Once-in-a-lifetime trip to Tanzania for families with kids age 8 and over!
Separate trips running in June, November and December
A peek inside one of our past tours…
Dear Traveler,
Imagine taking a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Africa… only, instead of the average tourist tour, you’re on the adventure of a lifetime and you have inside connections.
Instead of waking up in a cold pitch-a-tent with dusty floors and a shared bathroom or a traditional hotel with their buffet breakfasts of stale bagels and bread, you’re woken just before sunrise in a luxury “tent” with king-size poster beds, dressers and fine linens. You have rugs and real furniture in your “tent” and private, en-suite bathrooms, too.
Your host makes you fresh cup of coffee and slips it inside your door so you can sip it while you get dressed. You wonder why it tastes so good before remembering that African coffee is exported all over the world. Throughout your stay, you’ll never have a bad cup.
It’s time for your first safari and a chance to see the Savannah while the nocturnal predators are still hunting for prey.
You climb inside your vehicle with a guide around 6am. There’s a light dew on the car and a chill in the air.
Your kids have decided they want to ride with the other kids today and you’re OK with that because you’re barely awake. They’re having the time of their life, too, and you’ve only had one cup of coffee.
Happily bouncing down worn, dirt roads, you feel exhilarated. Our Tanzania family tours are different!
A male elephant lumbers across your path just ahead. Some females push down a tree and begin tearing it apart for food. You didn’t know elephants ate trees or how loud it could be. The noise and experience is fascinating. The kids think it’s thrilling and you hear squeals of delight every time the baby elephants run into things and trip over their own trunk.
A short drive later your guide spots lions on a rock. They’re looking intently to the left and in the distance you see wildebeest. Your guide expertly positions your vehicle where he thinks the action will be. He’s right but it’s a miss. The lion chases but does not get the wildebeest. Your heart is pounding and you feel a strange mix of sadness and excitement. Did you really want to see that today?
It’s now time for breakfast under a 1,000 year old shade tree on a blanket spread out over the hood of your vehicle. Fresh fruit, homemade bread, granola, yogurt, hard cooked eggs and more delicious coffee.
Your friends are at home sitting behind a desk, organizing their closet or taking out the trash. You’re on the other side of the world on the vacation of a lifetime.
And you’re doing it unlike a typical tourist, too. In fact, the typical tourist is still waiting at the park gate to get in. But thanks to your insider connections, you woke up on the inside.
There really is no better way.
Highlights/Trip Summary
Most other tours put you on a strict schedule and have you sleep in traditional hotels like you might if you were going to Disney World. They herd you through all the souvenir shops so they can get a commission on your purchases… they make you listen to boring lectures or go on boring walks because lectures and walks are cheaper than game drives so they add them where they can… and then they nickel and dime you at every turn — buy this, tip that — until you’ve paid twice as much as you budgeted.
But not here.
This is the exact trip I designed for my own family after leading groups of photographers to this area for more than seven years. It’s the trip you’d design yourself, if you had all the local contacts I do.
It includes all your gratuities (no hidden fees) as well as other kids in tow so your kids have friends to play with while you enjoy drinks by a fire.
We start our adventure in Tarangire National Park -- the land of the elephants -- where it’s not uncommon to see herds of 50-80 elephants together at once.
After three days on safari in Tarangire where it’s also common to see the rare black rhino, we’ll take a beautiful ride to the breath-taking Ngorongoro Crater — a UNESCO World Heritage Site - for a chance to drive into the crater itself (an erupted volcano).
Our lodge is situated just outside the crater itself with phenomenal views, our own private butler and easy access to local tribes. You’ll meet three different tribes on this tour — the Maasai, Datogas and Hadzabes and go on a hunt with the Hadzabes.
We’ll then end our trip in in the heart of the Serengeti – Tanzania’s most famous national park.
The differences between this tour and others are vast: Less crowds, less tourist-buffet meals, less driving, more safari game drives, more animal spotting, better views, more authentic tribes and overall, a better experience.
Your itinerary at a glance*
*always subject to change based on weather and other circumstances. June, November and December are all different seasons and go to different parks based on animal migration. Below is a summary of what a typical schedule might look like. Nothing is official until two or more families register for the tour.
Day 0 – depart for Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) near Arusha, Tanzania
Flights to Tanzania usually take a minimum of 22 hours.
This is the day you’ll leave the U.S.
Flights since Covid have unexpected changes, too — flight cancelations, suddenly-closed country borders, frequent re-routing.
So this Day 0 is here in case you need a two-day window to arrive. Use it as an early arrival day (and leave on Feb 10) if you like to arrive early and rest up before a trip. Otherwise, you can schedule yourself to arrive on Feb 12 (tomorrow, the official day 1) and then use this day at the last minute if your flight gets cancelled and you need a quick fix. Arriving on a different day is sometimes a good work around.
Whichever day you choose, flights typically arrive at JRO (Kilimanjaro airport) in the afternoon or at night (1:30pm, 5pm, 8pm) so you’ll go straight to sleep and have an entire day tomorrow to get acclimated if you arrive on this day.
The best airline to fly, in my opinion, is Qatar. They usually arrive around 1:30pm. They’re the only airline that’s been consistent throughout the pandemic. Delta/KLM/Air France are my second-favorite flights. These flights get in at 8pm which seems to be the best for acclimating well to the time change.
When possible, if you’re booking Delta/KLM/Air France (it’s all the same KLM flight), book direct with Delta instead of Air France or KLM. This way, if your flight gets cancelled, you have more options and you can speak to a representative in The States. If you book with Air France or KLM, you’ll need to wait on hold in France or Amsterdam.
I don’t recommend flying Ethiopian or Turkish Airlines at this time. Their connecting countries are too unstable. Last year’s group booked both of these airlines because the world cup made it nearly impossible to fly Qatar and Delta. But if you have a choice, my preference would be Qatar or Delta.
If you arrive early on this day, the cost is appx. $160 per person for your hotel. Sometimes worth it.
Day 1 – Arusha, Tanzania
This day is entirely open for you to arrive and/or relax by the pool if you got in yesterday. It’s a great day to charge your camera, rest from the long flight (22+ hours) and maybe even venture into town (with a guide). Last year’s family who arrived on Day 0, hired a guide and went into town to buy art. They’re glad they did.
There are also hot springs within a 1.5 hour drive and massage nearby.
The hotel has wifi and a restaurant. They’ll gladly hook you up with a driver or guide if you want to explore. Otherwise this day is just for acclimating and maybe a massage. Your hotel on this night and all subsequent nights is included in your fee.
Any meals you purchase on this day are on your own.
Day 2 – 4 — Morning drive in Tarangire National Park
Early in the morning, we’ll head out looking for lions and cheetahs who might be on the hunt. Every trip is different, but because it’s migration season, it’s also birthing and calving time and a time of feast for big cats. We usually see a lot.
It’s also not uncommon in this park to see 30-50 elephants at one time, hundreds of zebra and wildebeest and prides of 8-15 lions with their cubs.
Along the way you’ll meet with exotic birds, hyenas, giraffes, gazelles, and impalas, too.
In the late afternoon we’ll head back to camp and rest up after a gourmet lunch. Then do it all over again for sunset.
Life doesn’t get much better than this.
Bonus: I always add this third day here to make sure we get the most from this area and in case it rains one of the other days.
You won’t feel rushed like a typical tourist tour.
All meals from this point on are included.
Day 5 – Meet a local Maasai family and transfer to Ngorongoro crater
Maasai families are currently being moved out of the crater. It’s a fight between the government, conservationists and the tribes themselves who have grown so vast in number that animals can no longer pass freely between the parks.
If we can’t visit a local family, you’ll definitely meet a Maasai man every night when he escorts you to your glamping “tent” in the bush. Maasai warriors are hired by all the camps I’ve chosen to escort you safely to your room. This is not Disney World after all. The rustle in the grass is not a singing warthog.
Maasai men are trained from birth to be warriors and experts in animal behaviors. They are given the task of protecting their family’s goats, sheep and cows from age 4. You’ll be safe in their hands.
Day 6– Ngorongoro Crater
As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Ngorongoro Crater is known for its dense population of wild animals, making it one of the best spots in Tanzania for rhino sightings. This 10-mile wide volcano top with 2,000 feet high walls is one of the most spectacular places imaginable.
Commonly referred to as the 8th wonder of the world, it’s a natural amphitheater for the circle of life. The short grass plains here are rich in nutritious grasses, providing the herds with the best conditions to eat and raise their young — which is why it’s so densely populated.
The game viewing here is among the very best Africa has to offer. Characterized by its healthy populations of lions and all their favorite foods which include wildebeests, zebras, buffaloes, hippos, and several species of antelopes like elands, waterbucks, and gazelles.
Hyenas and Jackals are also commonly seen here and play an important role in the ecosystem of the crater as do elephants larger than our vehicles with their insanely large tusks bigger than some of the kids!!
Day 7– Hadzabe and Datoga tribes and transfer to the Serengeti
There are hundreds of different tribes in Tanzania and a few of them still live in their traditional way. Many are dying out. Some are picking up Western culture and moving closer to the city. By the time our kids are grown, there’s a chance these traditional lifestyles will be gone completely.
Until then, it’s important to see what once was and still is today.
The Hadzabes are hunters and gatherers. They walk fast but if you can keep up, you can go on a hunt with them (bow and arrow, blow dart, spear).
The Datogas are metal smiths. They make the metal arrow heads for the Hadzabes and other weapons/tools for nearby tribes. They’ll show you how it’s done and you can buy their bracelets if you like.
This will be one of your kids’ favorite days. Both tribes spend a lot of time with us and the kids are fascinated by their dialect and way of life. It’s one of my favorite parts of the trip.
Days 7-8 — Serengeti National Park
In the morning after breakfast, we’ll make our way to the Serengeti.
Our guides are all born and raised in Tanzania. Not flown in from South Africa like some other companies. They’re friendly, fun… and they’re excellent drivers and expert animal spotters.
They know the best roads for spotting big cats like lions and leopard and they’re trained in photography so they position our cars for the best possible photos. They make my trips so much more authentic than other tours.
The Serengeti is the biggest national park in Tanzania and it’s full of everything including the largest population of lions and cheetahs in all of Africa.
While others go to Kenya or South Africa because they’re more heavily marketed to tourists, the real gem is here in Tanzania. Having been to all three, I can say hands down, it’s my favorite.
Day 9 – Morning game drive and transfer back to Arusha
In the morning we’ll head out for our final game drive and transfer back to Arusha.
You can schedule a flight home in the afternoon on this day or overnight and catch a flight out in the morning.
If you’d like to extend your stay and see more of Tanzania, you have a few options. You can make your way to Zanzibar or Mafia (islands on the East Coast of Africa… Zanzibar is best known as the spice capital of the world)… or Climb Mount Kilimanjaro or Mt. Meru. You can also stay close to Arusha and tour a coffee plantation.
If you like any of these options, we can put you directly in touch with our guides for trip planning, pricing and special requests. You MUST book these options in advance.
Note: Schedules like this are always subject to change due to weather and other unpredictable events.
Activity Level
Moderate activity. Game drives during the day can be quit long, often sitting for several hours and bouncing around on bumpy roads. While this may not be considered strenuous activity, it can be uncomfortable and physically demanding on the body.
You must be able to climb in and out of the raised safari vehicles and able to walk around our camp accommodations, sometimes pretty far to your tent over uneven or rocky terrain.
Our authentic, Tanzania family luxury trips have accommodations for a truly, spectacular experience…
Every “tent” comes with a plush bed and fine linens. Each has an attached bathroom with a flushable toilet and hot-water shower and sink. It has other luxuries too like rugs, desks and chairs and hot water bottles warming your sheets at night. You’ll be served four-course, gourmet meals with fine wine at meal times. And there are opportunities to enjoy cocktails by the fire or out in the bush.
Most of these camps are used by companies who charge $15,000 or more (per person) for their Tanzania family trips. They’re a total VIP experience you can’t get anywhere else. We go straight to locals to book our accommodations and we use the power of the many groups I’ve booked here in the past to get good deals. We then pass those savings along to you creating an outstanding experience at nearly one-third the price.
Cancellation Policy
Please see our full cancel policy here.
A tour of this caliber is easily $10,000 – $13,000 per adult. And then there’s an extra $800-$1,200 per family you’re expected to pay in tips when you get there because everyone has their hand out.
But not on this tour.
We got the price down by using our inside connections and then we got them down even further by using the power of a group booking. This means we can match the prices you see advertised online for other more-budget tours but instead of staying in budget accommodations with hundreds of other tourists, we get to stay in luxury camps in all the best places.
On this tour, we’ve included all your tips so you don’t have to walk around handing out cash all the time. And (thanks to our friends on the ground) you don’t have to listen to touristy sales pitches either. We get to use our photography guides so they know where to take us for the best photos and how to position the cars to get us the best shots.
If you've ever been on a cheap, tourist tour then you know: Tourist tours suck. They mean you spend a lot of time waiting on others and commuting back and forth to places with very little time in the actual place you’re there to see. They take you out during the harshest photo light so the photos you come home with look terrible. And your hotel is usually far away because it’s cheaper.
Our tours are different. We can be far more relaxed (like a real vacation when we’re on vacation) and still get in nearly twice the number of safaris as other companies. Plus, our up-scale accommodations get us gourmet meals and other niceties we can’t get at cheaper locations outside the park.
The full price of this tour — if you added it all up online and tried to book it on your own — would be $11,344 so you can see why bigger companies need to charge $15,000 or more to make a profit. But with my repeat business over the last seven years, you can save even more when you join on a Tanzania family tour.
Your registration includes:
Eight nights of luxury accommodation
Airport transfers
More safari game drives than any other company
All your ground transportation
Awesome guides who do all kinds of fun stuff with the kids
Donations to all the tribes we meet
3 amazing meals each day (except on arrival and departure)
All your national park fees
All your big gratuities (this is HUGE!! and amounts to more than $300/per family member that you won’t have to bring with you)
All my experience planning what to pack, what to wear, where to go and how to get there
And so much more
Your registration fee does NOT include:
Any camera or video gear you want to bring
Airfare to and from JRO airport (usually $800 - $1,500/person)
Travel insurance (I recommend buying a family plan through Allianz but please do your own research)
Covid test expenses (if neded)
You’ll need to apply online before the trip for a tourist visa ($100)
You may need vaccinations and malaria medication (some insurance carriers cover these with insurance, others don’t)
And then I don’t cover tips for porters (about $30 over the course of 9 days).
I guarantee: You’ll never find a better tour at any price.
Frequently Asked Questions:
WILL EVERYONE KNOW EACH OTHER?
No. But we advertise to our friends and family first so you’re likely to connect to each family by 1-2 degrees of separation. Also, strangers can make the best new friends.
IS MY 16-YEAR-OLD AN ADULT?
Yes.
WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING?
Your passport and a smile. Once you register, I’ll send you a recommend packing list including suggestions on camera equipment if you’d like to capture images of landscapes and wildlife. A camera is not required.
WILL YOU OFFER THIS OPPORTUNITY AGAIN?
Maybe. But prices in Tanzania typically go up every year.
CAN I BRING FRIENDS OR TELL FRIENDS ABOUT THIS EVENT?
Yes! You’re welcome to spread the word. But please only share it with your most interesting and friendly friends. And please tell them to hurry, because seats usually fill quickly.
WILL I BE EATEN BY LIONS?
No! Lion food walks on four legs. Just like we don’t try to eat things that don’t look like food (refrigerators, trash cans, clothes) lions don’t go around taste-testing things that don’t look like food. Especially things that stand taller than they do and have two forward-facing eyes like a predator.
IS IT SAFE?
Is it safe where you live? I can’t eliminate all your risks when traveling. But I can mitigate as much as possible by using contacts I trust, staying in properties I know, and telling you to buy insurance should something unforeseen happen. In all my years bringing groups to this area, I’ve only ever seen twisted ankles, upset stomachs and a few people have shown up without their prescribed medicine so we have to run to a pharmacy. Everything is a risk (including staying home). It’s just a matter of perspective.
