Private safaris with children in East Africa
Family Safaris in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda
Game drives and the boat trips at Murchison Falls and on the Kazinga Channel have no published minimum age. Chimpanzee tracking in Uganda's parks starts at 12, gorilla trekking at 15.
A safari planned around your youngest child's age
We plan private family safaris in Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania. The first thing we ask is how old each child is, because the parks set the ages.
The vehicle and the guide are yours alone, so you stop when a child needs to, and the day runs at their pace.
- Gorilla trekking from age 15In Uganda and Rwanda: the rule of the Uganda Wildlife Authority and the Rwanda Development Board
- Chimpanzee tracking from age 12 in Uganda's parksIn Kibale and Kyambura Gorge, the Uganda Wildlife Authority's rule. Nyungwe, in Rwanda, says 15
- No published minimum age for game drives or boat tripsIn the Uganda Wildlife Authority's tariff, and on Akagera's price list in Rwanda
- Under 5s enter the parks freeUnder 5 in Uganda and Tanzania, 5 and under in Kenya's national parks and Akagera, and under 9 in the Mara Triangle
Family safari age calculator
Add your children's ages and see what all of you can do
This calculator sorts 26 safari activities in Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania by your children's ages. Set each child's age, and every activity lands in one of three lists:
- What all of you can do together
- What the older children can do with one of you, while the other does a separate activity with the younger ones
- What waits until they are older
Then it lists the family lodges that accept your youngest child's age. Every line names who sets the age limit.
1Your children's ages
Example: children aged 7 and 13. Change them to your children's ages with − and +, and add up to six children.Up to six children, aged under 1 to 17.
2Country (optional)
Pick one to see only that country's activities and lodges.
3What your family can do on safari
All of you can go
Every child is old enough, or no minimum age is published.
- Game drivesMurchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth, UgandaThe Uganda Wildlife Authority's tariff gives no minimum age.
- Boat trip to the foot of Murchison FallsMurchison Falls, UgandaTwo to three hours. The Uganda Wildlife Authority's tariff gives no minimum age.
- Kazinga Channel boat tripQueen Elizabeth, UgandaAbout 2 hours from Mweya. The Uganda Wildlife Authority's tariff gives no minimum age.
- Night game driveMurchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth, UgandaThe Uganda Wildlife Authority's tariff gives no minimum age, and keeps night drives for guests sleeping inside the park.
- White rhinos on footZiwa Rhino Sanctuary, UgandaThe ranch publishes no minimum age, and has a child rate up to 12.
- Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education CentreEntebbe, UgandaThe centre publishes no minimum age. It opens daily, 8:30 to 18:30, with a child rate for ages 3 to 14.
- Family float on the NileJinja, UgandaFrom age 4From 4: about 2 hours and 7 km on the river, Nile River Explorers says.
- Flat-water tubing on the NileJinja, UgandaFrom age 6From 6, Nile River Explorers says; it recommends an adult with children under 13.
- Boat trip on Lake IhemaAkagera, RwandaOne hour. Akagera's 2026-27 price list gives no minimum age, and children 5 and under go free.
- Game drives and night drivesAkagera, RwandaAkagera's 2026-27 price list gives no minimum age.
- Game drives in the Maasai MaraMaasai Mara, KenyaThe Mara Conservancy publishes no minimum age for the Mara Triangle, and children under 9 enter it free.
- Giraffe CentreNairobi, KenyaThe centre publishes no minimum age; children under 3 go free.
- Sheldrick Wildlife Trust's elephant nurseryNairobi, KenyaThe trust publishes no minimum age. Visits run from 11:00 to 12:00 every day but 25 December, with a child rate under 12.
- The last two northern white rhinosOl Pejeta, KenyaFrom age 5From 5: children under 5 are not permitted, Ol Pejeta says.
- Game drives in the SerengetiSerengeti, TanzaniaTanzania National Parks publishes no minimum age; children under 5 enter its parks free.
- A day in Ngorongoro CraterNgorongoro, TanzaniaThe Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority's 2023 tariff gives no minimum age, and charges the crater fee per vehicle, so a family in one vehicle pays it once.
- Treetop walkwayLake Manyara, TanzaniaFrom age 5From 5, for about an hour, Tanzania National Parks' 2023-24 tariff says.
Nothing here for these ages.
One of you goes with the older ones
Some of the children are old enough, and the others have something planned.
- Chimpanzee trackingKibale, UgandaFrom age 12Your 13-year-old can go with one of you, while the other takes your 7-year-old on Primate Lodge Kibale's forest walk with games, made for children too young to track. From 12, the Uganda Wildlife Authority's rule.
- Chimpanzee habituation experienceKibale, UgandaFrom age 12Your 13-year-old can go with one of you, while the other takes your 7-year-old on Primate Lodge Kibale's forest walk with games, made for children too young to track. From 12: the Uganda Wildlife Authority's rule covers tracking and viewing chimpanzees.
- Chimpanzee tracking in Kyambura GorgeQueen Elizabeth, UgandaFrom age 12Your 13-year-old can go with one of you, while the other takes your 7-year-old on the Kazinga Channel boat trip, which has no minimum age in the Uganda Wildlife Authority's tariff. From 12, the Uganda Wildlife Authority's rule.
- Golden monkey trekkingVolcanoes National Park, RwandaFrom age 12Your 13-year-old can go with one of you, while the other stays at the lodge with your 7-year-old. At Singita Kwitonda, childminders can look after the children so both of you can go. From 12, the Rwanda Development Board's rule.
- Balloon flightNgorongoro Conservation Area, TanzaniaFrom age 8Your 13-year-old can go with one of you, while the other stays at camp with your 7-year-old. From 8, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority's 2023 tariff says.
- Walking safariTanzania's national parks, TanzaniaFrom age 12Your 13-year-old can go with one of you, while the other takes your 7-year-old on a game drive. From 12, Tanzania National Parks' 2023-24 tariff says, its newest tariff to list ages.
Nothing here for these ages.
When they're older
Not old enough yet.
- Gorilla trekkingBwindi and Mgahinga, UgandaFrom age 15Your 13-year-old can go at 15, in 2 years. On this trip, one of you can go while the other takes your 7-year-old and 13-year-old on a guided nature walk for children, which the Uganda Wildlife Authority lists in Bwindi. From 15, the Uganda Wildlife Authority's rule.
- Gorilla trekkingVolcanoes National Park, RwandaFrom age 15Your 13-year-old can go at 15, in 2 years. On this trip, one of you can go while the other stays at the lodge with your 7-year-old and 13-year-old. At Singita Kwitonda, childminders can look after the children so both of you can go. From 15, the Rwanda Development Board's rule.
- Chimpanzee trackingNyungwe, RwandaFrom age 15Your 13-year-old can go at 15, in 2 years. On this trip, one of you can go while the other stays at the lodge with your 7-year-old and 13-year-old. From 15, Nyungwe National Park's price list says.
Nothing here for these ages.
23 family lodges take a 7-year-old
Facts from the lodges' websites, read in October 2026.
- Murchison River LodgeMurchison Falls, UgandaA family cottage, evening babysitting at a small cost, a sand pit and a children's menuAll ages
- Fort MurchisonMurchison Falls, UgandaChildren welcome, it says; under 12s at half priceUnder 5s stay free
- Pakuba Safari LodgeMurchison Falls, UgandaFamily rooms for two adults and two children under 12Children 3 and under stay free
- Ishasha Wilderness CampQueen Elizabeth, UgandaA lower rate for children from 5 to 12Under 5s stay free
- Kyambura Gorge LodgeQueen Elizabeth, UgandaDouble and twin rooms, and no childcareChildren welcome
- Turaco TreetopsKibale, UgandaA kids' playground, an indoor kids' room and a pool with a shallow endAll ages
- Gorilla Forest LodgeBwindi, UgandaChildren 15 and under share a suite with an adultFrom age 6
- Gorilla Safari LodgeBwindi, UgandaFamily rooms with three beds, and babysittingChildren 4 and under stay free
- Bwindi LodgeBwindi, UgandaTen bandas (cottages), and no childcareChildren welcome
- Buhoma LodgeBwindi, UgandaA family chalet with its own loungeUnder 5s stay free
- Bunyonyi Safaris ResortLake Bunyonyi, UgandaTwo-bedroom family suites with a kitchenetteChildren up to 12 stay free
- Singita Kwitonda LodgeVolcanoes National Park, RwandaTwo-bedroom suites that sleep four, and childminders while you trekAll ages
- Angama MaraMaasai Mara, KenyaFamily suites for two adults and four children; childminding from 18:00 to 22:00All ages
- andBeyond Kichwa TemboMaasai Mara, KenyaA family tent, childminders and the WILDchild programmeAll ages
- Governors' CampMaasai Mara, KenyaFive family tents, babysitting, early meals and the Cub ClubAll ages
- Cottar's 1920s Safari CampMaasai Mara, KenyaFour two-bedroom family tents, and a nanny at no charge with noticeAll ages
- Mahali MzuriMaasai Mara, KenyaA family tented suite; no babysittingFrom age 2
- The Ritz-Carlton Masai MaraMaasai Mara, KenyaA Discovery Hub with a Map Room, a Photo Studio and a Teens' ClubFrom age 6
- Kicheche Bush OlareMaasai Mara, KenyaA two-bedroom family suite for up to five, with its own vehicleFrom age 7
- andBeyond Grumeti Serengeti River LodgeSerengeti, TanzaniaA family suite, and childminding by staff at extra costChildren welcome
- Ubuntu Migration CampSerengeti, TanzaniaA two-bedroom family tent for up to fourFrom age 5
- andBeyond Serengeti Under CanvasSerengeti, TanzaniaA family tent in each campFrom age 6
- Serengeti BushtopsSerengeti, TanzaniaTwo family tents, each sleeping up to eightFrom age 7
Not for a 7-year-old yet:
- Serengeti Safari CampSerengeti, TanzaniaA family tent of two en-suite tents and a living areaFrom age 8
No clear minimum age on their websites; we ask them for you:
- Mweya Safari LodgeQueen Elizabeth, UgandaFamily rooms for up to four, and a children's dinner from 17:00Age not stated
- Katara LodgeQueen Elizabeth, UgandaTwo family cottages, each with two bedroomsAge not stated
- Primate Lodge KibaleKibale, UgandaA forest walk with games for children too young to trackAge to confirm
- Ruzizi Tented LodgeAkagera, RwandaA family tent for two adults and two childrenAge not stated
- Lamai SerengetiSerengeti, TanzaniaA kids' room with two single beds and its own bathroomAge not stated
Sources
Rules as we read them on 28 October 2026 from the Uganda Wildlife Authority, the Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch, the Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre, the Rwanda Development Board, Nyungwe and Akagera's managers, the Mara Conservancy, Ol Pejeta, Tanzania National Parks, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority, Nile River Explorers, the Giraffe Centre, the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and the lodges' websites. We check them again for your dates when we book.
Children's ages set? We plan the whole safari around them.
Send your dates, and we email a route and a price that fit every child, with a morning planned for the younger ones wherever one of you goes with the older ones.
Game drives with children: a vehicle that is yours alone
A game drive is where the youngest can join in. With the vehicle and the guide to yourselves, you stop when a child needs to and stay as long as a sighting holds them.
- No published minimum age for game drives in UgandaThe Uganda Wildlife Authority's tariff gives none, and Akagera's price list gives none in RwandaUganda Wildlife Authority; Akagera National Park, 2026-27
- Night drives in Uganda: for guests sleeping inside the parkSo if your children want one, we book a lodge inside the parkUganda Wildlife Authority
- Ngorongoro Crater: one fee per vehicleUSD 295 a vehicle for visitors from outside East Africa, so a family sharing one vehicle pays it onceNgorongoro Conservation Area Authority, 2023 tariff
- Some Mara camps ask for a private vehicle with young childrenMahali Mzuri for children under 6, and Angama Mara for children up to 6 when fewer than three tents are booked. Every safari we plan has its own private vehicleMahali Mzuri; Angama Mara
A cheetah on the raised roof of a vehicle in the Serengeti; lions resting as travellers watch from the roof hatch; watching giraffes from the long grass.
Children watching elephants from the raised roof of a vehicle; the road into Ngorongoro Crater from under the roof; two travellers inside with the roof up, in Tanzania; binoculars on a guided walk in Uganda.
Too young to track gorillas or chimpanzees? The younger children get a morning of their own
One of you tracks the chimpanzees or the gorillas with the older children, and the other spends the morning on a separate activity with the younger ones. Primate Lodge Kibale runs a forest walk with games for children too young to track.
The Uganda Wildlife Authority lists guided nature walks for children in Kibale and Bwindi. Singita Kwitonda, beside Volcanoes National Park, has childminders while you trek. On a Kenya safari, andBeyond Kichwa Tembo runs its WILDchild programme for children; in the photograph, Maasai guides show a girl how to make fire.
Tell us every age, and we plan both halves of the day.
The launch below the cliffs of the Victoria Nile, and Murchison Falls from the river; a boat cruise in Uganda.
Boat trips with children: the Nile, the Kazinga Channel and Lake Ihema
On a boat there is room to move, and the animals come to the water: hippos, crocodiles and waterbirds, and elephants and buffalo coming down to the banks.
At Murchison Falls the launch leaves Paraa and runs upriver to the foot of the falls, where the Nile bursts through the cliffs at the head of Fajao Gorge. Boats also run downriver from Paraa to the delta at Lake Albert. Both suit children who have had enough of the vehicle.
- Murchison Falls: upriver from Paraa to the foot of the fallsTwo to three hours on the launchUganda Wildlife Authority
- Queen Elizabeth: the Kazinga Channel from MweyaAbout 2 hours past hippos, crocodiles and waterbirds, with elephant, buffalo and antelope visiting the banksUganda Wildlife Authority
- No published minimum age on the Murchison Falls or Kazinga Channel boatsThe Uganda Wildlife Authority's tariff gives none for eitherUganda Wildlife Authority
- Akagera, Rwanda: an hour on Lake IhemaChildren 5 and under go free, and there is a sunset tripAkagera National Park, 2026-27
- Jinja: a family float on the Nile from age 4About 2 hours and 7 km on the river, Nile River Explorers saysNile River Explorers
Walking to white rhinos at Ziwa: on the road to Murchison Falls
You leave the vehicle and walk with a ranger to white rhinos grazing in the grass.
Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary lies close to the Kampala to Gulu road, 5 km before the turning to Masindi, the Uganda Wildlife Authority says, so the walk breaks the drive from Entebbe to Murchison Falls.
Uganda's rhino breeding programme began at Ziwa in 2005, and rhinos from Ziwa have since been moved to Ajai Wildlife Reserve and Kidepo Valley.
- The rhino walk at Ziwa: 1½ to 2½ hoursOn foot from the ranch or driving out to the rhinos, with the sanctuary's rangers, depending on where they areZiwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch
- No published minimum age for the rhino walkThe ranch publishes none, and has a child rate up to 12Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch
- A shoebill trek at dawnFrom 6 to 9 in the morning, also with a child rateZiwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch
- Kenya: the last two northern white rhinosA visit to their viewing area at Ol Pejeta, from age 5Ol Pejeta Conservancy
- Walking safaris in Tanzania: from age 12In the national parks, by Tanzania National Parks' 2023-24 tariff, its newest tariff to list agesTanzania National Parks
A guest and a ranger watching a white rhino; a group walking behind a ranger; two white rhinos grazing. All at Ziwa.
Family safaris by age: what toddlers to teenagers can do
Four age groups, from under 5 to 15 and over, and what each can do. Open one to see it.
Under 5Game drives and boats
Game drives and boat trips, which have no published minimum age in Uganda's parks or in Akagera, a family float on the Nile at Jinja from 4, and a lodge with a pool for the afternoon.
Children under 5 enter the national parks of Uganda and Tanzania free, children of 5 and under go free in Kenya's national parks and Akagera, and children under 9 in the Mara Triangle.
Several camps take the very young. Governors' Camp, in the Maasai Mara, says it can cater for families with very young children, with babysitting and early meals.
Where to goMurchison FallsQueen ElizabethAkageraMaasai Mara
5 to 11Rhino walks, the Nile and kids' clubs
A walk to white rhinos at Ziwa, flat-water tubing on the Nile at Jinja from 6, and Lake Manyara's treetop walkway from 5 (Tanzania National Parks' 2023-24 tariff). In Kenya, the last two northern white rhinos at Ol Pejeta from 5, and the Giraffe Centre and the Sheldrick elephant nursery in Nairobi.
Camps run their own programmes for children: WILDchild at andBeyond Kichwa Tembo, the Cub Club at Governors' Camp, and Cottar's Warrior School, which teaches the skills of Maasai warriors.
Where to goZiwaJinjaNairobiMaasai Mara
12 to 14Chimpanzees in Uganda
Chimpanzee tracking opens at 12 in Uganda, in Kibale and Kyambura Gorge, the Uganda Wildlife Authority's rule, and so do golden monkeys in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda. Walking safaris in Tanzania's national parks start at 12 as well (Tanzania National Parks' 2023-24 tariff).
Gorillas are still a few years away: the minimum is 15 in Uganda and Rwanda.
Where to goKibaleKyambura GorgeVolcanoesSerengeti
15 and overGorillas
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi and Mgahinga in Uganda and in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, and chimpanzee tracking in Nyungwe, Rwanda, which also starts at 15.
At 16, horse riding and mountain biking open in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, the authority's 2023 tariff says.
Where to goBwindiMgahingaVolcanoesNyungwe
andBeyond Grumeti Serengeti River Lodge, which has a family suite; the pool at Turaco Treetops, beside Kibale; Lake Bunyonyi from a lodge deck.
Family lodges in East Africa: two-bedroom tents, babysitters and pools
The right lodge does half the work: two rooms that connect, a pool for the afternoon, and someone to look after the children while you track.
Some camps set a minimum age of their own: Kicheche Bush Olare and Serengeti Bushtops take children from 7, and Serengeti Safari Camp from 8. We plan fewer moves and longer stays, and the age calculator above lists 29 lodges and, where a lodge states one, its minimum age.
- Governors' Camp, Maasai Mara: five family tentsChildren of all ages, babysitting, early meals and its Cub ClubGovernors' Camp
- Cottar's 1920s Camp, Maasai Mara: four family tentsTwo en-suite bedrooms each, a private vehicle, and a nanny at no charge with noticeCottar's Safaris
- Singita Kwitonda, Volcanoes: childminders while you trekChildren of all ages, and two-bedroom suites that sleep fourSingita
- Turaco Treetops, Kibale: a kids' room and a pool with a shallow endChildren of all ages, with an outdoor playgroundTuraco Treetops
- Bunyonyi Safaris Resort: two-bedroom family suitesFor two adults and two children, with a kitchenette, on Lake BunyonyiBunyonyi Safaris Resort
Like the look of one of these family lodges?
Send your dates and every child's age. We check the family rooms for your dates and send a route and a price.
Children's park fees: Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania
Who goes free, who pays the child rate, and what a child pays for a day in the main parks. Fees for visitors from outside East Africa, per child, per day, as each authority published them when we read them on 28 October 2026.
| Country | Enters free | Pays the child rate | Child entry, one day |
|---|---|---|---|
| UgandaUganda Wildlife Authority, tariff to December 2026 | Under 5 | 5 to 15; adult rate from 16 | USD 25 at Murchison Falls; USD 20 at Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi, Kibale, Kidepo, Lake Mburo and Mgahinga |
| Akagera, RwandaAkagera's price list, 2026-27 | 5 and under | 6 to 12; adult rate from 13 | USD 50 |
| KenyaKenya Wildlife Service; the Mara Conservancy | 5 and under in national parks; under 9 in the Mara Triangle | 6 to 17; 9 to 17 in the Mara Triangle | USD 45 at Amboseli and Lake Nakuru; USD 50 in the Mara Triangle |
| TanzaniaTanzania National Parks; the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority | Under 5 | 5 to 15; adult rate from 16 | TZS 51,100 in the Serengeti for 2026-27; USD 23.60 in Ngorongoro on the 2023 tariff |
Want the full price for your family?
Park fees change with each child's age. Send your dates and every age, and we email you a route and a full price, with no payment now.
Three family safaris to start from: Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania
Typically 8 to 12 daysUgandaUganda Family Safarifrom USD 3,600per personSee the itinerary
Typically 7 to 10 daysKenyaBest of Kenyafrom USD 4,900per personSee the itinerary
Typically 6 to 9 daysTanzaniaBest of Tanzaniafrom USD 3,250per personSee the itineraryLonger, shorter, a different month, two countries in one run. Say what you have in mind and a first route and a real price come back within one working day.
Start with a dateQuestions about family safaris in East Africa
What is the minimum age for gorilla trekking?
15, in Uganda and in Rwanda. The Uganda Wildlife Authority and the Rwanda Development Board set it. If some of your children are 15 or over and some are not, one of you treks with them while the other has a morning planned with the younger ones, and we plan both halves of the day.
Can children go chimpanzee tracking?
From 12 in Uganda's national parks, in Kibale and Kyambura Gorge: the Uganda Wildlife Authority's rule covers tracking and the longer habituation experience. In Nyungwe, Rwanda, the park's price list says 15.
Is there a minimum age for game drives and boat trips?
The Uganda Wildlife Authority's tariff gives none for game drives, the boat trips at Murchison Falls and on the Kazinga Channel, or nature walks, and Akagera's price list gives none for its boat trips, game drives and night drives.
Night drives in Uganda are only for guests sleeping inside the park. Some Mara camps, such as Mahali Mzuri and Angama Mara, ask for a private vehicle with young children, and every safari we plan has one.
What can younger children do while the rest of us track gorillas or chimps?
Primate Lodge Kibale runs a forest walk with games for children too young to track the chimpanzees. The Uganda Wildlife Authority lists guided nature walks for children in Kibale and Bwindi. Gorilla Safari Lodge in Bwindi offers babysitting, and Singita Kwitonda, beside Volcanoes National Park, has childminders while you trek.
Which safari lodges take young children?
Many say they take children of all ages: Governors' Camp, Cottar's 1920s Camp, Angama Mara and andBeyond Kichwa Tembo in the Maasai Mara, Singita Kwitonda in Rwanda, and Murchison River Lodge and Turaco Treetops in Uganda.
Others set a minimum: 6 at Gorilla Forest Lodge in Bwindi, 7 at Kicheche Bush Olare and Serengeti Bushtops, and 8 at Serengeti Safari Camp. The age calculator on this page lists each one.
Do children pay park fees?
Children under 5 enter free in Uganda's and Tanzania's national parks, children of 5 and under in Kenya's national parks and Akagera, and children under 9 in the Mara Triangle.
Older children pay a child rate: 5 to 15 in Uganda and Tanzania, 6 to 12 in Akagera, 6 to 17 in Kenya's national parks and 9 to 17 in the Mara Triangle.
What documents do children need?
Kenya requires an approved Electronic Travel Authorization for every visitor, infants and children included. Uganda asks for a yellow fever certificate from age 1.
Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania ask for one from age 1 when you arrive from a country on the World Health Organization's yellow fever list, and Uganda and Kenya are both on it.
How much does a family safari cost?
We price each trip for your family: how many of you there are, every child's age, your dates and the lodges you choose. Each safari's own page shows its current starting price, and we send a full price for your exact trip.
Send your dates and every child's age, and we email you a route and price.
- Send your dates and the agesRoughly when, how many days, and how old each child is.
- Get a route and a price by emailParks and family lodges, with a morning planned for the younger children wherever one of you goes with the older ones.
- Change the route until it fitsThe month, the parks or the pace.
hello@wildroutetours.com