How to plan your dream family safari?

How to plan your dream family safari? Safaris in Africa are pure magic for families. You will see a variety of recognizable African animals, stay in some of the most primaeval settings on Earth, and pick up insightful lessons about culture and conservation. But organising your trip from choosing your safari location to identifying the top lodges for families can be a daunting task. Here is the lowdown on how to organize the ideal family safari in Africa.

Planning a family safari: what to consider.

Although every family is unique and you alone know what makes yours work, the best safaris typically combine education, adventure, and wildlife observation. Consider the skills and interests of your children when creating a customized schedule. Here are some important things to think about:

Health and safety: find out if you need to take any malaria medication or receive any pre-travel vaccinations before going on your safari. You can stay at fenced camps in malaria-free parks for added peace of mind. After you’re on the ground, you’ll need plenty of sun protection and bug repellent in addition to staying hydrated. When you go on safari, it’s also critical that your children are old enough to obey safety instructions from a guide.

Should I drive or fly? Numerous safari destinations in Africa are enormously expansive and may require lengthy travel times. Think about whether your children can tolerate lengthy car rides or if a fly-in safari where you travel between lodges on private planes might be a better choice.

Age restrictions: While some lodges may offer activities, kids’ clubs, and babysitting services, they may also have a minimum age requirement for safaris. Since they are old enough to handle longer drives and eager to learn about the wildlife and terrain, children ages seven and up typically benefit the most from safaris.

When travelling with teenagers, you might want to incorporate educational and ecological safari activities. For example, Kariega in South Africa offers rhino conservation experiences, and visits to anti-poaching units in Kenya allow visitors to track lions and cheetahs. If your adolescent is adventurous and older than sixteen, look for South African camps such as Shamwari, which offer guided walking safaris.

Where to stay – There are countless options for accommodations during a safari, including private villas, resort-style lodges, and luxury tented camps. The easiest option is a safari lodge, which offers junior safaris, pools, kids’ clubs, and kid-friendly menus with connecting rooms. Numerous companies provide thrilling bush tracker programs, quick safari drives, and even courses on survival skills. Elite lodges frequently participate in conservation efforts and offer educational village tours in addition to their involvement with the local community.

When to go: If you’re taking a family vacation, you should choose locations that have pleasant weather during the UK school holidays. Remember that the weather varies by region in many of the continent’s larger countries. Dry seasons are generally great for seeing wildlife because animals gather around rivers and waterholes. Additionally, you should stay away from the sweltering summer highs and the rainy seasons, which can cause roads to wash out.
Top safari spots for families

Selecting the ideal African safari destination for your family can be challenging, but here are some of the best options.

South Africa.

While northern destinations like Madikwe and the Kruger area are great for summer breaks, South Africa’s Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal region, and Kruger National Park enjoy sunny, dry weather during the UK’s Easter, May, and October school holidays. There is no jet lag because English is the primary language spoken here and there is only a two-hour time difference with the UK (one in the summer). Good primary roads and favorable exchange rates make South Africa the perfect destination for family self-drive vacations along the verdant Garden Route.

Regarding safaris, South Africa offers many locations to see the Big Five, ranging from the well-known Kruger National Park to malaria-free private game reserves like Shamwari on the Cape. Add some beach time or a boat tour to see the Marine Big Five (whale, penguin, dolphin, shark, and Cape Fur seals) for a more varied trip. South Africa is the ideal destination for both safari and city breaks, which blend Cape Town’s urban exploration with introduction safaris in the Eastern Cape Game Reserve.

Where to stay in South Africa – our top pick for families.

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Shamwari Game Reserve lies on the malaria-free Eastern Cape and is known for its Born Free Big Cat Sanctuary and Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre. There are many family-friendly amenities available, such as flexible meal times, connecting rooms, and a Kids on Safari programme. Kids will love the camp’s adventure centre, which features a zip line, treehouse and rock climbing wall. Shamwari offers a professional childminding service for children under four.

Kenya and Tanzania.

For a traditional, Lion King-style family safari, Kenya or Tanzania are the best options available. The weather at these locations is perfect for summer vacations, October half-terms, and Christmas breaks. The opportunity to visit renowned parks like the Maasai Mara and Serengeti makes it worthwhile to take malaria medication, even though many popular destinations require it. Between July and September, during the Great Migration, you can even experience wildlife sightings that are truly unforgettable.

Discover family-friendly safari lodges featuring exclusive 4×4 cars, kid-friendly clubs, and various activities. Take your kids on polite field trips to nearby villages to expose them to intriguing new cultures as part of a global education programme. After an exciting safari, spend some time at the beach along the sun-drenched coast. Tanzania’s beautiful spice island of Zanzibar is waiting for you, while Kenya’s Diani beach offers white sand beaches.

Where to stay in Kenya and Tanzania – our top picks for families

Lemala Kids Explorer Walk.

For a luxurious glamping experience, try the two-bed safari tents at Sarova Mara in Kenya’s Maasai Mara. A pool, the Ozone Kids’ Club, and age-appropriate activities like nature hikes and crafts are available at the gated camp. Lemala in Tanzania offers family-friendly lodging options such as the stilted safari tents of Nanyukie Lodge in the Serengeti, complete with a kids’ club and guided walks for kids six to ten years old.

If you are travelling with teenagers, Zimbabwe provides an additional element of adventure because you will be able to see the majestic Victoria Falls up close. Daring teens will love the exhilarating ziplines, helicopter trips, and white-water rafting that allow them to explore the world-famous Smoke that Thunders. Though the water levels are at their highest during the school holidays in February and May, the falls are breathtaking all year round.

Safaris in national parks with abundant wildlife are an integral part of any itinerary to Zimbabwe. Animals gather on the banks of the Zambezi during the summer and October half-term holidays. In Hwange National Park, large herds of buffalo and elephants can be seen. With an unrivalled Zimbabwe tour, get off the beaten path and visit the UNESCO-listed Lake Kariba and Mana Pools for a water safari where you can see 48 different species of birds, crocodiles, and hippos.

Where to stay in Zimbabwe – our top pick for families.

Bomani Tented Lodge in Hwange provides family-friendly tented suites and a true wilderness experience. Savour thrilling nighttime drives, canoeing, and game drives and walks in the bush. Teens will adore the opportunity to participate in a pump run, where they will transport supplies to the park’s water pump stations and waterholes, which serve as year-round sources of water for both people and animals.

Namibia.

Namibia is the place to go if your family prefers to drive itself. The nation is renowned for its incredible road trips, which will take you from the tallest sand dunes in the world in the Namib Desert to the eerie Skeleton Coast, home to abandoned ships, and the wildlife-filled waterholes of Etosha National Park, located in the north. The temperatures in Namibia are in the mid-20s during the UK summer holidays and the October half-term. The dry season causes animals to congregate around waterholes, making for excellent sightings.

Namibia offers family-friendly tours like sandboarding and looking for creepy crawlies in the Namib Desert, as well as dolphin-watching cruises from Walvis Bay, in addition to the classic safaris in Etosha National Park. Meet rescued cheetahs at the AfriCat Foundation and experience less crowded safaris at private nature reserves like Okonjima. You can even go on a walking safari and stay in an opulent tented camp at Onguma Reserve, which is located outside of Etosha.

Where to stay in Namibia – our top pick for families.

Okonjima Day Centre cheetah drive.

Okonjima Plains Camp, a former cattle ranch turned conservation success story, provides game drives for endangered species along with a two-bedroom family unit and pool. Kids will enjoy the afternoon young explorer’s walk at Onguma Bush Camp, where they can also play on the expansive lawns and go swimming. Enjoy comfortable campervan accommodations while viewing wildlife at the waterhole while staying in one of the stylish family lofts.