Safari with children: essential safety tips

For many years, Tanzania has stood out as one of the world’s premier safari destinations. Its stunning variety of landscapes — from the endless Serengeti plains to Lake Manyara and the ancient, wildlife-rich Ngorongoro Crater — attracts millions of tourists from all over the world each year, including the youngest ones. Drawing on over 10 years of experience, Altezza Travel explains how safe safaris are for children and what precautions are necessary.

Is it safe to travel to Tanzania with children?

Tanzania is one of the safest countries in Africa, posing no threat even to solo female travelers. So, children accompanied by their parents would have nothing to worry about here. The nation enjoys social and political stability, and incidents of theft or violence are exceptionally rare. This safety is primarily due to the peaceful, welcoming nature of the local population and the government’s strong commitment to protecting tourists.

Tourist areas, especially protected national parks, are under strict oversight by both the administration and tour operators. From day one, the comfort and safety of our travelers have been top priorities at Altezza Travel. Whether it's a safari or a Kilimanjaro climb, you can be sure your family will be accompanied by top-tier guides at every step. And we’re not shy about how we assembled such a team: Altezza offers the highest salaries in the industry and is deeply committed to providing excellent working conditions.

Road safety on safari

When it comes to safari, road safety takes center stage. Most of the routes leading to protected areas are in good condition, and strict driving rules apply inside national parks. Most importantly:

• Every Altezza Travel safari vehicle is equipped with a GPS tracker, allowing our support team to monitor each group’s location and speed in real time. The speed is limited to 80 km/h (50 mph) on roads and 50 km/h (31 mph) in the savannah.
• Every child is provided with an age-appropriate car seat.
• Our safari tours are led by professional drivers with extensive experience. They know the terrain and wildlife behavior inside out, ensuring your complete safety throughout the entire journey.

Safety in safari parks

A safari park is not a zoo with fences, but the natural habitat of predators and large wild animals. However, if you follow basic rules, the adventure poses no danger. Here are the key rules:

• Listen to your guide. Before and during each trip, your guide will give safety instructions, covering how to behave when encountering animals and the specific rules of each national park.
• Stick together. Children should always be under parental supervision. This applies both in the savannah and in lodges, especially at night. In fact, this is a basic rule for any trip, whether to a city center, forest, country house, or beach. For lodges with pools, we recommend the Safety Turtle system. It's a bracelet worn by your child that sends a loud alert to your receiver if the child enters the water without you noticing.
• Be prepared for life in the savannah. Some animals are more active at night and may come close to hotels and make loud noises. You’ll be completely safe as long as you remain inside your room or lodge. Just let your child know in advance — and don’t panic, the animals will leave soon.
• Close doors and windows at night. African parks are home to not only large mammals but also reptiles and insects.

General tips for a safari with children

About one in five safari tours includes children. To ensure the trip is as comfortable as possible for all family members, Altezza Travel recommends:

• We recommend bringing children on safari from the age of three. This isn’t a strict rule, but rather an observation based on experience: at this age, children tend to be more engaged in exploring the savanna and watching wildlife. That said, we also have experience organizing tours for families with infants.
• When choosing a safari program, it’s essential to consider not just the national park and accommodation, but also the route itself. Long hours in a vehicle can be tiring for young travelers. It’s best to plan for short breaks along the way and avoid frequent lodge changes, allowing children time to rest and recharge.
• Keep Tanzania’s climate in mind. While it can be hot during the day, nights may be cool. Be sure to pack both sun protection (hats and sunscreen) and warmer clothing for windy or rainy conditions.

• Consult your doctor before getting any vaccinations for yourself or your child. There are no mandatory vaccines required for entry into Tanzania for US or EU citizens. Previously, we shared a list of recommended vaccinations. However, the final decision rests with travelers and their healthcare providers.
• Prepare a medical kit for your children. Our guides always carry essential supplies for common ailments, but standard kits may not include specific children’s medications. These can be difficult to find in Tanzania, especially considering age-specific or individual medical needs. Bringing your own kit with trusted medicines (for allergies, food poisoning, fever, etc.) will make the trip more comfortable and safe.
• Take care of insurance. This applies to any international trip, but is especially important when traveling in the wild, far from civilization. All Altezza Travel safari tours include Flying Doctors service — emergency evacuation by air. In the event of a serious incident, our team will promptly contact the company’s base and transport the injured person to the nearest airstrip, where a medical aircraft will take them to a hospital. Note: the evacuation flight does not cover treatment costs — your insurance policy must cover those.

At first glance, this list of tips and precautions might make a safari seem like a risky adventure, but that’s not the case. Our goal is to provide clear guidance for travelers who prefer to be well-prepared, especially when vacationing with children. In reality, all you need to do is pack your suitcase, a basic first-aid kit, and travel insurance, just as you would for any other trip. The rest will be taken care of by the park, the lodge, and the Altezza Travel team.

See you in Africa!

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