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Map of Kenya and Tanzania Family Safari including Kenya and Tanzania, United Republic Of

The ultimate East Africa Family Safari

Experience East Africa with your family as you discover the wildlife, history, people, culture and beauty that spans across this incredible landscape. Roam the famous Serengeti National Park, nearly 15,000 sq km of rolling savanna that shelters an astounding array of animals, from miniature dik-dik antelopes to the noble African elephant. Spot wildlife while taking in mind-blowing views from the edge of Ngorongoro Crater and listen to the sounds of the African night in a thrilling camping experience. This is also a human journey that puts you in the heart of the valleys once inhabited by some of humankind's earliest ancestors – where you’ll have the opportunity to learn from the Maasai community – hear about the customs and traditions of village life and even prepare a local Swahili dish. If you’re looking for a family adventure full of friendly folk and some of the best game-viewing in Africa, then this will truly be a trip to remember!

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Terms & Conditions
Start
Nairobi, Kenya
Finish
Nairobi, Kenya
Destinations
Kenya, Tanzania
Style
Basix
Theme
Family
Code
YGFAC
Physical rating
Ages
Min 5
Group size
Min 2, Max 16

Why you'll love this trip

  • Meet some Maasai Mamas (the name for women artisans in Tanzania) and learn about their village life, including how to prepare a local Swahili dish.

  • Encounter roaring lions and magnificent zebra in the famous Serengeti National Park as our small safari vehicles get you close to the action in this spectacular wildlife arena.

  • Keep your eyes peeled for black and white rhinos on an adventure through Lake Nakuru National Park

  • Make friends with warriors of the Maasai tribe around the camp fire; they'll be on guard for lions while you and your family camp overnight

  • Venture into the incredible Masai Mara National Reserve for a full-day game drive

Is this trip right for you?

  • Please take into consideration if you are travelling with younger children that the going can be slow over the long distances and often bumpy roads. A little bit of patience will go a long way towards your enjoyment of this beautiful land! Some days have driving times of 6-7 hours. Furthermore there will be early mornings, when Africa is at its best.

  • This is a participatory camping trip and everyone will embrace the team spirit by helping with camp setup, food preparation and cleaning. You and your family will be putting up and taking down your tent as you move from place to place.

  • In Loita Hills (Day 13) you will stay in a bush camp with no shower facilities. The rewards of experiencing the Maasai culture, however, should more than make up for the lack of creature comforts.

  • Our purpose-built overland vehicles allow for excellent game viewing, equipped with large sliding windows. They have no air-conditioning, however, so they can get dusty and hot at times.

  • Please consider the season and research the weather conditions. Remember to come prepared with adequate clothing.

kenya masai mara national park elephant mother child walk
kenya family lion pride
kenya family safari mother son
kenya lake nakuru hippo flamingos
Elephant spotting in Chobe National Park, Botswana
Ngorongoro crater game drive, Tanzania
Children playing in hut

Itinerary
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Jambo! Welcome to your Kenya and Tanzania Family Adventure. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 5 pm. You can arrive at any time as there are no activities planned until this important meeting. If you and your family arrive early, perhaps head out and explore the National Museum of Kenya, the Karen Blixen Museum or the highly recommended Bomas of Kenya where traditional homesteads of several Kenyan tribes are displayed in an outdoor village. 
Accommodation
  • Heron Court Portico or similar (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Nairobi - City Experience Urban Adventure - USD55
  • Nairobi - Karen Blixen museum - USD14
  • Nairobi - Bomas of Kenya - USD12
  • Nairobi - Langata Giraffe Sanctuary - KES1200
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information for each member of your family. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.

Hit the road after breakfast as you drive across the border to Tanzania and your overnight stop, Arusha. Located at the base of volcanic Mt Meru, Arusha is the gateway to safari destinations and to Africa's highest peak – the 5895 m Mt Kilimanjaro, lying some 100 kilometres northeast. After setting up the campsite on arrival, you and your family can relax and have a swim in the pool.


Accommodation
  • Summit Lodge or similar (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
Special Information
Driving time: 5 hours

Take a short drive to the small town of Kisongo where you and your family get to enjoy a fun day with some local ‘Mamas’ (the name for female artisans in Tanzania) First, the women will teach you how to prepare a local Swahili dish for lunch. After enjoying your creations, you’ll get the chance to take a closer look into their lives. With help from a translator, the women will lead smaller groups around their village. Visit their homes and see how a traditional boma (small hut made of mud and cow dung) is set up. You’ll also get to meet their families and learn about Maasai culture. After this illuminating day, drive to the small town of Karatu, the gateway to the Ngorongoro Crater. Have a good night’s sleep before we head on safari tomorrow!
Accommodation
  • Kudu Camping Ground with facilities or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Kisongo - Cooking class, crafts & village walk
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

Travel from Karatu to the gate of Serengeti National Park and have a picnic lunch at the entrance. Enter the Serengeti and enjoy a game drive on the way to your campsite. The vast plains of the Serengeti – green after the rains, brown and burnt in the dry season – are home to thousands of hoofed animals and fierce predators. Flat and rolling, with long grass and acacia trees, these plains get their name from the Maasai word siringet – 'The place where the land moves on forever'. Your campsite is right in the action, within the park itself, so listen out for the sounds of nocturnal animals as you drift off to sleep.
Accommodation
  • Serengeti NP Camping Ground or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Serengeti National Park - Overland Vehicle Game Drive
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Special Information
Driving time: 4 hours plus game drives

Start the day with a game drive at dawn. You will head out while the animals are at their most active, then head back to camp for brunch at around 11 am. After spending the warmer part of the day relaxing, as the animals do, depart again at dusk for another adventure through the wild before returning in time for dinner. There's also the option of a balloon ride over the park today, which makes for an excellent family activity. If you have pre-booked this activity (please see the ‘Notes' section) you will be picked up before dawn and driven to the launch site. After a safety briefing, you will glide through the sunrise, sometimes at tree height, which provides amazing photo opportunities. Sometimes you will ascend, getting an overview of the enormity of the plains and the early morning movements of the teeming herds. After landing, you'll be treated to a five-star bush breakfast, before being returned to your camp.
Accommodation
  • Serengeti NP Camping Ground or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Serengeti National Park - Overland Vehicle Game Drive
Optional Activities
  • Serengeti National Park - Balloon Ride (from price) - USD599
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Special Information
The balloon ride is offered as a pre-booked service which will guarantee you a place. If you would rather wait and try to get a better price by booking this locally on the ground, you are welcome to, but keep in mind that this is a popular activity and places are limited.

Enjoy a game drive on your way out of the park today. After lunch you and your family will enter the Ngorongoro Conservation area. A gigantic, perfectly intact volcanic crater, Ngorongoro is home to some 30,000 animals. Among these are endangered black rhinos, lions, leopards, elephants, impalas, zebras and hippos. The crater floor offers excellent game viewing all year round, and the photo opportunities here are unrivalled. We jump in some 4WDs and head into the crater itself for three to four hours where the kids (and adults!) can enjoy spotting the animals. Leaving the park we head to Karatu - our overnight stop were the kids can take a swim in the campsite pool.
Accommodation
  • Flamingo Lodge campsite or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Serengeti National Park - Overland Vehicle Game drive
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
Special Information
You will notice some Maasai villages in the region of the Ngorongoro crater offering a cultural experience. Intrepid recommends avoiding these villages, as they can impact negatively on the Maasai culture and travellers' perceptions of it by selling an artificial experience.

After breakfast take a short 30-minute drive to Mto Wa Mbu where you will camp for the night. Upon arrival, join the local community for a guided afternoon stroll around the farming areas, milling machine and local homes before enjoying a traditional meal. This afternoon you can relax around the campsite or have a swim in the pool.
Accommodation
  • Twiga Lodge & Campsite or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Mto wa Mbu - Village walk and lunch
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
Special Information
Driving time: 30 minutes

Set off early this morning (around 7.30 am), heading for the border with Kenya and then on to Nairobi. Upon arrival in Nairobi, you'll be dropped at tthe hotel where the rest of the day is yours to relax.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Driving time: 7-8 hours

You will have a free day to do as you please, if you didn't get a chance the first day why not head out to the National Museum of Kenya or the Karen Blixen Museum. Or simply have a day by the pool.

You will have a meeting at 5pm to talk through the next part of your trip in Kenya. The meeting will take place in the foyer. 

Accommodation
  • Heron Court Hotel (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Today will be a long day of adventuring. After breakfast, you will visit Langata Giraffe Sanctuary. This conservation project allows you to see the animals up close while learning more about them and their plight in the modern world. 

After lunch, head out of Nairobi towards Lake Nakuru (approximately 4-5 hours), arriving in time to pitch a tent at the campsite before the sun goes down.

The alkaline waters of Lake Nakuru once supported an extremely large colony of flamingos – estimated to be up to two million strong! Over the course of the year the lake changes size considerably, shrinking to its smallest in March at the end of the dry season, and changing the type of birdlife and wildlife that inhabit the area. Unfortunately changes in water levels and chemical concentration caused the permanent population of flamingos to move elsewhere in the 1970s, however the lush area around the lake remains known for its bird life.
Accommodation
  • Nakuru Camp site (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Nairobi - Langata Giraffe Sanctuary
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Special Information
Driving time: 4-5 hours

Head out on an early morning game drive around Lake Nakuru. Keep a lookout for the white rhinos that can often be found around the shores.

Afterwards, encounter friendly locals on a village visit before moving on to Lake Naivasha (approx: 2-3 hour drive). Lake Naivasha is a birdwatcher's paradise with floating islands of papyrus reeds. Afternoon wind and storms can cause the lake to become suddenly rough and produce high waves. For this reason, the local Maasai christened the lake Nai'posha meaning 'rough water’, which the British later misspelt as Naivasha.

There is an option to hire a bike and pedal around the lake this afternoon if you wish to stretch your legs after the drive.
Accommodation
  • Fish Eagle Inn (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Lake Nakuru - Village walk
  • Lake Nakuru - Overland Vehicle Game Drive
Optional Activities
  • Lake Naivasha - Bike hire - USD12
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Special Information
Driving time: 2-3 hours

After a camp breakfast, head towards Crater Lake and take part in a guided walk along one of the many trails. The waters of the lake draw a great range of game. Giraffes wander among the acacia, buffaloes wallow in the swamps and Colobus monkeys call from the treetops, while the lake’s large hippo population while away the day in the shallows. The walk takes 3 hours and we recommend you bring with you good sturdy foot wear. It is an easy walk. We will also hit the water for a boat ride across this vast lake.

The afternoon is free to relax around the camp and take advantage of the swimming pool. 
Accommodation
  • Fish Eagle Inn (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Lake Naivasha - Game Walk in Crater Lake Game Sanctuary (entrance fee)
Optional Activities
  • Lake Naivasha - Hell's Gate NP (Game Drive) - USD40
  • Lake Naivasha - Boat trip - KES4000
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Special Information
The Crater Lake game walk and Hell's Gate National Park will also incur a USD50 transport fee per vehicle. The boat trip is for one hour and no additional fees are required.

Depart Lake Naivasha, making a short stop in Narok to do a spot of food shopping. Continue to Loita Hills (approximately 5-6 hours), stopping for lunch en route. Today's drive crosses the Great Rift Valley, Africa's immense and spectacular great divide, and takes you into the remote region of Loita Hills. This is the home of the traditional Maasai people. Visit the Maasai, who are known for their vibrant red dress and elaborate jewellery, and gain an insight into the culture and ancient ways of this proud East African community. After setting up your tent, meet your Maasai hosts. A local elder will deliver a fascinating talk about the Maasai and their history and culture. You'll be shown around a traditional Maasai home and see where the resident cattle are kept. Showers, upgrades and WiFi are not available at tonight's bush camp.
Accommodation
  • Loita Hills Campsite (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Loita Hills - Cultural talk and village visit
  • Loita Hills - Maasai Village Visit
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Special Information
Driving time: 5 - 6 hours

Travel from Loita to Masai Mara (approximately 1-2 hours). The road is dusty when dry, and could be slippery and soft when wet, so the going may be slow. The Masai Mara is the quintessential African experience, with sparse open plains, dramatic skies and some of the world's most tremendous animals. After setting up camp, sit down to some lunch, then jump back in the truck and go for a 3 hour game drive through the wilderness of the Mara.

Your campground tonight is located outside of the national reserve and has flush toilets and showers. There is an option to upgrade, depending on availability. WiFi is not available here.
Accommodation
  • Mara Springs Camp (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Masai Mara - 4x4 Game Drive
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Special Information
Driving time: 1-2 hours

Rise early and venture into the Masai Mara National Reserve for a full day of game driving (6hours). Explore this diverse environment and see a multitude of wildlife. Return to camp for lunch by the side of the Mara River – a great chance to spot crocs and hippos. Relax during the heat of the day before setting off again in the afternoon, expecting to return to camp around sunset.  We'll stop en-route for a picnic lunch.
Accommodation
  • Mara Springs Camp (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Masai Mara - 4x4 Game Drive
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

Cross the plains of the Mara and climb the Rift Valley’s eastern wall past Mount Suswa on the return drive to Nairobi (approximately 6 hours). En route there may be opportunities to stop and make some final purchases. Once back in Nairobi perhaps enjoy a final dinner with the group in a local restaurant and reflect on this incredible African adventure.

If you're flying out today, please book a flight after 6:00pm.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Driving time: 6 hours
Want to tailor this itinerary?

Meals

15 breakfasts, 12 lunches, 9 dinners

Transport

Overland vehicle, 4x4 Safari Vehicle

Accommodation

Hotels (5 nights), Camping with basic facilities (8 nights), Cottage (2 nights)

Included activities

  • Kisongo - Cooking class, crafts & village walk
  • Serengeti National Park - Overland Vehicle Game Drive
  • Serengeti National Park - Overland Vehicle Game drive
  • Mto wa Mbu - Village walk and lunch
  • Nairobi - Langata Giraffe Sanctuary
  • Lake Nakuru - Village walk
  • Lake Nakuru - Overland Vehicle Game Drive
  • Lake Naivasha - Game Walk in Crater Lake Game Sanctuary (entrance fee)
  • Loita Hills - Cultural talk and village visit
  • Loita Hills - Maasai Village Visit
  • Masai Mara - 4x4 Game Drive

Dates & availability

Trip departures are unavailable.

There are currently no scheduled departures on our Kenya and Tanzania Family Safari trip. If you are interested in other trips in the region visit one of the links below.

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Important notes

Travellers on Intrepid trips that start on or before 31 December 2022 are required to produce proof of full vaccination against COVID-19. Learn more about Intrepid’s COVID-19 policy.

1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
2. Please note that these trips are for adults and children travelling together and there must be at least one child under 18 with you.
3. Minimum age for children on this trip is 5 years old.
4. A discount of 10% applies on this trip to children 17 years and under at time of travel.

Essential trip information

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