Tanzania has it all for families. Whatever type of adventure you're looking for, you can do it here.

This may be a once-in-a-lifetime trip for your kids, so you'll want to make it extra special to ensure they never forget it. That's where BornWild comes in; we're leading experts in planning holidays in Tanzania, so we can assist you in crafting an itinerary to suit you and your family. Head over to our Contact Us Page, send us an email, and one of our team members will contact you.

Tanzania with Kids: Best Things to Do on Your Vacation