The Big 5 Tanzania family safari

Enjoy an active day in the company of a local guide as you explore the village of Mto wa Mbu. Learn about its tribal diversity, education system and social activities, followed by lunch in the village. Alternatively, you may opt for a biking tour through the village and along the shores of Lake Manyara. In the afternoon, continue driving to Karatu where you’ll overnight before going to meet the Datoga people who are renowned as skilled silversmiths next morning. You’ll be spending the night at the Kitela Lodge, which affords magnificent sunset views.

Begin the day early with a morning hunt alongside the Hadzabe Bushmen who will educate you on their unique survival skills. Aside from hunting for game, they also gather eggs, fruits and tubes, just as their ancestors have done for centuries. Just before noon, you’ll depart for the Ngorongoro Highlands and descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for a picnic lunch. This UNESCO World Heritage-listed landscape is a highlight of any Northern Circuit tour and has been identified as one of Africa’s Seven Natural Wonders thanks to its wildlife abundance and staggering beauty. Its crater walls create a natural enclosure for around 30,000 animals, including the Big 5, zebras, hippos and many bird species. This is also one of the few places in the world where rare black rhinos can be seen in their natural habitat.

After breakfast, depart for the world-famous Serengeti National Park, which has been designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Spot grazing zebra, giraffes and antelopes along the way before visiting a traditional Masai village to learn about their long-established customs. Witness their famous jumping dance and if you want, you can join in too! Meet their children, take a look inside their houses and ask any questions you might have. You’ll then enter the Serengeti National Park, stopping for lunch at one of the rocky outcrops just inside the gates. On an afternoon game drive, you’ll get your first taste of the Serengeti’s wildlife abundance, which includes all of the “Big Five” (lion, elephant, leopard, rhino and buffalo). In the late afternoon, you’ll arrive at the Serengeti Serengeti Pioneer Camp in the Central Serengeti.

Begin the day with an early morning game drive through the Serengeti, accompanied by a packed breakfast that you can enjoy along the way. See nocturnal predators returning from their nightly hunt or witness other species setting out to find food for the day. In the afternoon, you’ll have time to explore the Seronera Visitors Center where you can learn about the wildebeest migration and watch documentary videos about the Serengeti, as well as grab drinks or snacks at the on-site cafe. Following an afternoon game drive, you’ll return to your camp to enjoy some relaxation time before watching the sunset.

After breakfast at your camp, you’ll be transferred to the Seronera Airstrip for your flight to Zanzibar. Upon arrival at the Zanzibar International Airport, you’ll be met by one of our representatives and transferred to the Baraza Beach Resort where you’ll be staying for the next few nights.

Spend the next few days enjoying the picture-perfect beaches of Zanzibar where you can do as much or as little as you desire. Go swimming in the turquoise waters or take advantage of the superb snorkelling and diving on the nearby coral reefs. You can also organise a village visit or a fishing charter, as well as a whole host of other water sports to keep the family busy.

After breakfast at your beach resort, you’ll begin the drive to Stone Town, with a stop en route to explore one of the local spice plantations. Learn about how the spices are grown and used in various cuisines, with the opportunity to see, touch and even taste some of the spices that are grown. A highlight is trying some of the tropical fruits that are also grown here, including jackfruit, durian, passion fruit and mango. At the end of the tour, relax over lunch at the spice restaurant where you’ll get to feast on traditional Zanzibari dishes. In the late afternoon, you’ll arrive in Stone Town where you’ll have time to explore its atmospheric streets on your own.

Begin your final day on Zanzibar with a guided tour of Stone Town to discover its Former Slave Market, the House of Wonders and the Palace Museum. Go shopping in the small handicraft stores or head to the Central Market to experience the local comings and goings. Later in the day (depending on your flight time), you will be transferred to the Zanzibar International Airport for your flight home or onward adventures in Africa.