Family safaris

Family safaris take you and your children to see Africa’s epic wildlife. From giant herds of wildebeest in the Serengeti to the lions of South Africa’s Kruger National Park, seeing big game, small game and everything in between in its natural environment is hugely special; even life changing. Family safaris also break down the classic safari, weeding out the back to back game drives and sowing the seeds of inspiration, via bush craft lessons, nature walks and time spent with Maasai warriors. Children aged eight and up will enjoy a family safari most, and if your kids are 12 and older, you can pretty much take your pick of safari destinations, from Tanzania to Botswana and Namibia.

Walking safaris are sometimes possible, particularly in Maasai run conservancies in Kenya, and these are a great chance to get out of the vehicle and close to the landscape, spotting bugs, birds and animal tracks. At some family friendly lodges, the staff may run bush school programmes for children, leaving you free to head out on a game drive. A visit to a Maasai village in northern Tanzania or southern Kenya is fun and educational. Young people can learn to throw spears and make fire, and meet local children who live in an entirely different way.

Faye Wilkinson, from small group vacation specialist Intrepid, explains what to look for:
“We try to mix it up so the vacation is not just safari the whole time. We put something a bit more active in. In South Africa particularly, we visit Blyde River Canyon where you can go trekking, kayaking or snorkelling. We go to Kruger, but also other parks for very different wildlife spotting in each and that seems to be something young people respond positively to. The accommodation is also key. Camping works really well. Bush camps are often quite basic with a participation element so the young people are getting involved and taking responsibility for things, and there’s a nice independent element to it all. That’s also nice for parents to see. Look out for short journey times, too. Journey times in Africa can be long, but we’re conscious of breaking up journey times for family vacations, with more stop offs and not traveling great distances. South Africa is ideal. We visit three really quite different parks in terms of flora and fauna, but all within manageable distances.”

A safari vacation takes you and your family close to wildlife in the wild, which naturally raises questions of safety. Be reassured that fully qualified guides and support staff know how to keep everyone safe, and camps have strict safety controls in place. On game drives, it’s essential to stay in the vehicle, so spontaneous loo breaks can’t happen. Instead, the driver will drive to find a safe place, usually in a wide open place with a good view of nearby game.

Children tend to fall into awed silence at the first sight of an elephant in the wild, but you know your children best, so if you’re not sure they can handle sitting still and keeping shtum in the presence of wild animals, maybe postpone the trip until they’re a little older. When it comes to illness, South Africa and Namibia have the lowest risk of malaria.