Visit Longido for an Authentic Taste of Tanzania
Longido is an area that doesn’t see many tourists but offers some unique adventures for all types of travelers.
Adventures in Longido, Tanzania
What’s great about Longido:
Location: Longido is located just 80 km from Arusha town, making a trip to Longido a convenient and easy 1-hr drive.
Mount Longido is an awesome climb that is a lot more challenging than it may seem. To reach the summit, climbers need to scramble over boulders and scale secured ladders that are bolted to the rock face.
Hikes: From scrambles at the base of Mount Longido, to a fun trek to a nearby waterfall, there are hikes for all fitness levels. And easy and fun for kids to do, too.
Cultural experiences What I love about Longido is how laid-back everything is. If Boma visits around Ngorongoro feel a little too rehearsed and performative, Longido is for you. Visit a traditional Maasai family; you can even help herd cattle, learn how to bead, or milk a goat and make traditional sour milk.
Walking Safaris in Longido don’t require participants to go with an armed ranger, like the National Parks. You’ll be able to enjoy walking in nature for a lower budget, and with a local Maasai guide.
On a recent walking safari in Longido, we followed a group of 3 giraffes for around 20 minutes in the bush – it was the highlight of our trip, my kids couldn’t stop talking about how cool it was to see giraffes so close.
Camping in Longido is one of my family’s favorite activities. While there are options to bring your own tent and camp out on a reserved plot of land, we prefer to stay at one of the set up campsites, which has permanent tents on platforms, all fitted with real toilets and showers for a luxury experience.
When traveling with kids, having running water is aahhmazing!
If you visit Longido, you should definitely go camping! There are a few guesthouses in the area, but they are 2-star and lower, and truly, I think sleeping under the night sky in a location as beautiful as this is the ultimate 10000-star experience.
Bike Riding: If you’re a cyclist, then consider biking in and around Longido. The area is very flat, making it nice for kids to ride (but watch out for lots of acacia thorns – they will puncture tires!). My kids had a blast riding bikes all over the campsite, and we even did a quick ride beside the highway, too. We went in the late afternoon, when it wasn’t so hot and it was a perfect end to a day in Longido.
Family Friendly All in all, Longido is a great option for families with kids.
While we love national parks, the reality is that safari game drives in parks mean hours stuck inside a safari jeep. Longido is a great, close option that allows kids to enjoy the nature of Tanzania, run a little wild, splash in a waterfall, and build a campfire. Best of all, as a wilderness management area (WMA) there are some fees to pay to visit Longido, but they run less than those for national parks.
Overnight or 2-day Excursion: Longido is an uncommon adventure to experience in Tanzania that works well as an overnight, especially if you’re heading to or from Lake Natron, or if you’re looking for a quick excursion near Arusha town.
If you want to try something a little different on your family safari, visit Longido.