5 Days Family & Couples Friendly Midrange Safari

5 Days Midrange Safari - Tarangire, Ngorongoro & Lake Manyara

Experience Tanzania's wildlife wonders on this perfectly paced 5-day safari designed for families, couples, and honeymooners. Combining comfortable mid-range accommodations with exceptional wildlife viewing, this itinerary offers a balanced mix of game drives, cultural interactions, and relaxation time. Witness Tarangire's majestic elephants, search for tree-climbing lions in Lake Manyara, and descend into the wildlife-rich Ngorongoro Crater. With child-friendly activities, romantic touches for couples, and accommodations carefully selected for their family-friendly amenities, this safari creates unforgettable memories for all ages.

Day 1: Arrival in Tanzania - Arusha Welcome

Your Tanzanian adventure begins at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), where your TanAfrica Safaris guide will greet you with refreshing drinks and warm smiles. Enjoy a scenic 45-minute transfer to Arusha, with the option to stop at a local market where children can sample tropical fruits while adults browse colorful crafts. At your lodge, families will find interconnecting rooms available, while couples receive romantic room assignments. The afternoon is yours to relax - take a dip in the pool, enjoy a spa treatment, or let children participate in the lodge's supervised arts and crafts activities featuring African wildlife themes. As the sun sets, gather for a welcome briefing over dinner, where your guide will prepare you for the adventures ahead.

Accommodation: Summit Safari Lodge or Tulia Boutique & Spa

Meals: Dinner

Special Touches: Children receive safari activity packs with animal checklists and coloring books; Couples enjoy a complimentary fruit basket and sparkling wine

Day 2: Tarangire National Park - Land of Giants

After an early breakfast, depart for Tarangire National Park (approximately 2-hour drive). Enter the park through the Matete Gate where your guide will help children spot their first wildlife using binoculars from our child-friendly safari vehicle. Tarangire's landscape of ancient baobabs and seasonal marshes hosts the largest concentration of elephants in Tanzania - watch as massive herds move gracefully across the plains, often coming remarkably close to vehicles. Your guide will tailor commentary to engage young travelers, explaining elephant behavior in fun, accessible terms. Enjoy a picnic lunch at the park's specially designated family area, complete with restroom facilities and a safe viewing platform. The afternoon brings more game viewing, including visits to the Silale Swamps where lions often lounge and colorful birdlife thrives. As evening approaches, arrive at your tented lodge where families can unwind in spacious tents with ensuite bathrooms, while couples enjoy private verandas with sunset views over the wilderness.

Accommodation: Burunge Tented Lodge or Maramboi Tented Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Special Touches: "Junior Ranger" program for kids with animal tracking activities; Romantic private dining available for couples

Day 3: Lake Manyara - Birds, Lions & Cultural Encounters

Today's adventure takes you to Lake Manyara National Park, a compact gem at the base of the Rift Valley escarpment. Morning game drives focus on searching for the park's famous tree-climbing lions - an unusual behavior seen in few other places. Your guide will explain why these big cats take to the trees while helping children spot them in the branches. The park's varied habitats support over 400 bird species, making it perfect for young nature enthusiasts. A special highlight is the newly constructed canopy walkway - a 370-meter suspended bridge through the treetops offering a unique perspective on the forest ecosystem (suitable for children 6+). After lunch, visit a nearby village where families can participate in traditional games and craft-making, while couples may opt for a romantic bicycle ride along the lake shore (tandems available). The day concludes with sundowners overlooking the lake - fruit juices for kids and cocktails for adults as you recount the day's sightings.

Accommodation: Marera Valley Lodge or Manyara Safari Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Special Touches: Canopy walkway experience; Cultural village visit with traditional dance performance

Day 4: Ngorongoro Crater - Wildlife Spectacle

An early start rewards you with sunrise views as you descend into the Ngorongoro Crater, the world's largest intact volcanic caldera. This natural amphitheater teems with wildlife - your guide will help children complete their "Big Five" checklist while explaining the crater's unique ecosystem. Stop for a special bush breakfast by a hippo pool, where kids receive animal-shaped pancakes. Midday brings a visit to a Maasai boma (village), where children can try their hand at spear throwing (with foam-tipped practice spears) while couples receive traditional blessings for their relationship. The afternoon game drive explores different crater habitats - look for flamingos at the soda lake, elephants in the Lerai Forest, and if you're fortunate, the endangered black rhino. As you ascend the crater walls in late afternoon, stop at a viewpoint to reflect on the incredible biodiversity you've witnessed before continuing to your comfortable lodge.

Accommodation: Marera Valley Lodge or Manyara Safari Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Special Touches: Crater floor picnic breakfast; Maasai cultural interaction

Day 5: Ngorongoro Highlands - Farewell to Tanzania

Enjoy a leisurely final morning in the Ngorongoro Highlands. Families may opt for a guided nature walk along the crater rim (suitable for children 8+), spotting monkeys and colorful birds while learning about the local flora. Couples might prefer a private breakfast on their balcony overlooking the misty crater. Before departing for Arusha, visit a local coffee plantation where children can see how coffee grows while adults sample some of Tanzania's finest arabica. The drive back to Arusha includes lunch at a family-friendly restaurant with playground facilities, allowing kids to burn off energy before flights. Your guide will assist with airport check-in and present children with personalized safari certificates - a proud reminder of their African adventure. Couples receive a special farewell gift to commemorate their romantic journey.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Special Touches: Coffee plantation visit; Children's safari certificates; Couples' farewell gift

Featured Accommodations

Summit Safari Lodge (Night 1): Sprawling gardens and pool area perfect for families. Offers interconnecting rooms, children's menu, and evening wildlife movies. Parents appreciate the spa services and comfortable lounge areas.

Tulia Boutique & Spa (Night 1): Intimate boutique hotel ideal for couples, featuring stylish rooms with private balconies. The spa offers couples' massage packages, and the restaurant serves romantic private dinners in the garden.

Burunge Tented Lodge (Night 2): Spacious family tents with sturdy flooring and ensuite bathrooms. The central lounge area features board games and wildlife books for children, while the pool offers respite after game drives.

Maramboi Tented Lodge (Night 2): Stunning lakeside location with luxury tents on raised platforms. Couples enjoy private decks with sunset views, while families appreciate the large pool and resident wildlife that visits the waterhole.

Marera Valley Lodge (Nights 3-4): Set on a coffee plantation with spacious family cottages featuring fireplaces and private verandas. The lodge offers guided plantation tours and has a children's play area with swings and slides.

Manyara Safari Lodge (Nights 3-4): Perched on the Great Rift Valley escarpment with breathtaking views. Family rooms feature bunk beds for kids, while honeymoon suites offer private balconies and sunset views perfect for couples.

• Included
• Not Included