Northern Tanzania can be a wonderful family destination, but the distances are real, and a plan that works for adults may not suit a six-year-old. The good news is that single-day trips let you tailor each day to your children's age and energy, and return to a comfortable bed each night. Here is how to plan.
Start gently
Begin with the shortest and easiest outing, Arusha National Park or Lake Manyara. Arusha National Park is the closest park to town, with giraffe, buffalo, colobus monkeys and, on some tours, a short walking safari or a canoe on a small lake. Lake Manyara has a shorter drive than the other big parks and varied scenery, with forest monkeys, hippos and birds, so there is something to look at every few minutes. Both suit children from about five, and the pop-up roof of a safari vehicle keeps them engaged.
Pick one long day, not three
Tarangire and Ngorongoro Crater are the great wildlife days, but each involves hours of driving each way. Children over eight who like animals usually cope, especially with snacks, a few games and a sense of what they might see. Younger children may be happier with the shorter parks. If you want the crater, stay in Karatu the night before, which removes the dawn drive. The Retreat at Ngorongoro has a children's pool, a playground and larger rooms with fireplaces for the cool highland evenings.
Gentle nature days
Lake Duluti is flat, green and calm, with monkeys and birds in the forest and, on many tours, a canoe ride in a lifejacket. It makes a good half day after a long safari. The Serval Wildlife Sanctuary offers a shorter, easier wildlife outing with giraffe and zebra, and it is often paired with the Chemka hot springs, where children can swim in clear, warm, blue water. The Napuru and Materuni coffee tours involve walking on uneven paths, but they suit active children, and the coffee ceremony, roasting beans and pounding them by hand, is a hit.
Culture and food
A cooking class and market tour is a very good family activity for children old enough to help in the kitchen, and the town walking tour works well for children who like markets. A Maasai village visit can be fascinating if it is run respectfully. Explain beforehand that people live differently, and encourage questions and politeness rather than photography. A good host will welcome children's curiosity.
What to avoid
Very long drives with small children, early starts on consecutive days and activities with steep, slippery paths. The Lake Eyasi cultural day and the Olduvai Gorge trip are better left for older children or a later visit, and the day hikes on Kilimanjaro suit fit teenagers rather than young children.
Where to stay
Look for pools, space and quiet. The Retreat at Ngorongoro is the family lodge for the crater. Lake Duluti Lodge has a nature-reserve setting, canoeing and cycling, and Mount Meru Hotel has junior family suites that sleep four, a pool and a garden. In Moshi, Keys Hotel and Kilimanjaro Wonders Hotel have pools and rooms for three. Ask each hotel about cots, extra beds and children's meals, and about any age policies.
Practical notes
Pack sun hats, sunscreen, insect repellent, a light waterproof and warm layers for the crater rim. Bring snacks, water, binoculars scaled for small hands and a few games for the drives. Check with your doctor or travel clinic about vaccinations and malaria precautions for children well before you travel, and follow current health advice from your own government. Park fees are charged per day and change, and the rules for children can differ, so ask your operator what is included. Choose an operator who offers a private vehicle for families, because it lets you set the pace, stop for toilet breaks and leave early if needed.
A sample week
Day one rest, day two Arusha National Park, day three Lake Duluti or a cooking class, day four Lake Manyara, day five the Chemka hot springs, day six a quiet day and day seven Tarangire if the children are ready. It is a relaxed rhythm that lets everyone enjoy the trip. Build in a free afternoon at the hotel pool after each outing, because children recover quickly with some water and play.
