Tanzania With Kids: Safari Ages and Fees

Travel advisory: Families should know that the US advises travellers to reconsider travel to Tanzania, and the UK advises against all but essential travel within 20 km of the Mozambique (Cabo Delgado) border. The family destinations below are in the north and on Zanzibar. Check travel.state.gov and the UK FCDO guidance before booking.

Age limits decide a family trip to Tanzania more than distance does. The parks set few of them, the lodges set many, and the mountain sets a hard one. Check these before you choose where to stay.

Safari with children

Park rules are fairly relaxed, but many lodges take children for game drives from about 6, and often keep walks off the vehicle or lodge grounds for those 12 and older. Balloon flights usually start at 7. Always ask each lodge for its own policy.

Fees are lower for young visitors. In the Ngorongoro Conservation Area the tariff is about USD 23.60 for children 5 to 15, and under-5s enter free. Elsewhere children 5 to 15 generally pay 20 to 50 percent of the adult rate. Gates accept cards or e-payment only.

The Serengeti is about 8 to 9 hours by road from Arusha, which is a long stretch for small children. The shorter parks are easier. Tarangire and Lake Manyara are each around two hours from Arusha and have the elephants, baboons and flamingos children tend to remember. Compare the tariffs at Tanzania National Parks .

A village morning at Mto wa Mbu

Near Lake Manyara, community-run guides lead tours of about two hours through banana plantations and the market, and visit Makonde wood carvers. It is a gentle, walking-pace way to meet people between game drives.

Zanzibar with kids

  • Changuu (Prison) Island is a boat ride from Stone Town to a tortoise sanctuary where children can feed giant Aldabra tortoises. Boat and entry are priced separately, so ask what is included.
  • Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park has red colobus monkeys and a boardwalk, and the Zanzibar Butterfly Centre on its edge runs a tour of 30 to 40 minutes with more than 50 species.
  • Beaches are best planned around the tide. On the south-east coast at Paje and Jambiani the water goes shallow at low tide, while Nungwi and Kendwa in the north are the easier swimming beaches. Cover shoulders and knees in towns and villages.

Kilimanjaro

The official minimum age is 10. Younger children may go only to about 3,100 m with special permission, so this is a teenage goal, not a family day out.

Health and packing

  • Malaria is present below about 1,800 m, so speak with a doctor about children’s doses.
  • Entry needs an e-visa and the mandatory travel insurance policy (USD 44, up to 92 days). Children aged 3 to 17 are reported to pay half price, so check gov.uk entry requirements .
  • Plastic carrier bags are banned, but zip-lock bags for toiletries and snacks are allowed.

For a family-sized plan, start with the 3-day itinerary and price family-friendly trips on GetYourGuide .

Verdict: for a first family trip, combine Tarangire and Manyara with a few nights on Zanzibar, and leave the Serengeti until the children are older.