Tanzania Family Overland

On arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi we meet our representative and transfer to our comfortable camp – the start of your family overland adventure. We settle into our tented accommodation and get our first feel for life on tour. You have free time to relax after the flight or arrange an optional local excursion – a gentle introduction to the journey ahead.

Before departure we meet the crew, get introduced to the overland truck and run through the camping routine so you know what to expect. We drive through Nairobi’s suburbs to the Giraffe Centre, watching city streets give way to leafy neighbourhoods en route. At this conservation project for endangered Rothschild’s giraffes we observe them up close from raised walkways and learn about protection efforts. We return to camp by road. The afternoon and evening are yours to relax after this first wildlife experience.

We travel south from Nairobi, cross into Tanzania and continue towards Arusha as the long drive unfolds through open grasslands, farms and villages. We arrive at Meserani Snake Park on the city’s outskirts and settle into camp, readying ourselves for the Serengeti safari to come. You can unwind after the journey.

We leave camp after breakfast and drive across the Ngorongoro highlands towards Olduvai Gorge, watching cultivated farmland give way to dry, open plains. We visit the museum and viewpoint at this UNESCO World Heritage Site to learn about early human fossils and the site’s pivotal role in our understanding of evolution. We then continue into the Serengeti, crossing vast grasslands towards Seronera and often spotting wildlife en route. On arrival we set up at the Seronera campsite, listen to the bush sounds and share dinner under the stars – you can linger afterwards to soak up the atmosphere.

We set off early for a morning game drive across the Serengeti plains, searching for lions, cheetahs, elephants, giraffes and a host of other species. We return to camp for lunch and you have time to rest before we head out again for an afternoon game drive in different areas of the park. Back at Seronera we settle into our tents, listen to the night sounds and share dinner under the stars.

We start with another early game drive as wildlife is at its most active, perhaps catching predators returning from a night’s hunt and grazers feeding in the cool morning air. Leaving the Serengeti, we drive towards the Ngorongoro highlands, pausing to visit a traditional Maasai boma and learn about pastoral culture, housing, dress and customs. We continue up to Simba campsite on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater, where cooler, more forested surroundings contrast with the open plains. If time permits, you can join a guided walk along the crater rim to enjoy the fresher climate, learn about local plants and look for birds and smaller wildlife. We settle in and enjoy dinner at camp beside this famous sanctuary.

We descend from the crater rim along a steep track onto the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater – the views as we drop into this vast natural amphitheatre are spectacular. We spend the morning on safari across the crater floor, which holds an exceptionally high density of wildlife – look out for zebra, wildebeest, elephants, lions and, with luck, the rare black rhino. Later we climb back out of the crater and return towards Arusha and Meserani Snake Park, where we rejoin the overland truck and crew for the next stage of the journey. After the travel day, you can unwind at camp.

We travel from the Arusha area to Marangu on the lower slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, and on clear days we may glimpse the mountain’s snow–capped summit. On arrival you have leisure time to relax in the lush foothills – a welcome chance to slow the pace and unwind.

We take a guided village walk around Marangu, visiting waterfalls, caves and coffee plots, and gain an insight into local Chagga culture and rural life on the mountain’s lower slopes. Afterwards you have free time in Marangu to relax in the verdant foothills of Kilimanjaro and take it easy.

We leave the Kilimanjaro region and drive south towards the Indian Ocean, ending in Bagamoyo – a historic town with a palm–fringed beach. After our cross–country journey you can unwind by the shore – paddle in the ocean, stroll along the sand or simply rest at camp.

We travel down the coast from Bagamoyo into Dar es Salaam to reach the ferry terminal – the city’s busy traffic contrasts sharply with the quiet beaches we have just left. We take the ferry across the Indian Ocean to Zanzibar and, on arrival, drive from the port in or near Stone Town up the coast to Nungwi, passing villages and coconut groves en route to our relaxed seaside base. Enjoy free time on Nungwi’s white–sand beaches – you can swim, paddle in the ocean or simply unwind at your beachfront accommodation.

We travel from Nungwi back to Stone Town, passing scenes of rural island life along the way. We join a guided spice tour and wander the old town’s narrow streets and lively markets. We visit working farms to see how spices are grown and enjoy a local lunch, before returning by road to Nungwi. The evening is free – you can relax on the beach, swim, paddle or simply take it easy at your coastal base.

Enjoy free time on Nungwi’s white–sand beaches – you can swim in the Indian Ocean, paddle in the shallows or simply unwind at your beachfront accommodation.

Spend your free time on Nungwi’s white–sand beaches – you can swim, paddle in the ocean or simply relax at your beachfront base.

We leave Nungwi and drive across the island to Zanzibar’s main airport. We bid farewell to the beach and prepare for the flight to the mainland. Our journey ends at Zanzibar Airport – you board your onward flight with lasting memories of wildlife, mountains and tropical beaches.