9-Day Family Safari with Older Children – Tarangire, Ngorongoro and the Serengeti

9-Day Safari · 4 comfort levels

9-Day Family Safari with Older Children – Tarangire, Ngorongoro and the Serengeti

From

$4,095

per person

Indicative prices per person for 2 adults sharing. Your written quote confirms the final price.

A private safari paced for families with older children and teenagers: two nights in Tarangire, two in the Ngorongoro highlands and three in the Serengeti.

This safari is built for families travelling with older children and teenagers. Instead of moving every day, you spend two nights in Tarangire, two near the Ngorongoro Crater and three in the Serengeti, so there's time to settle in, swim and rest between game drives.

Your private guide does more than find animals. They explain how elephants communicate, how predators hunt and how the crater's habitats fit together, which turns the safari into a shared adventure that teenagers remember.

You travel in your own 4×4 with a pop-up roof, and we choose lodges with family rooms and pools wherever we can.

Duration
9 days, 8 nights
Start and finish
Arusha
Tarangire
2 nights
Ngorongoro
2 nights in the highlands, with a full day in the crater
Serengeti
3 nights
Best for
Families with older children and teenagers

Highlights

  • Fewer moves: Two or three nights in each place.
  • Tarangire: Elephant families and baobabs, with time to return to the best spots.
  • Ngorongoro Crater: A full day on the crater floor.
  • The Serengeti: Two full days for the big cats and the herds.
  • A guide who teaches: Behaviour, tracks and conservation explained along the way.

Best months to travel: Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct · Dec · Jan · Feb

Choose your comfort level

The route stays the same at every level. What changes is where you sleep, how you travel and how much is arranged for you.

Mid-range

From $4,095per person

$455–$555 per day · $4,095–$4,995 for 9 days

A comfortable, well-organised safari with excellent wildlife viewing and good value, without paying for extensive luxury services.

  • Comfortable 2–3-star lodges
  • Quality tented accommodation where appropriate
  • Private 4×4 safari vehicle
  • Professional safari guide
  • Full board
  • Park and conservation fees
  • Game drives
  • Airport transfers

Luxury

From $6,795per person

$755–$1,200 per day · $6,795–$10,800 for 9 days

Upgraded lodges and premium tented camps with stylish interiors, excellent dining and attentive hospitality, while the safari stays focused on wildlife.

  • Premium 4–5-star lodges and camps
  • Prime-location accommodation where available
  • Private 4×4 safari vehicle
  • One-way flight from the Serengeti to Arusha or Zanzibar
  • Highly experienced guide
  • Swimming pool at the lodge
  • Full board
  • Park and conservation fees
  • Private airport transfers
  • More flexibility around the daily schedule

High-end luxury

From $11,700per person

$1,300–$2,200 per day · $11,700–$19,800 for 9 days

Exceptional camps and lodges with premium suites, refined cuisine and personal service, chosen for location and exclusivity.

  • High-end luxury lodges and camps
  • Private luxury safari vehicle
  • Flights between the Serengeti and Arusha or Zanzibar, both ways
  • Highly experienced private guide
  • All-inclusive premium meals and service
  • Flexible game-drive schedule
  • Private airport transfers
  • Private swimming pool
  • Hot-air balloon safari
  • Emergency assistance during the safari, including helicopter evacuation
  • Priority accommodation selection where available

Ultra-premium

From $20,700per person

$2,300–$5,000 per day · $20,700–$45,000 for 9 days

Created for special celebrations and discerning travellers. Inclusions are tailored to the property and flights you choose, because not every camp offers every service.

  • Exceptional private suites or villas
  • The highest level of personal hospitality
  • Premium dining
  • Bespoke guiding arrangements
  • Private or charter-flight options

How the prices work

These are indicative planning prices per person, based on 2 adults sharing a room and a private safari vehicle. They are not confirmed quotations.

Your final cost depends on your travel dates, lodge and hotel availability, flight fares and the services you choose, so we confirm the price in writing before you pay a deposit.

Children's rates depend on each lodge and on the children's ages, so select your group size in the booking box and Ombeni will quote your family directly.

Your private vehicle and guide are shared only by your own party, so the more of you there are, the less each person pays.

Day-by-Day Itinerary

  1. 1

    Day 1

    Welcome to Tanzania: a relaxed start in Arusha

    We meet you at Kilimanjaro or Arusha Airport and drive you to your hotel in Arusha, beneath Mount Meru. After the long flight, the day is free to rest, swim or explore the garden.

    Your guide then briefs the family on the days ahead, explains the daily routine and asks everyone what they most hope to see, from elephants and big cats to birds.

    Pack binoculars, sun protection, a water bottle and a small day bag for each traveller.
    Meals:
    Dinner, depending on your arrival time
  2. 2

    Day 2

    To Tarangire National Park

    A herd of elephants beneath a flat-topped acacia tree in Tarangire National Park

    After breakfast, you drive to Tarangire, famous for its elephants and baobab trees. On your first game drive, look for elephant families, giraffes, zebras and antelopes, while your guide explains how the animals live together.

    After a picnic lunch and an afternoon drive, you check in to your lodge and share the day's photographs over dinner.

    Meals:
    Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner
  3. 3

    Day 3

    A second day in Tarangire

    A safari vehicle on a track between huge baobab trees in Tarangire National Park

    A second day lets you explore further without packing up. An early drive in the cool morning is often the most rewarding, with animals heading for the river. Your guide can stop to read tracks and feeding signs, which older children often enjoy.

    If the family wants a gentler day, there's time to rest at the lodge between drives. Some lodges offer guided walks for older children.

    Walks and night drives depend on the lodge, the children's ages and park rules, and may cost extra.
    Meals:
    Breakfast, lunch, dinner
  4. 4

    Day 4

    Into the Ngorongoro highlands

    A safari vehicle on a red track beside zebras on the Ngorongoro Crater floor

    You drive up from the savannah into the cool, green highlands, stopping for views on the way. The afternoon is kept light: settle into your lodge, enjoy the scenery and get ready for an early start.

    Evenings in the highlands can be chilly, so bring a warm layer.

    Meals:
    Breakfast, lunch, dinner
  5. 5

    Day 5

    A full day in the Ngorongoro Crater

    A safari vehicle stopped near a black rhino and its calf

    You descend early into the Ngorongoro Crater, a vast volcanic caldera with grassland, swamps and a soda lake. Look for lions, elephants, buffaloes, zebras, wildebeest, hippos and flamingos, and keep watch for the endangered black rhino.

    After a picnic lunch in the crater, you explore more before climbing back to your lodge for the night.

    Meals:
    Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner
  6. 6

    Day 6

    On to the Serengeti

    A lone flat-topped acacia tree on golden plains in the Serengeti

    You drive through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and down onto the Serengeti plains, game-viewing on the way. Your guide explains why the animals move with the seasons and how the herds of the Great Migration follow the rain.

    You arrive at camp in the afternoon, with time for a short drive before dinner.

    Meals:
    Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner
  7. 7

    Day 7

    A full day in the Serengeti

    A lioness and her cubs resting at the base of a tree in the Serengeti

    You spend the whole day in the Serengeti with your private guide, starting early when the light is soft and the animals are active. Look for lions on the rocky kopjes, cheetahs scanning the plains, leopards in the trees along the rivers and herds of wildebeest and zebra. A picnic lunch keeps you out on the plains instead of driving back to camp.

    For a special morning, you can add a sunrise hot-air balloon flight with a bush breakfast.

    The balloon safari costs $600 per person. It's included at High-end luxury level.
    Meals:
    Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner
  8. 8

    Day 8

    More of the Serengeti

    A safari vehicle watching herds on the plains at sunset

    Another day in the Serengeti gives your guide time to follow up on the best sightings or explore a new area. In the right season, you head for the herds of the Great Migration; at any time of year, the resident lions, elephants and giraffes keep the days full.

    Meals:
    Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner
  9. 9

    Day 9

    A last game drive and the journey home

    A light aircraft flying low over wildebeest herds in the Serengeti

    After breakfast and, time allowing, a short morning drive, you head back to Arusha, by road through the highlands or by a short flight from a Serengeti airstrip. If your international flight leaves early, we recommend an extra night in Arusha.

    The flight back is included at Luxury level and above, and can be added at Mid-range.
    Meals:
    Breakfast, lunch

Choose where you'll sleep

Pick your comfort level, then choose a stay for each part of the route. Your choices go with your booking request. Ombeni confirms availability and your final price, and suggests a similar stay if one is full.

Night 1

Arusha

City hotel

Parrot Hotel

Central Arusha

A modern hotel in the centre of Arusha, an easy first stop after your flight. Air-conditioned rooms and an outdoor pool make it a comfortable place to rest before your safari briefing.

What you can do here

  • Outdoor swimming pool
  • Restaurant on site for your first dinner in Tanzania
  • Short walks to the shops and landmarks of central Arusha

Nights 2–3

Tarangire

Tented lodge

Tarangire Simba Lodge

Just outside Tarangire's western boundary, near Sangaiwe Gate

A tented lodge in a wildlife management area on Tarangire's western edge, about ten minutes from Sangaiwe Gate. A waterhole near the lodge draws passing animals, and there are views towards Lake Burunge.

What you can do here

  • Game drives in Tarangire National Park
  • Watching the waterhole from the viewing platform
  • Swimming pool to cool off in after a day on safari

Nights 4–5

Karatu and the Ngorongoro highlands

Garden lodge

Kudu Lodge

Karatu, Ngorongoro Highlands

A relaxed lodge set in about eleven acres of gardens in Karatu, the highland farming town between Lake Manyara and the Ngorongoro Crater. It is a short drive from the Ngorongoro gate, so it works well before or after a day in the crater.

What you can do here

  • Swimming pool and gardens to unwind in after the game drive
  • Restaurant and bar for dinner after a day on safari
  • Games room with darts and pool

Nights 6–8

The Serengeti

Small tented camp

Serengeti Heritage Tented Camp

Seronera, Central Serengeti

A small tented camp in the Seronera area, in the heart of the Serengeti and close to the airstrip. That makes it a practical base for a final game drive before you fly back to Arusha.

What you can do here

  • Game drives through the kopjes and grasslands of Central Serengeti
  • Sunrise hot-air balloon safari, as an optional extra
  • Sundowners on the plains, by arrangement

What's included in the price

  • Pickup: From an agreed location in Arusha, Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) or Arusha Airport (ARK).
  • Vehicle: Private 4×4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof for wildlife viewing and photography.
  • Guide: A professional English-speaking driver-guide. Other languages may be available by arrangement.
  • Accommodation: In your selected comfort level, based on two people sharing a double or twin room.
  • Meals: As listed in the day-by-day itinerary, including picnic lunches.
  • Drinks: Soft drinks, plus drinking water in the safari vehicle.
  • Game drives: As set out in the itinerary.
  • Park fees: All park entry, conservation, crater and vehicle fees for the confirmed itinerary.
  • Insurance: Emergency evacuation insurance.
  • Transfers: Road transfers between destinations and to the agreed Arusha or airport drop-off point.
  • Taxes: Government fees and taxes, and applicable statutory charges listed in your written quotation.

What's not included

  • International flights to and from Tanzania.
  • Tanzania visa fees and any passport or travel-document costs.
  • Travel and medical insurance.
  • Single-room supplements for guests who do not share.
  • Meals, drinks or services not listed as included in the itinerary.
  • Alcoholic drinks, laundry, telephone charges and personal expenses.
  • Tips for your driver-guide and accommodation staff.
  • Optional activities, including hot-air balloon safaris ($600 per person), cultural visits ($80 per person) and guided walking activities ($85 per person).
  • Additional nights or itinerary changes beyond the confirmed arrangements.
  • Unscheduled transfers, extra safari days or changes requested after confirmation.
  • Medical expenses or costs arising from personal emergencies.
  • New government fees or charges introduced after your quotation, where the contract allows them to be passed on.

Travelling with older children

  • Ages: The pace suits older children and teenagers. Tell us everyone's age when you enquire.
  • Rooms: We look for family rooms or connecting tents wherever they're available.
  • Children's rates: Some lodges charge adult rates for older children and teenagers, so we confirm each child's price in your quote.
  • Activities: Walks, night drives and balloon flights have minimum ages that vary by operator.
  • Health: Ask your doctor about vaccinations and malaria tablets suitable for children.

Best time for this safari

MonthsWhat to expect
June to OctoberThe dry season: animals gather near water, the bush is thinner and game viewing is at its most reliable.
December to FebruaryGreen season, with the calving herds in the southern Serengeti and excellent birdlife.
November and MarchShort rains or the start of the long rains: changeable weather, fewer vehicles and still good wildlife.
April and MayThe long rains. Some camps close and some roads are harder, but the landscapes are lush.

Plan your family safari

Tell us your travel dates, the number of adults and children and each child's age, your preferred comfort level and any activities your family would love. We'll confirm family rooms, children's rates and the final price in writing before you pay.

  • WhatsApp: +255 785 938 860
  • Email: info@trusttourstz.com
  • Website: trusttourstz.com

Frequently Asked Questions

Still have questions? Ask Ombeni directly on WhatsApp.

Mid-range from $4,095, Luxury from $6,795, High-end luxury from $11,700, Ultra-premium from $20,700 per person, based on 2 adults sharing. These are indicative prices, and your written quote confirms the final figure.

Yes. Many families finish with a few days on the beach. Tick the Zanzibar add-on and we'll quote the flight, transfers and hotel.

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Plan your 9-Day Family Safari with Ombeni

Indicative prices per person for 2 adults sharing. Your written quote confirms the final price.

From

$4,095

per person