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.
Where to go on a family wildlife vacation
The world’s most exciting wildlife, guaranteed to have children of all ages gripped, doesn’t tend to live on our doorstep, so be prepared for a chunky flight to reach it. While some wildlife hotspots are compact (Costa Rica springs to mind), many lie in out of the way corners of remote and often huge countries, so you may also need to take internal flights or sit through lengthy drives to reach the birds and beasties. Where possible, family wildlife vacations incorporate fun ways to travel, too, with river cruises, canopy walks and snorkelling all giving a new perspective on wildlife.
1.
Azores
2. Borneo
3. Botswana
4. Brazil
5. Costa Rica
6. Galapagos Islands
7. India
8. Namibia
9. South Africa
10. Tanzania
2. Borneo
3. Botswana
4. Brazil
5. Costa Rica
6. Galapagos Islands
7. India
8. Namibia
9. South Africa
10. Tanzania
Azores
1. Azores
This scattering of islands in the mid Atlantic, belonging to Portugal, is one of the best places in the world to see whales and dolphins, with a third of all species recorded in these waters, including sperm whales and enormous blue whales. Family trips are carefully designed to suit children, combining amazing sightings with the chance to learn about marine conservation and explore on land, too.
Borneo
2. Borneo
Orangutans are always the star of a family wildlife vacation to Borneo, and rehabilitation centers in Sabah and Sarawak make the viewing easy. Sumatran rhinos, pygmy elephants, monitor lizards and proboscis monkeys, looking like someone’s alcoholic ginger uncle, also wait to be spotted, on jungle hikes and river cruises. Add in traditional tribes, beaches, canopy walks and bubbling hot springs and you have a true family adventure.
Botswana
3. Botswana
Home to a range of habitats, from the channels and islands of the Okavango Delta to the dry plains of Savuti, Botswana is a dream family wildlife destination, simply because there’s so much wildlife to see. In Chobe National Park alone you’ll find vast herds of elephants, often 80-strong, as well as hundreds of zebra and buffalo – for even the most unimpressible teen or tot, that’s a lot of ‘wow’.
Brazil
4. Brazil
Any family with naturalist notions should make for the Pantanal in Brazil, a wetland region the size of France. This is the best place on the planet to spot jaguars, plus a supporting cast of curious creatures, including jabiru storks, giant otters, comical capybaras, anteaters, armadillos and even tapirs. Kids will also love the chance to stay on a working ranch, learning from the resident cowboys.
Costa Rica
5. Costa Rica
Costa Rica is small, but packs a punch when it comes to wildlife. Amazingly biodiverse, there’s everything from rainforest and cloud forest, to mangroves and reefs, supporting a huge range of wildlife. Kids can see nesting turtles, exotic quetzal birds, sloths, monkeys, crocs and toucans, often up close, and enjoy ziplines, canopy walks, hikes, rafting and kayaking – an exhilarating blend of nature and adventure.
Galapagos Islands
6. Galapagos Islands
The Galapagos are overflowing with wildlife, and it’s all harmless and unafraid of humans, making this a perfect place for kids. Punky marine iguanas that snort sea water are just the start; there are giant tortoises, sharks and the chance to snorkel with sea lions. A land based trip makes it easy to explore and avoids the potential seasickness or cabin fever of a cruise.
India
7. India
When it comes to wildlife in India, we’re all thinking the same thing: tigers. Multiple game drives in a handful of parks produce the best chance of a sighting, with lots of chital, sambar, monkeys and peacocks to enjoy, plus sloth bears and Indian bison if you’re lucky. There’s usually no age restriction on tiger safaris, but be sure little ones can handle chilly morning game drives, and understand that sightings are not guaranteed.
Namibia
8. Namibia
If you family prefers its big game complemented by adventure sports and startling desert landscapes, pick Namibia. Game viewing is fabulous here. Animals cluster around the water holes in Etosha National Park and elsewhere you’ll come across everything from gemsbok to seals and flamingos. Visit the Namib Carnivore Conservation Centre to see cheetahs, and in between, scale giant sand dunes and camp in the desert.
South Africa
9. South Africa
South Africa has everything families could wish for. Amazing game – including the Big Five and rare wild dogs and white rhino – and numerous parks, many of which are malaria free. There are adventure sports to keep active teens chipper, too, from treetop canopy tours to rafting. You can also team a safari here with a beach break in Mozambique or Mauritius.
Tanzania
10. Tanzania
Flamingos and tree climbing lions in Lake Manyara, the Big Five ‘trapped’ within the Ngorongoro Crater, and the vast Serengeti plains where huge herds of wildebeest migrate – Tanzania delivers some of East Africa’s iconic wildlife sights. Lovely lodges with pools and the chance to learn about wildlife, conservation, land pressures, climate and local life completes the trip for young explorers.
Our Family wildlife Vacations
Family safari in Tanzania
A family friendly tour of the highlights of Tanzania
From
US $5010
8 days
ex flights
Madagascar family adventure vacation, canoes & camping
Exciting family adventure combining activities and nature
From
US $2450 to US $2595
13 days
ex flights
South African safaris for families with teenagers
Visit the famous Kruger National Park and Zulu villages
From
US $2510 to US $2735
12 days
ex flights
Family safari in Namibia
Climb the highest sand dunes in the world
From
US $3049 to US $3249
13 days
ex flights
Family vacation to South Africa & Swaziland
Kruger, Swaziland and Durban with the family
From
US $2230 to US $2580
13 days
ex flights
Madagascar family adventure vacation
Unique family adventures in Madagascar
From
US $3300
14 days
ex flights
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.
1-866-821-6866
Call toll free
Calling from outside the USA
More about Family wildlife
The best time to go on a family wildlife vacation is, obviously, during the school vacations.
At Responsible Travel, we don’t support zoos; we believe spotting wildlife in the wild is the best way to see it.
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
