What to Expect
A family safari is an adventure that promises enriching experiences and cherished memories. Careful planning will ensure your family safari is fun and memorable for everyone! Below are some of the things we consider when planning your family safari with you:
Health & Safety: Families with younger children may prefer malaria-free or low risk destinations. Some properties are fenced. Others are not. With active children, having a fenced property gives them more freedom to explore safely during the downtime between game-viewing activities. Lodges that are open to the bush are not ideal if you have kids who want to stray!
Child-Friendly Lodges & Guides: Some camps and lodges are better equipped for families than others! Amenities such as babysitting services, children’s menus and activities tailored specifically for kids are key to a family safari. Having your own plunge pool is a bonus for downtime between game viewing activities. And look for a great kids’ guide who engages with and inspires your children. Some camps offer fishing, bow & arrow making, cooking with the camp chefs, making pizzas inside abandoned anthills. Your kids will learn so much about their environment, and you will have time to relax!
Private Vehicles: A game drive can be stressful when you’re trying to keep young children still and quiet for relatively long periods of time. Having a private vehicle and guide can seem expensive, but it provides the flexibility to go on shorter or longer game drives to suit your family.
Location: Choose a location where there’s lots to see and do! The quintessential day on safari involves an early morning and evening game drive, with plenty of downtime by the pool in between. This can be boring for young children, so consider safaris where horse-riding, hot air ballooning, quad-biking, mountain-biking, bush walks and other activities are offered.
Private Villas: Whether you have young children, or busy, noisy teenagers, a private safari villa can be the perfect option. Design your days to suit your family’s needs, with meals, activities and adventures on your schedule. Private villas usually come with your own chef and game-drive vehicle and safari guide, and are well equipped to keep the whole family happy.
Ease of Access: Select destinations with good accessibility to avoid long, arduous journeys that can be taxing for young children.
Climate and Timing: Consider the best time of year to visit. The dry season is generally easier for game-viewing, but you may prefer to avoid extreme temperatures that could be uncomfortable for children.
Cultural Sensitivity & Community-Based Tourism: Teach your family about the local culture and traditions where you will be visiting, and choose lodges where you can engage with the local community.
Bush & Beach: Combine a family safari with a beach holiday! Days on safari can be long, with an early wake-up call, and hours spent exploring the bush in search of wildlife. Change the pace with a few days relaxing at the beach … the perfect end to your African family vacation!
Where to Go on a Family Safari
South Africa: A good choice for a first time safari, and safaris with young children, South Africa has several malaria-free destinations including Madikwe, Welgevonden and the Eastern Cape, all of which have excellent private family-friendly safari lodges and camps. Tswalu in the malaria-free Kalahari is an extraordinary place for children, with a focus on conservation and a superb Junior Ranger programme.
Our favourites: Jaci’s Lodges, Kwandwe Ecca Lodge, Shamwari, The Ant Collection, Tswalu, Londolozi
Namibia: As a superb self-drive destination, Namibia is particularly well equipped for family safaris. Distances between your destinations can be long, so plan well if you’re travelling with smaller children. The country offers plenty of adventure, from climbing vast sand dunes, to quad biking, kayaking, game drives, night sleep-outs, hiking, fishing, and much more, so Namibia can be a great option if you’re travelling with older, active kids.
Our favourites: Ongava Lodge, Safari House
Kenya: A hugely popular destination for families, Kenyan safaris offer good value, great variety of activities (awesome wildlife viewing, hot air ballooning, hiking, canoeing, horse-back safaris, camel riding), and good family accommodation options with large family rooms, interleading rooms for older kids, and private safari houses. With generally warm and sunny weather and 490km of Indian Ocean coastline, Kenya family vacations offer an unparalleled experience.
Our favourites: Cottars, Angama Mara, House in the Wild, Mara Bush Houses, &Beyond Kichwa Tembo, Lewa House, Ol Pejeta, Ol Malo, Saruni Samburu
Zimbabwe: A fabulous family-friendly destination! Combine the thrill of Victoria Falls (white water rafting, bungee jumping, gorge swinging, cruising on the mighty Zambezi River) with a safari in Hwange National Park, Lake Kariba or Mana Pools. Hwange offers superb game viewing and well-organised family-friendly accommodations. For kids over 12, Lake Kariba and Mana Pools offer boating, fishing walking safaris, wild game drives and canoeing in the ultimate wilderness adventure!
Our favourites: Ilala Lodge, Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, Somalisa Acacia, Davisons Camp, The Hide, Bumi Hills, Chikwenya, Ruckomechi
Tanzania: Another popular family-friendly East African safari destination with well-priced camps & lodges and a good variety of activities.
Our favourites: For a Safari: Sayari, Singita Mara Tented Camp, Faru Faru, Explorer Camp, Lemala Ndutu, KasKaz Mara, Serian Serengeti Camps, Klein’s Camp, Pioneer Camp; The Manor, Highlands, Gibb’s Farm, Roho ya Selous, Jabali Private House, Kiba Point Private House
Zanzibar Beach: Breezes, Zuri, Whitesands
