Family Safaris in Africa: Taking Kids on Safari

Places to Visit and Activities

A family’s dream vacation is an African safari. In addition to having a variety of amazing natural areas, it is a remarkable animal destination.The majority of parents have recently begun to see the worth and significance of spending quality time with their family apart from the technologically advanced lifestyles of today.

An African safari that is family-friendly gives families a chance to connect while experiencing these “once in a lifetime” experiences. Children that had these experiences will also carry the memories with them for a very long time and use them as conversation starters.

Family vacation packages with lodging options ranging from simple camping to six-star luxury hotels are available in many African nations. Africa is rich with real culture, food, animals, landscapes, and safe places for adventure rather than neon-lit shopping centers. A safari game drive can captivate grandfather just as much as it would a 12-year-old, so traveling to Africa as a family is definitely a good idea!

Nothing is more riveting than watching proud loins pursue their prey or seeing young elephants splashing water at one another at a waterhole. What about having an amazing experience riding an ostrich or following a cheetah? or go into the woods with gorillas. This allows you to spend the evening by the campfire, try several African foods, and ride a horse beside a herd of giraffes!

There are several locations that fit the hobbies, contentment, travel preferences, and age range of your family.

Rwanda and Uganda
Uganda and Rwanda, which are most famous for being home to the only surviving species of endangered mountain gorillas, are often visited by a wide range of individuals. Children aged 15 and over are permitted to trek gorillas in order to have a memorable encounter with the gentle giants.

Thus, a combined gorilla trekking safari between Rwanda and Uganda is an excellent option for a family. Murchison Falls National Park is the greatest park in Uganda for family safaris.

Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda, and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda are among the places where gorillas are hiked. There are other family-friendly campgrounds in other national parks.

South Africa
One of the beautiful towns in South Africa with plenty of family-friendly alternatives is Cape Town, where you may begin your family safari. The Garden Route, which is dotted with stunning beaches and is adjacent to many Eastern Cape wildlife parks free of malaria, is located close to Cape Town. The best location for a “Big5 safari” is the Eastern Cape.

Activities include taking a boat journey to Seal Island and visiting Boulders Beach, where you may see African Penguins. You may learn about and interact with a wild cheetah in the Cape Winelands. Another option is to visit Cape Town’s Two Oceans Aquarium, which is named after the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.

Without a visit to Kruger National Park, a South African safari cannot be considered complete. With options ranging from opulent resorts to Bush campers, the lodging is ideal for families. The family private lodges are unique since they include a chef, butler, safari guide, and a variety of activities that even teach kids about the environment. Other enjoyable educational activities include game drives (designed for kids), bush walks, and bushveld games.

Namibia
Families have long valued Namibia’s malaria-free regions, the stunning Sossusvlei sand dunes, and the Skeleton Coast (a vast stretch of coastline). Because most highways are decent, transportation is also simple.

Quad riding along the Skeleton coast, visiting private reserves in Etosha where you can go on night game drives to search for nocturnal animals, and engaging in cultural exchanges like one with the Himba people from the North are all activities that will captivate your family. Additionally, kids may enjoy themselves at the Cheetah Research Center, where they can get up close and personal with cheetahs.

Tanzania and Kenya
It’s easy to combine these two locations for a fantastic family safari. Destinations such as Tanzania’s Serengeti and Kenya’s Great Plains of the Maasai Mara have consistently attracted tourists from all over the globe. Nothing compares to taking in the sight of thousands of zebras and wildebeests crossing the Mara River with your family.

Families may visit the Karatu region in Tanzania, which is close to the Ngorongoro Crater. There is an orphanage and a children’s school where your kids can socialize and meet new people.

Botswana
Families visiting Botswana may take in the breathtaking scenery of the Kalahari Desert, the enchanting Okavango Delta, and the large population of elephants in Chobe National Park.From modest tented or traditionally constructed lodgings to opulent and private accommodations, this location offers the greatest lodging options.

Zambia and Zimbabwe
These two locations serve as entry points to the most spectacular Victoria Falls, which is one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Here are several sporting events for your interested family members that are still close to this location in Livingstone.

South Luangwa National Park, Zambia’s secret treasure, offers walking safaris for your family as well.You may enjoy catching tiger fish with your family by taking a canoe trip along the Zambezi River at Lower Zambezi National Park.

Families may see a variety of animals in Zimbabwe, including the last big elephants of Southern Africa at Hwange National Park. With large numbers of hippos, Nile crocodiles, and elephants, the fabled Mana Pools National Park is also among the greatest locations for family safaris.

Mozambique

being one of Africa’s soon-to-be fantastic locations for cleaning off the dust and grime after a Southern African safari in the jungles. Mozambique is well recognized for its interesting, pristine white beaches, fantastic snorkeling and scuba diving, and its enchanted offshore islands.

Twelve practical suggestions for a family safari in Africa

Relax.

Typically, flights to the African continent take a few hours, but sometimes, with many stops along the way, they might take up to 18 hours. To allow each family member the time to adjust to the time change, please take your time traveling and enjoy the stops.

 

Always bring light items.

Given that most internal light aircraft that link the safari locations and national park have limited baggage capacity, it is strongly urged that you only bring items that are absolutely necessary. Therefore, simply take what is absolutely necessary to prevent any disappointments. You may create a list of the things you must bring on your safari with the assistance of your travel agency.

 

What to dress in

It is recommended that anybody traveling on safari dress in muted hues and pack many layers of cotton, particularly for the chilly evenings and early morning game drives. Remember to include things like bug repellents to keep insects away from you, sunglasses and a cap to shield you from the African sun, and sturdy hiking boots, particularly if you want to go on excursions.

 

Take as many pictures as you can.

Making memories is the main goal of an African safari, so make sure you pack enough memory cards, an additional battery, and even camera chargers for the duration of your family’s safari vacation. Particularly young children like to take pictures on safari.

 

See your physician before departing.

Please make an effort to discuss your trip plans with your doctor so that you may have all required vaccinations and immunizations, including the tetanus shot, the antimalarial prophylaxis, and the yellow fever shot if necessary. Remember to include a compact first aid kit box containing supplies like bandages, sunscreen, and pain relievers.

 

Be daring.

To make it fun for everyone, make sure your safari schedule includes a variety of exciting activities like game drives, cultural excursions, nature walks, and even horseback riding trips.

 

Have a private Safari car if you can.

It is strongly advised that, if funds permit, your family purchase a private Safari vehicle to avoid situations like sharing a vehicle with an extreme photographer who insists on making lengthy stops at the same location, which may not be patient with the kids but rather tire them out.

 

Add a beach vacation to your schedule.

A day or two at the beach with your family is strongly recommended, depending on the nation you are visiting. In addition to providing a welcome diversion from the wilderness where the kids would have been during the game drives, this will undoubtedly help the kids unwind.

 

Be mindful of your lodging’s price policies.

Many safari camps offer all youngsters under the age of twelve a 20% to 30% discount off the adult charge. Actually, some even provide a larger discount based on the time of stay, so always be sure to keep an eye out for these as they will help you save money on your total lodging costs.

 

Obtain a quality family handbook.

Make sure you get a good guide; don’t cut corners on the best guide for a family safari. It will be a waste of money if your safari guide spends most of his time on the VHF chatting with other guides about the whereabouts of the animals instead of helping you as a family. People who have taken such family safaris in Africa really acknowledge that you would want to pay for the greatest safari guide, who will make your trip truly unforgettable, rather than reserve less expensive lodging.

 

Add downtime to your schedule.

There should be enough time on your safari schedule for the youngsters to run about alone or even relax. Actually, because the majority of game watching takes place in the early morning, you may allow the youngsters to take a little sleep after lunch.

 

Pick your travel agency carefully.

To have a better idea of what to anticipate, always ask for safari rates and references from previous customers before selecting a travel agency, particularly those who were traveling with kids.

 

Guidelines for health and safety on a family safari in Africa

I should point out that every country on the African continent has its own unique health regulations, so you may ask your tour operator for information on what to do and anticipate in terms of safety and health.

It is recommended that you review the travel advisories for the many countries you want to visit as you plan your safari in order to get the most up-to-date information on the political, health, crime, safety, and meteorological circumstances of those nations.

Numerous vaccinations and immunizations are also strongly recommended, so see your doctor and the pediatrician for your children and thoroughly discuss your travel plans with them. This will allow them to provide you with all the medical assistance you need to make sure you are healthy for your trip.

Since smaller tented safari resorts provide a more upscale and intimate safari experience, many travel brokers suggest them. There may not be enough intimacy for you and your family in the larger conventional safari lodges because of the higher throngs of visitors.

Recall that families often consider their interactions with the guides, the lodge or camp personnel, other guests, and the meals they had during their safari to be the most memorable aspects of their trip. Therefore, regardless of the nation you are going, a smaller tented safari camp will undoubtedly be the ideal choice for you and your family.

Everyone thinks of witnessing the many wild creatures when we discuss “safari” in Africa. Therefore, the ideal time to come is during the dry summer season, when the park has little water (which causes a lot of animals to congregate around the water holes) and the foliage is short, sparse, and dry, providing excellent visibility.

The best times to visit much of Africa are from July to mid-October and from late December to March. To find out the most recent information on visiting any country, you can check the state travel advisories or even speak with your travel agent.