8-Day Tanzania Safari Adventure – Tarangire, Lake Manyara, Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater

Morning Drive to Manyara After a relaxed breakfast, your family will leave the Tarangire area and travel a short distance to Lake Manyara National Park. This easy drive is only about 70 kilometers and takes one to two hours, making it a very comfortable morning for the children in the car.

Exploring Lake Manyara We will drive into the green groundwater forest, looking for playful monkeys in the trees and colorful birds near the water. The park is quite small, so we can drive slowly and look for the tree-climbing lions without having to cover long distances.

Arriving at the Lodge In the middle of the afternoon, we will leave the park and take a short drive to your new lodge located on top of the Rift Valley wall. The kids will have plenty of time to safely swim in the pool before the family eats dinner together.

Morning Journey to the Plains We will leave your lodge after breakfast and drive up into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, heading toward the Serengeti. This long drive covers about 205 kilometers and takes four to five hours, but we will make sure to take breaks so the kids can stretch their legs and use the bathroom.

Driving Near the Herds As we drive through the open plains on our way to the main park, you can see why an Ndutu calving season safari is so popular, as wildebeest sometimes gather near our route in March. We will eat a packed lunch in a safe spot and look for animals as we slowly enter the Serengeti.

Relaxing at the New Camp By the late afternoon, we will arrive at your family-friendly tented camp located right in the middle of the Serengeti. 

Morning Wildlife Search Today you have a full day to explore the huge Serengeti National Park safari landscapes, starting early when the animals are most active. You can tell your guide to stop and watch your favorite animals for as long as you want without feeling rushed.

Camp Lunch and Rest To keep the children's energy high, we will go back to the camp for a hot lunch instead of driving around all day. This break is very helpful for families, allowing everyone to rest in the shade before the afternoon heat peaks.

Short Evening Drive In the late afternoon, we will take a short drive near the camp to see animals waking up from their daytime sleep to drink from the nearby rivers. We will come back early so you can shower and eat dinner before bedtime.

Morning Game Drive After a good night's sleep, we will drive to a different part of the Central Serengeti to look for animals we might have missed yesterday. We keep the driving speed easy and smooth so the children feel comfortable in the safari car.

Picnic Lunch on the Plains Today, we will bring a packed lunch so we do not have to drive back to camp, finding a safe and quiet spot for the family to eat outside. Your guide will always make sure the kids have safe places to go to the bathroom during the day.

Returning to Camp In the late afternoon, we will slowly drive back to your camp, looking for leopards resting in the branches of sausage trees. You will have another peaceful evening eating dinner in the dining tent.

Final Serengeti Drive We will enjoy one last morning drive in the Serengeti as we start making our way toward the exit gate. This journey takes us out of the flat plains and up into the cooler Ngorongoro Conservation Area, covering about 140 kilometers over three to four hours of driving.

Lunch and Stretching When we find a safe place with nice views, we will stop to eat our packed lunches and let the kids stretch their legs. We keep the driving speed very steady to make sure everyone feels good on the bumpy dirt roads.

Reaching the Highlands In the late afternoon, we will arrive at your lodge located high up on the edge of the crater. The air is much cooler here, so your family can sit warmly by the indoor fire while waiting for your evening meal.

Morning Crater Descent Early in the morning, we will drive 600 meters down into the Ngorongoro Crater floor. This safe, enclosed space makes a Ngorongoro Crater safari very easy for children, as we can often see rhinos and lions very close to the road.

Climbing Out After spending a few hours driving around the crater and having a picnic lunch near the hippo pool, we will drive back up the steep walls. The drive is beautiful and exciting for the kids.

Short Drive to Karatu Once we reach the top, we will drive about 40 minutes back down to the town of Karatu. You can spend the evening relaxing at the lodge and getting ready for your trip home the next day.

Morning Departure After a relaxed breakfast, your family will pack up and begin the final drive back to Arusha. The drive is about 150 kilometers on smooth, paved roads and takes around two and a half hours.

En-Route Stops We will stop in the small town of Mto wa Mbu, where the family can stretch their legs, use the restrooms, and maybe buy a few nice souvenirs to take home.

Arriving in Arusha You will reach Arusha town by the early afternoon. Your guide will drop your family off at your hotel or the airport for your flight home, bringing your safe and happy holiday to a close.