Family vacations in Africa
Get your kids out into Africa’s compelling wilds; you can find safaris that don’t involve long drives – and might even discover you’ve produced a budding conservationist!![]()
The key to happy family vacations in Africa is a good chat with your vacation company - about your children's ages, your comfort zone, and what you want to get out of it. You can find white-sand beaches; safaris led by superb guides keen to educate little ones; and family-friendly camps with swimming pools, age-appropriate activities and menus to suit the fussiest tastes. Tanzania, Kenya and South Africa are probably the best set up, with South Africa in particular being great for a self-drive vacation. To the north, the madness of Morocco’s medinas highlights exactly what it’s like as a country – fun. Consider how long you want to fly for to get there and take your pick.
Our Africa family Vacations
Luxury trekking vacation in the Atlas Mountains
Stay at the Kasbah and trek in style
From
€957
6 days
ex flights
Uganda wildlife vacation
This you cannot miss while in Uganda -The wild and beautiful!
From
£2650
8 days
ex flights
Uganda wildlife and activity vacation
Experience the Pearl of Africa...true African adventure!
From
£4450
15 days
ex flights
Family volunteering with monkeys in South Africa
Hands-on family volunteering with monkeys in South Africa
From
£767
7 days
ex flights
Family safari in Namibia
Climb the highest sand dunes in the world
From
US $3199 to US $3449
13 days
ex flights
Botswana family adventure
A true African adventure for all the family!
From
US $4940
11 days
ex flights
Things to do in Africa with kids
Addo Elephant National Park
South Africa’s Addo Elephant National Park is just a short hop from Port Elizabeth and provides the adventure of an African safari, but without the long drives, the remoteness or the malaria! Much more than its name suggests, Addo is now home to the Big Five, plus you can horse ride, hike and watch whales off the coast.
Get on your bike!
We know what you’re thinking: Cycling around Africa? With kids? Are you mad? Trust us though, trips on two wheels – safaris included – are increasingly popular across Africa and are a fantastic way for families with teenagers to spend quality time together, while creating incredible lifelong memories.Share your safari
Tim Winkworth, from our supplier The Family Adventure Company:"Check out small group tours. I always used to wonder why I'd want to travel with other people’s kids. But when you go on one, you realise you’re not traveling with them – your kids are. They’ve got ready-made playmates, they share, they learn. It’s great to listen to them discussing the lions they’ve just seen."
Our top Africa family Vacation
Uganda wildlife vacation
This you cannot miss while in Uganda -The wild and beautiful!
From
£2650
8 days
ex flights
Small group travel:
2022: 27 Jun, 11 Jul, 25 Jul, 8 Aug, 22 Aug, 5 Sep, 19 Sep, 3 Oct, 17 Oct, 31 Oct, 14 Nov, 28 Nov, 12 Dec, 26 Dec
2023: 9 Jan, 23 Jan, 6 Feb, 20 Feb, 6 Mar, 20 Mar, 3 Apr, 17 Apr, 1 May, 15 May, 29 May, 12 Jun, 26 Jun
2022: 27 Jun, 11 Jul, 25 Jul, 8 Aug, 22 Aug, 5 Sep, 19 Sep, 3 Oct, 17 Oct, 31 Oct, 14 Nov, 28 Nov, 12 Dec, 26 Dec
2023: 9 Jan, 23 Jan, 6 Feb, 20 Feb, 6 Mar, 20 Mar, 3 Apr, 17 Apr, 1 May, 15 May, 29 May, 12 Jun, 26 Jun
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about Africa or need help finding a vacation to suit you we're very happy to help.
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Tips for family vacations in Africa
Simon Mills, from our supplier Native Escapes, shares his advice on family vacations in Africa:
“Africa is a great destination for families – however, that does come with a caveat or two. I think that it is better for children over the age of eight and across much of the continent you’ll need to be comfortable giving your children anti-malarial tablets. Game drives can be long so patience is required, and some driving distances in Namibia and Malawi can seem arduous to little ones. In the main though, what is not to like? An introduction to new cultures, some grounded education into how other people live and some of the best wildlife sightings on the planet.”
“Africa is a great destination for families – however, that does come with a caveat or two. I think that it is better for children over the age of eight and across much of the continent you’ll need to be comfortable giving your children anti-malarial tablets. Game drives can be long so patience is required, and some driving distances in Namibia and Malawi can seem arduous to little ones. In the main though, what is not to like? An introduction to new cultures, some grounded education into how other people live and some of the best wildlife sightings on the planet.”
Tom Harari, from our supplier, Exodus, shares his opinion on Africa for families:
“Africa is a large, diverse continent. It may at times have a bad reputation, but numerous countries and regions are very safe to travel. The rewards of visiting these areas are extreme natural beauty, rich traditional cultures and, of course, the best wildlife encounters anywhere on Earth. Going on safari in the Serengeti, Kruger or Etosha is a wonderful experience, from large herds of elephants, prowling prides of lions, lanky giraffes or meerkats standing to attention. Beyond inspiring wildlife, going on vacation in Africa takes families into an environment which is likely to be very different to what they’re used to, and show children that the world is made up of a lot more than what can, at times, appear to be homogenised culture.”
“Africa is a large, diverse continent. It may at times have a bad reputation, but numerous countries and regions are very safe to travel. The rewards of visiting these areas are extreme natural beauty, rich traditional cultures and, of course, the best wildlife encounters anywhere on Earth. Going on safari in the Serengeti, Kruger or Etosha is a wonderful experience, from large herds of elephants, prowling prides of lions, lanky giraffes or meerkats standing to attention. Beyond inspiring wildlife, going on vacation in Africa takes families into an environment which is likely to be very different to what they’re used to, and show children that the world is made up of a lot more than what can, at times, appear to be homogenised culture.”
More about Africa
The best time to visit Africa tends to depend on wildlife - with May to October being popular months in the game-rich plains of East and Southern Africa.
54 countries and over a billion people make up the continent of Africa - too often dismissed as a single, poor, arid nation.
Deciding where to go in Africa is not an easy task, but our handpicked highlights and interactive map will help you get started.
An African safari is the Holy Grail of wildlife travel, from witnessing the Big Five in the Ngorongoro Crater to watching the Wildebeest Migration.
From bright blue kingfishers in Botswana’s Okavango Delta to bone-eating bearded vultures in Kenya’s Hells Gate National Park, bird watching in Africa is as diverse and beguiling as the continent itself.
Africa serves up some unforgettable wildlife spectacles, from the Great Migration, to some lesser known but thrilling gatherings.
There is a huge difference between legal game meat and illegally hunted bushmeat in Africa: one is sustainable, the other drives species closer to extinction.
Canoe, hike and dive your way through some of Africa’s most special places, where wild adventures and iconic wildlife are guaranteed, and thousands of tourists are not.
Travel experts from across the continent have shared their Africa travel advice with us - on where to track gorillas, what to wear on safari, experiencing local life and how to pack for your vacation.
Responsible tourism in Africa may seem like to big of an issue to even begin to tackle - but there are so many incredible success stories here that there is plenty of hope for areas which aren't faring as well.
All our Africa guides. Find all of our Africa guides in one place, including guides on Botswana, Chad, the Serengeti and so much more.
