On safari with children

Minimum age

At Tanzania’s national parks there are no rules when it comes to minimum age for children, so everyone is welcome! Personally, we see that the youngest children who come along are often around 5 to 7 years old. The advantage of younger children is that they can enter the parks at the child rate.

Provide distractions

Safaris can take quite a while, and there are times when you may not encounter wildlife for a while. We all know that children can get bored quickly, so we recommend always bringing some form of distraction. This can be in the form of a game, a book or an iPad, for example.

Accommodations and children

Our accommodations are well prepared for the arrival of children. This is because we believe it is important that truly everyone can enjoy Tanzania. Need a crib? No problem. Also, most accommodations have access to a lovely swimming pool or other activities. Just relax while the kids are playing (in the water).

What should you pay attention to before going on safari with children?

For a safari with children, there are some important points to consider. We have collected these points and explain exactly what you can do!

• Vaccination: Prior to your safari, visit your (family) doctor to check what medications or vaccinations are required for your children. This way you can avoid unexpected health problems on vacation.
• Insurance: Prior to your safari, look carefully at your travel insurance and what the conditions are for travel outside Europe. We also recommend taking out flying doctor insurance. This way you will always make sure that if something happens, you will have a plane with you quickly.
• Packing: Packing for a safari is already quite a chore, and especially if you have children with you. The tip we always give our travelers is to pack clothes day by day. So make packages of your clothes per day so you are not putting together an outfit every day. In addition, it’s also smart to bring a loose bag where you can put your dirty clothes. That way your clean clothes won’t get dirty.
• Sunscreen and something for your head: Something that may be self-explanatory, but we want to mention it anyway. On a safari you may spend quite some time in the sun. Therefore, it is very important to bring something like a cap or hat. In addition, it is important to apply sunscreen properly to yourself and your children on a daily basis.
• Long drives: As mentioned in the previous section as well. Sometimes you are in the car for a long time and then it is important to keep the children entertained. Therefore, it is good to bring something of a distraction.

“She wanted to sit next to me in the passenger seat so she could ask all the questions.”

David, our experienced Ranger, has been our colleague for many years and has done many game drives with our guests. He is very proud of his country, its nature and culture and is truly devoted to wildlife spotting. David is happy to share his experiences about safaris with children:

“I have been on safari with many different families and I love children. Of all the great memories, there is one that has stayed with me strongly and that I think back on with great pleasure. It was a young family with a baby daughter. They had booked a 9-day safari and I was their private driver. We clicked right away. Especially the daughter and I. During all the game drives we made and all the wildlife we spotted we had a lot of fun. The little daughter insisted on sitting next to me in the passenger seat so she could ask all the questions during the drive. She thoroughly enjoyed herself and told me she was looking forward to sharing her stories with her school friends. She was very eager to learn and as soon as we went to lunch, we first started working on my packed lunch together. When we finished this one, we started on hers. Her parents loved it and enjoyed their daughter’s fun and all the beauty we experienced together. It was a special experience, also for me. I was invited to join the family for dinner as well and we ended the days with great conversations.

On the 9th day, we had to say goodbye. A fellow driver would take the family to Kilimanjaro Airport, so my “job” was basically over. When the girl heard this, she was very quiet and couldn’t get another bite through her throat during dinner. Her parents felt very sorry for her and asked the manager if there was really no way I could take them to the airport the next day. All kinds of arrangements had to be made, since I was already scheduled for the next safari. But it worked out and I was able to take them to the airport. The girl was ecstatic and her vacation could not have ended any better. Once they arrived at the airport, I got a big hug and she didn’t really want to let go of me. Her parents thanked me several times and took their little daughter with them. Thick tears, but with many fond memories she stepped inside. I drove back home and was very grateful for this beautiful experience.”