Tanzania Family Safari

Depart U.S. for Kilimanjaro Airport

Arrive into Kilimanjaro Airport where you will be met and transferred to your lodge in Arusha.

Overnight: The Arusha Hotel

Meals: Snack

Northern Tanzania is a relatively small area, so it only takes a brief scenic flight to bring you to a whole new world of cultural interest and natural beauty. Take in breathtaking views of Lake Natron and the Maasai "mountain of god", Ol Doinyo Lengai, which is an active volcano.

You will be welcomed upon arrival at the airstrip. Your guide will accompany you throughout your safari, offering cultural insights, wildlife spotting expertise and in-depth knowledge of wildlife behavior.

Enjoy wildlife viewing this afternoon in the Eastern Serengeti Ecosystem. Be on the lookout for rarer species, such as the bat-eared fox and the smaller animals that are sometimes overlooked, such as the mongoose, hyrax, dik dik, and eland.

Stretch your legs on a brief but scenic walk this afternoon. As one recent guest put it, the nature refuge is "a magical place of peace and beauty," and there's no better way to experience it than on foot. A local wildlife scout will accompany you and your guide on this walk, pointing out nearby wildlife.

Enjoy a welcome dinner and the full Tanzanian hospitality that comes with it.

Overnight: Eastern Serengeti Nyumba

Meals: B, L, D

Head out on a light hike this morning. The terrain will be fairly mild, but make sure that you

have comfortable shoes with good traction. Being out on the plains on foot at this time of day is

magical.

How do you tell the difference between the footprint of a dik-dik and a Thomson’s gazelle?

How about a leopard and a lion? There’s a special area set aside at the edge of camp where

the guide will be able to show you which animals have wandered through the area. There are

always a few surprises!

Visit a school, teachers' housing, or medical dispensary to learn how tourism can impact the

community in positive ways through collaboration and understanding.

Maasai elder Nekaaki Kioki is a feisty grandmother and fantastic storyteller. She knows

hundreds of Maasai folktales and tells them in a truly dramatic fashion. Gather around to listen

to her tell folktales, which are translated into English.

Take to the plains and wilds after dark for a night drive in the Eastern Serengeti Ecosystem.

Night drives offer thrills and possible sightings of nocturnal creatures, such as spring hares,

aardvarks, and porcupines. More than anything, the night drive offers an adventure few

travelers in Tanzania have the chance to experience.

Overnight: Eastern Serengeti Nyumba

Meals: B, L, D

Enjoy the journey to your next Nyumba camp, as there will be plenty to see along the way.

Perhaps you will come across a chase between predator and prey; maybe you will spot a wake

of vultures; or maybe you will be lucky enough to find a leopard relaxing high in the limbs of an

acacia tree.

Enjoy wildlife viewing this afternoon in the Eastern Serengeti Ecosystem. Be on the lookout for

rarer species, such as the bat-eared fox and the smaller animals that are sometimes

overlooked, such as the mongoose, hyrax, dik dik, and eland.

Pick up a few useful Swahili expressions and words from your guide. Just trying out a few of

them while on safari will make your experience all the more remarkable.

Spend some time at your Nyumba in the Serengeti this evening. Before dinner, enjoy a

workout, utilizing the Nyumba’s Keep Fit Kit, or just put your feet up and relax in and around

the dining tent, exchanging safari tales with your fellow travelers.

Overnight: Serengeti Nyumba

Meals: B, L, D

Those with advance reservations will have the opportunity to balloon across the plains during

one of your mornings in the Serengeti. A pre-dawn wake-up call leaves you time to drive to the

balloon launch site in order to catch the most dramatic light. Then take to the skies just as the

sun rises. Glide over the plains and acacia treetops, taking in spectacular views of the

Seronera River Valley and the surrounding plains. After your descent, enjoy a magnificent

champagne breakfast right in the midst of the Serengeti wilderness.

There is nothing as marvelous as traversing the plains of the Serengeti just after dawn and

through the morning hours. Look for herds of wildebeest, zebra, giraffe, impala, eland, topi, and

more out on the savanna.

Explore the pristine landscapes of the Serengeti with your guide's uncanny wildlife spotting

instincts leading the way. Expansive plains, rolling hills, dramatic granite outcrops and riverine

valleys are home to an endless variety of fascinating creatures, from the lowly dung beetle to

the impressive elephant.

Kids will learn some traditional Tanzanian games, such as “Rede” (a little like dodgeball) or

“Bao” (a boardgame requiring chess-like strategy), among many others.

Overnight: Serengeti Nyumba

Meals: B, L, D

Explore the pristine landscapes of the Serengeti with your guide's uncanny wildlife spotting

instincts leading the way. Expansive plains, rolling hills, dramatic granite outcrops and riverine

valleys are home to an endless variety of fascinating creatures, from the lowly dung beetle to

the impressive elephant.

Overnight: Southern Serengeti Nyumba

Meals: B, L, D

This morning, embark on a journey into the Serengeti plains. Your expert guide will seek out

the unique and diverse flora and fauna of the Serengeti, including the iconic herds of

wildebeest and zebra as they migrate across Tanzania.

Go on a walk led by your guide. You may see signs of wildlife in the area by identifying spoor,

searching for broken branches, and finding animal tracks in the sandy soil.

Spend some time at your Nyumba in the Serengeti this evening. Before dinner, enjoy a

workout, utilizing the Nyumba’s Keep Fit Kit, or just put your feet up and relax in and around

the dining tent, exchanging safari tales with your fellow travelers.

Overnight: Southern Serengeti Nyumba

Meals: B, L, D

Take in your last glimpses of wildlife in the Serengeti on your way to the airstrip.

Savor lunch at Gibb's Farm, where nearly every ingredient comes fresh from the estate's

organic farm. With delicacies to suit every palate, this is sure to be a memorable meal.

You may choose to spend the afternoon relaxing on the veranda with tea, or taking advantage

of innumerable optional activities: a farm or garden tour, bird watching, coffee roasting, and

more.

Take some time to catch your breath in your private cottage. Unwind with an outdoor shower,

listen to the birds from your patio, or enjoy a drink as twilight fades in over the Ngorongoro

Highlands.

Overnight: Gibb's Farm

Meals: B, L, D

Visit the Ngorongoro Crater, where you are likely to find an abundance of wildlife. With luck,

you might even see rhinoceros and big cats, such as lion and cheetah. The diversity of species

often inspires awe, from baboons and elephants in the Lerai Forest to wildebeest and mountain

reedbuck over the crater’s grassy floor.

To maximize your wildlife viewing time on the crater floor, enjoy your picnic lunch near a hippo

pool.

If you haven't spotted them already, spend the rest of the day trying to check the Big Five off

your list! Lion, Cape Buffalo, Black Rhino, Leopard, and Elephant all live in the Crater - so you

might see them all before you leave!

After being on the rugged park roads, there is nothing so refreshing as taking a dip in the pool

at your lodge.

This evening, sip complementary sundowners on the poolside terrace and enjoy the night’s

entertainment. Choirs, instrumentalists or storytellers may perform, depending on the evening,

as the sun sets in picturesque fashion over the coffee farm. With comfortable seating and

variety of drinks, it offers a wonderful place for conversation and stargazing.

Enjoy your farewell dinner in Tanzania, giving you time to reflect on the many sights,

adventures, and experiences that you will remember for years and years to come.

Overnight: Gibb's Farm

Meals: B, L, D

Breakfast at Gibb's is a great way to start the day. Enjoy local fruits, homemade yogurts and

fresh cheeses, and made-to-order breakfast classics like omelettes or pancakes. Everything is

made with the freshest ingredients.

A shopping mainstay in Arusha, the Cultural Heritage Center attracts many travelers each year

with its abundance of wooden carvings, artifacts, apparel, and crafts. The center also has

Tanzanite and other gemstones for sale. While the center caters mostly to tourists, they also

have wonderful cultural displays and a separate wing that displays some of the finest African

art in Tanzania.

Enjoy a special farewell lunch in Arusha as you prepare for your departure. Visit the adjoining

Shanga workshop where physically challenged artisans create remarkable jewelry, learn glassblowing,

and sell their work. This extraordinary project was created in order to mentor and

empower those who are often marginalized in Tanzanian society. You will be surprised and

inspired by the quality and beauty of their creations.

Enjoy a day room in Arusha, resting up and readying yourself for your departure.

Transfer as a group to Kilimanjaro Airport. 

Accommodations: Day room at The Arusha Hotel

Meals: B, L, Snack

Arrive back in the U.S.