Family guide
Our family travel guide conjures up what we rate and what we don’t as well as an awesome section entitled 'out of the mouths of babes' which gives you a family vacations travel guide from the mind set of eight to fifteen year olds.
Best time to go on a family wildlife vacation
African safaris in the summer hols, exploring Costa Rica at Christmas – there is plenty of wildlife for families to see during the school vacations.![]()
Obviously, if your children are school age, the best time to go on a family wildlife vacation is during the school vacations. Fortunately, being tied to the academic calendar won’t put the brakes on seeing the world’s most exciting wildlife. Summer is the best time for an African safari, while seeing tigers in India is best over the Christmas break. Easter brings numerous wildlife options, from orangutans in Borneo to marine iguanas in the Galapagos. Half terms are trickier, as a week isn’t really long enough to reach long haul wildlife destinations (and most are long haul) but you can spot whales in the Azores in May and October.
Our Family wildlife Vacations
Family Kenya safari & beach vacation, tailormade
Luxury tailormade safari and beach vacations in Kenya
From
£4300
14 days
ex flights
Family safari in Namibia
Climb the highest sand dunes in the world
From
US $2799 to US $2879
13 days
ex flights
Uganda wildlife vacation
This you cannot miss while in Uganda -The wild and beautiful!
From
£2650
8 days
ex flights
Madagascar family adventure vacation
Unique family adventures in Madagascar
From
US $3300
14 days
ex flights
Family whale watching vacation, South Africa
A unique marine safari in Cape Town and Hermanus
From
R 41750 to R 69525
7 days
ex flights
Exciting family vacation in Tanzania
A family vacation for all ages including the best of Tanzania
From
US $3750 to US $5650
13 days
ex flights
Botswana family adventure
A true African adventure for all the family!
From
US $4940
11 days
ex flights
Galapagos family vacation
Follow in the footsteps of Darwin on this family vacation
From
US $2765 to US $2985
8 days
ex flights
Family luxury safari & beach vacation, South Africa & Mozambique
Combine a wildlife safari in South Africa with beach time.
From
£3880
12 days
ex flights
Family vacation to Sri Lanka
Explore Sri Lanka with the family
From
US $2179 to US $2479
13 days
ex flights
South Africa family vacation, Cape Town and safari
Bucketlist Trip in South Africa
From
R 32903 to R 47185
8 days
ex flights
Tanzania family safari and Zanzibar vacation
Famous Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti combined with beach
From
US $5699 to US $6924
10 days
ex flights
Family garden route vacation with safari, South Africa
Family vacation to discover the Cape
From
US $2190 to US $2240
14 days
ex flights
Botswana family vacation, green season safari
The perfect family safari vacation in Botswana
From
US $3155
7 days
ex flights
Luxury safari in Botswana and South Africa
A family friendly safari in iconic wildlife locations
From
R 65800 to R 86520
8 days
ex flights
South African safaris for families with teenagers
Visit the famous Kruger National Park and Zulu villages
From
US $1590 to US $1730
12 days
ex flights
Botswana family safari vacation
An unforgettable Botswana experience for all ages
From
US $4945 to US $7395
8 days
ex flights
Costa Rica family vacation
Discover Costa Rica's famous national parks
From
US $3499 to US $3879
15 days
ex flights
Flexible Galapagos Islands tailor made tour
Your choice of four to eight-day land-based adventure
From
US $2125 to US $4385
5 days
ex flights
Tanzania family Safari
Family-friendly luxury safari into Tanzania's wilderness
From
£5095
8 days
ex flights
South Africa luxury family safari
Luxury five star vacation visiting two Wonders of the World
From
R 80925 to R 94715
10 days
ex flights
Botswana wildlife vacation for families
Discover the diverse wilderness of Botswana
From
R 50476 to R 75780
7 days
ex flights
Zimbabwe family safari, tailor made
Discover magnificent Matopos and Hwange National Park
From
US $3435 to US $3790
9 days
ex flights
Zimbabwe tailor made vacations
A journey through Zimbabwe's most iconic wildlife habitats
From
£5145
13 days
inc UK flights
Peru Amazon Rainforest family adventure
Amazon family adventure vacation, for children aged 4-10
From
US $925
4 days
ex flights
Sarawak family vacation
An action-packed vacation got the whole family to enjoy!
From
£1088
9 days
ex flights
India tiger safaris
Stunning Tiger and wildlife safari in India.
From
£3495 to £4220
13 days
ex flights
India family vacation, Taj, Tigers and Temples
Discover the highlights of Northern India
From
US $1549
10 days
ex flights
Borneo family vacation to see Orangutans
Come face to face with orangutans
From
US $1830 to US $1920
11 days
ex flights
Christmas vacations
This is a good time to see tigers in India – not too hot, although be prepared for really cold mornings.
Costa Rica is a great Christmas option, as this festive vacation coincides with the country’s driest, sunniest weather.
You can visit Tanzania for wildlife in the Christmas vacations. November and December bring the short rains, but this shouldn’t disrupt travel – although may bring a few more mosquitoes – and will freshen up the landscape. December can also be an excellent time to visit Kenya, with lush green scenery the ideal habitat for migratory birds and lots of cute new born animals.
Christmas is a great time to visit the Galapagos. It’s the warm, wet season here, with seas pleasantly warm and underwater visibility good.
Costa Rica is a great Christmas option, as this festive vacation coincides with the country’s driest, sunniest weather.
You can visit Tanzania for wildlife in the Christmas vacations. November and December bring the short rains, but this shouldn’t disrupt travel – although may bring a few more mosquitoes – and will freshen up the landscape. December can also be an excellent time to visit Kenya, with lush green scenery the ideal habitat for migratory birds and lots of cute new born animals.
Christmas is a great time to visit the Galapagos. It’s the warm, wet season here, with seas pleasantly warm and underwater visibility good.
February half term
A tricky vacation for seeing wildlife. Most of the exciting wildlife watching is taking place in long haul destinations and organised tours that fit within a single half term week just don’t run. If you’re prepared to let your kids miss a week of school though, or you have two-week half terms, the world is your oyster now.Easter vacations
March to May is the rainy season in Tanzania, Kenya and Botswana, so an Easter safari isn’t ideal.
October to April is the wet season in Brazil’s wildlife rich Pantanal, so Easter vacations aren’t the best time to come all this way.
April to May, when vegetation is dry and sparse and wildlife congregates at the few waterholes, is a superb time to see tigers in India. Before you head off with your family, though, do remember that temperatures soar into the 40°Cs now, which can feel unbearably hot, for adults and kids.
April to May is excellent in Namibia, with the landscape refreshed after the rains.
April, May and June are the optimum time to see the blue, humpback and fin whales migrating past the Azores, so if Easter falls during April, this is a great option.
The Galapagos’ warm, wet season runs from December to June, when seas are warm and underwater visibility good, with just the odd sharp shower – a great Easter option.
October to April is the wet season in Brazil’s wildlife rich Pantanal, so Easter vacations aren’t the best time to come all this way.
April to May, when vegetation is dry and sparse and wildlife congregates at the few waterholes, is a superb time to see tigers in India. Before you head off with your family, though, do remember that temperatures soar into the 40°Cs now, which can feel unbearably hot, for adults and kids.
April to May is excellent in Namibia, with the landscape refreshed after the rains.
April, May and June are the optimum time to see the blue, humpback and fin whales migrating past the Azores, so if Easter falls during April, this is a great option.
The Galapagos’ warm, wet season runs from December to June, when seas are warm and underwater visibility good, with just the odd sharp shower – a great Easter option.
May half term
You can still see the annual spring migration north of blue, humpback and fin whales in the Azores during May.Our top Family wildlife Vacation
Family safari in Namibia
Climb the highest sand dunes in the world
From
US $2799 to US $2879
13 days
ex flights
Small group travel:
2021: 3 Jul, 10 Jul, 17 Jul, 24 Jul, 31 Jul, 7 Aug, 14 Aug, 15 Aug, 17 Dec
2022: 2 Jul, 9 Jul, 16 Jul, 23 Jul, 30 Jul, 6 Aug, 13 Aug, 14 Aug, 17 Dec
2021: 3 Jul, 10 Jul, 17 Jul, 24 Jul, 31 Jul, 7 Aug, 14 Aug, 15 Aug, 17 Dec
2022: 2 Jul, 9 Jul, 16 Jul, 23 Jul, 30 Jul, 6 Aug, 13 Aug, 14 Aug, 17 Dec
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about Family wildlife or need help finding a vacation to suit you we're very happy to help.
Summer vacations
July and August are the best times to go to Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa. It’s dry then, with warm days, but expect very chilly nights. In Kenya, you can catch the Great Migration as it crosses the Mara River into the Masai Mara.
In India, most national parks are closed during July, August and September for the monsoon, so tiger safaris are not a summer vacation option.
Costa Rica can be showery in July and August, but sudden downpours don’t stop play and will refresh the landscape. August is the month for baby turtles to hatch, so volunteering with turtles now is ideal.
Wildlife is visible all year round in the Galapagos, and the weather is cool and dry during the northern hemisphere’s summer.
July and August are superb times to see wildlife in Brazil’s Pantanal region, as this is the dry, sunny season, when animals gravitate towards waterholes. Expect cool nights and warm days, with temperatures hitting the high 20°Cs now.
In India, most national parks are closed during July, August and September for the monsoon, so tiger safaris are not a summer vacation option.
Costa Rica can be showery in July and August, but sudden downpours don’t stop play and will refresh the landscape. August is the month for baby turtles to hatch, so volunteering with turtles now is ideal.
Wildlife is visible all year round in the Galapagos, and the weather is cool and dry during the northern hemisphere’s summer.
July and August are superb times to see wildlife in Brazil’s Pantanal region, as this is the dry, sunny season, when animals gravitate towards waterholes. Expect cool nights and warm days, with temperatures hitting the high 20°Cs now.
October half term
You can see whales in the Azores now, with weeklong tours fitting neatly into the half term vacation.More about Family wildlife
At Responsible Travel, we don’t support zoos; we believe spotting wildlife in the wild is the best way to see it.
Whatever the age or stage of your family, there’s a wildlife vacation that will have every member giddy with excitement.
Introducing the kids to the world’s wildlife is easy on a specialist family vacation that teams animal spotting with exciting activities and plenty of downtime.
African safaris bring you close to extraordinary wildlife, from elusive leopards to huge herds of wildebeest.
Tiger safaris with children are not only possible, usually from about five years upwards, but also potentially one of the most exciting family vacation you can hope for.
Seeing orangutans is a surprisingly family friendly option, but only if you do your research and read up on the best places for watching orangutans with kids, especially if the children are young.
Family wildlife vacations that take in a range of habitats can deliver the biggest mix of sightings, while keeping the itinerary varied and active enough to amuse children.
From seeing orangutans in Borneo to packing for an African safari or keeping teens happy in Costa Rica, we have lots of family wildlife vacations advice, straight from our expert suppliers and tour operators.
More relevant guides
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Photo credits: [Page banner: Nadezhda1906] [Intro: IIP Photo Archive]
[Christmas vacations: Simon Matzinger]
[Easter vacations: Bernie Catterall]
[Summer vacations: Chen Hu]
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