With demand for family itineraries high, and the holidays approaching (when so many of our clients start to think about where they want to go next year), we want to remind you why an African safari can’t be beat for families. The continent offers a treasure chest of excitement, adventure and learning for the entire family. Safari adventures provide families a unique opportunity to discover and share in a new experience together. The memories created last long after the trip is over – these shared family experiences are second to none, from time with your core family unit to larger multi-generational groups.
Whether young, old or young at heart, there is something to fascinate everyone. With limited connectivity, you’ll have precious time to just talk, reminisce, tell stories and reflect on the value of family time together.
The right age to bring a child on safari depends on the individual, but in general we find that kids age 8 and over get the most out of the experience (and let’s face it, kids often bounce right back from jet-lag). That being said, a safari can be an exciting and adventurous experience for all ages. No teenager will eye-roll when they see an elephant for the first time and if you have younger children, fantastic – the action starts just as they get up at 6 am!
Where should I go on a family safari?
This is a perennial favorite. In addition to the incredible reserves in the Kruger region, the country offers a number of big 5 reserves, which are malaria-free, important if you don’t want to your kids to take malaria medication. Across the country there is plenty of family styly accommodations available. Many lodges and camps are child-friendly, with some offering child-centric activities and child-care for younger kids. The reserves allow you to see a lot of varied wildlife in a relatively short amount of time, which also makes them excellent options to combine with time in Cape Town or the coast (think marine safari). Check out our Cape and Kruger itinerary.
An excellent family-safari destination with a good network of flights linking all the major national parks and thus limiting long road transfers. In addition to the stellar game viewing, in a diverse array of landscapes, many properties offer a variety of other experiences – horse riding, camel riding, learning about the Maasai culture, hiking and more. Nairobi offers brilliant close encounters with visits to the Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage and Giraffe Center, a brilliant start or end to the trip. You can also easily add some extra beach time as there are flights operating from the Masai Mara straight to the coast.
Tanzania’s northern circuit, which includes the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, offers the opportunity to travel with your own private 4×4 and guide for the duration of your safari (max 7 per vehicle). This is a super alternative to a fly in safaris and can be very cost effective for family groups. Keep in mind game drives are “all-day” affairs, though, so it is important to know your kids and their patience. Check out our Tanganyika Wilderness itinerary which includes a private vehicle and guide throughout. Adding beach time in Zanzibar is a good idea too. (Read more about adding beach time to your safari …)
For families looking for a different experience, consider Namibia with excellent wildlife viewing in the Etosha region, as well as unique encounters with desert adapted wildlife along the way.
As a contrast explore the vast sand dunes and magnificent coastline with shipwrecks and seal colonies. Keep in mind the distances between places of interest is significant so unless you have children who don’t mind long drives it’s best to opt for a flying safari – seeing the desert landscape from above is breathtaking. If you have an elastic budget, try our Ultimate Namibia Safari.
For a remote and varied experience, Botswana is fantastic for families with older kids (especially for lodges that include traditional canoe excursions through the delta region that prohibit kids under the age of 16). In addition to game drives, walking and boating are offered in the Delta region. In contrast the desert regions of the Makgadikgadi and its vast salt pans or the Kalahari, offer walks with the San Bushmen, meerkats, quad biking (12+) and fascinating desert adapted wildlife are just a few unique experiences. Check out our Heart of Botswana itinerary.
A trip to Southern African should also include one of the World’s Natural Wonders, Victoria Falls. This is particularly good for families due to the variety of activities suitable for all ages. The adventure activities – such as white-water rafting, zip lining and bungee jumping – are very popular with teens and young adults. Begin here before enjoying Zimbabwe’s fabulous wildlife viewing in diverse landscapes such as Hwange National Park, Mana Pools, the Matopos or Gonarezhou National Park.
Why not consider our Classic Tented Safari, a fantastic family safari itinerary, combining both Zimbabwe and Botswana, with Victoria Falls in between, in this case on the Zambian side of the Falls. Families with older kids (16+) should consider Zambia as a destination due to its wide array of activities sure to keep even those with short attention spans rapt – long considered the home of the walking safari in South Luangwa plus boating and fishing in the Lower Zambezi, along with the incredible game viewing means an exciting adventure for the whole family.
Gorilla tracking in Rwanda and Uganda
has become very popular in recent years, and for good reason. Watching these family groups is fascinating – especially with your older children – and being close to to the primates reminds us of how much DNA we all share. Please note the minimum age for gorilla tracking is 15 and for chimp tracking is 12.
Clients bringing their family can arrange a babysitter in Uganda while they go trekking and kids can get involved in other activities such as horseback riding, visiting local schools and meeting Batwa communities. A visit to Rwanda also offers activities that don’t involve trekking, such as historical and cultural tours, including the genocide museum (please be advised that parts of the exhibit are tough to absorb, however it is an important place of learning and remembrance).
Why do safari camps and lodges have age restrictions?
Barring a few exceptions, most camps and lodges have a minimum age (unless you take over the whole camp for exclusive use). Some require families with younger children to book a private vehicle.
Safety is a key issue as many lodges and safari camps are unfenced the animals roam right through camp day and night. Vehicles are usually open on all sides, with the danger that younger children could fall – or jump! – out. Most significant is that game drives require a lot of patience and the ability to keep still when approaching wildlife, and younger kids may struggle to keep quiet when required. A good test on whether your child is ready for a safari is whether they can sit in a vehicle, sometimes quietly, for several hours at a time — you are the best judge of that.
How can I ensure everyone is happy on safari?
For younger families we recommend a family-oriented lodge that offers special drives for children or baby-sitting options, plus dedicated kids’ menus and earlier dining times. Ask us about which lodges and camps are truly family-friendly, with quality programs that will entertain and educate your younger ones –bug collecting, dung and track identification, treasure hunts, baking with the kitchen team or soccer games with lodge staff.
If you want to enjoy activities with your kids, mix up game drives with other activities, such as nature walks, horseback riding and learning about local culture and customs. Encourage kids on game drives to observe, spot and photograph what they are seeing – binoculars are highly recommended in addition to cameras. You can also award points or prizes for spotting birds, insects and wildlife, or have a bird or animal checklist to mark off – many lodges provide a list.
In summary
- Ask us to book your own exclusive use vehicle for complete flexibility
- Consider an exclusive use villa or multi-room unit, which provides privacy for your family
- Be sure to let us know the ages of your children at the time of enquiry, to ensure we can offer appropriate camps and lodges. If you occupy a whole camp on exclusive-use basis, sometimes an exception will be made
- Stay somewhere with a pool during the hotter months (September – May)
- Make sure the safari you choose is age appropriate – walking safaris are not suitable for children under the age of 12, for example
- If you’re worried about malaria, South Africa has malaria-free game parks you can enjoy
So whether you are a looking for a multi-generational adventure, or it’s just you and the kids, gather some ideas by reading through our suggested family safaris. Contact us to find out why our clients (and our own children) consistently claim that a family safari is the best trip they’ve ever taken!