Tanzania and Uganda are a wonderful choice for a family safari holiday, offering some of the most memorable wildlife experiences on the continent; game drives in national parks without the crowds, island and lakeside beaches to while away relaxing days and more outdoors activities. Among the best safari itineraries to choose include the 09 Day Uganda Exclusive Safari and also the 09 Day Uganda Safari Holiday. Then those on luxury option with their child you can either go for the Fly-In Uganda Gorilla Trek – 04 Day or the 14 Day Uganda Family Safari and staying in some of the sophisticated lodges and camps.
For a family safari in Uganda, Western Uganda is the top region to visit: home to most of the country’s national parks, reserves and natural attractions, it offers spectacular wildlife, astonishing landscapes to explore and lots of outdoors activities.
For families with older children, mountain gorilla and chimpanzee trekking are two top highlights, while children of all ages can enjoy wildlife spotting in the most popular national parks of the region – Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls – and guided nature walks to spot birds and monkeys in the region’s beautiful rain forests, such as in Budongo Forest Reserve.
Central Uganda also has some wonderful attractions for families: children above the age of six can track rhinos on foot and go in search of shoe bill storks in canoes at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, and for children who are under the age of 15 and can’t go chimp trekking; a visit to Ngamba Island chimpanzee sanctuary is a great alternative. Scattered in Lake Victoria, the Ssese Islands also make for a relaxing beach destination with some fun activities, such as wind surfing and fishing.
For active families, Eastern Uganda is home to the adrenaline capital of East Africa, Jinja, which lies at the source of the Nile River. For children above the age of eight, white-water rafting is a heart-pumping adventure and there’s plenty more fun to be had on the river, including boat cruises, stand-up paddle boarding and kayaking.
Then on land there’s bungee-jumping, horse-back riding, quad biking and mountain biking – more than enough to keep even the most energetic of children entertained for a few days.
Tracking mountain gorillas is a big reason why people travel to Uganda and it’s a wonderful activity to do as a family, but note that there is a minimum age limit of 15 for gorilla safaris (the same age limit applies for chimp trekking). Many other safari and wildlife activities also have an age limit – for example, rhino trekking at Ziwa is only for children above six.
Before you book any lodging, check up on the minimum age policies of lodges, as many of them won’t accept children under a certain age (and some don’t allow any children). Some lodges have a policy of only allowing children on game drives if you book a private vehicle and guide. Some lodges, however, are particularly child-friendly, offering family rooms and things like children’s menus and guided nature walks for kids, so it’s worth doing research on the best lodges for families before your trip.
Uganda’s roads are mostly unpaved and rough, which means that traveling by car between destinations can take a lot longer than you would expect, given the distance. If you’re self-driving or hiring a driver to travel around Uganda with your family, it makes sense to limit your itinerary to fewer places, spending more time in each destination, rather than trying to see all of the highlights on one trip.
Family safari in Tanzania is very amazing as the African destination has excellent wildlife, white sandy island beaches, and good transport linking to the mainland Tanzania. Family safari in Tanzania is perfectly suitable for any kind of budget and age group including the special children who are the love of the families.
The Tanzania safari lodges seldom include kids’ clubs, but the amazing wildlife and environment, combined with safari activities designed for children, will make a handful of safari camps and beach lodges stand out for families. Any child that’s in for nature is in for a fascinating and fulfilling holiday.
The kind of family safari holidays in Tanzania depends on the age and temperament of your youngest child. Children who are older and can consistently be sensible and follow instructions when asked will have more options than younger children who cannot follow or understand guidelines. And whatever type of safari you take, remember that great guiding is the key to your child’s enjoyment of the safari.
For an amazing family safari, it is possible to combine a safari to the game reserves in Northern Tanzania or Southern Tanzania with a short beach holiday on Zanzibar Island. If you just want to relax and have some fun as a family with children at least above 8 years then a beach holiday in Tanzania would be recommended. The game reserve safaris are highly recommended for children who love nature and are older as they will generally enjoy Tanzania safaris.
In Serengeti – from witnessing the Great Migration to catching sight of the big cats that follow the herds, you and your children will be mesmerized by this national park every time you set off on a traditional game drive!
The Serengeti really excels when it comes to safari activities for youngsters – tracking, making bows-and-arrows, and going on walks around camp with staff, are just a few examples of what kids can get up to here. There’s always something to look at close to camp, from birds to smaller mammals, and the staff is great at entertaining children.
Ngorongoro Crater – the views from the Crater rim are sure to have you and your little ones gasping with awe. Well worth a visit for the scenic vistas alone, the Crater is also steeped in history, so the kids can enjoy a little learning as you cruise along the caldera floor.
You can’t beat family time spent on the beach, and that’s why we recommend a few days’ post-safari along the white sandy beaches of Zanzibar! Zanzibar offers plenty of things to do too, such as playing on the beach, trying a few water sports, and taking trips to spice farms, Jozani Forest, and tortoise-plastic Prison Island!
Selous is a watery world filled with palm trees, boat cruises, and of course some wonderful wildlife. This reserve is perfect for a quieter family safari! In the Selous, there’s fishing and canoeing, at least for older children.
Walking has a minimum age requirement of 15 years, so this activity is available for mid-to-late teenagers. Walks provide thrilling opportunities to experience the bush, offering a different perspective from game drives.
