Family safaris

How to plan your dream family safari

African safaris are pure family magic. You’ll stay among some of the world’s wildest landscapes, spot a cast of iconic African animals and learn valuable cultural and conservation lessons. Planning your trip can be an overwhelming task though, from picking your safari destination to finding the best kid-friendly lodges. So, here’s the inside scoop on how to plan your perfect African family safari.

Planning a family safari: what to consider 

Every family is different, and only you know what makes yours tick, but generally, the best safaris involve a mix of adventure, education and wildlife spotting. Think about your kids’ interests and abilities, then plan a tailor-made itinerary that suits. Here are some key aspects to consider: 

Health and safety – find out whether your safari destination requires any pre-travel vaccinations or malaria medication. For extra peace of mind, you can stay at fenced camps in malaria-free parks. Once you’re on the ground, hydration is essential and you’ll need plenty of sun protection and bug spray. It’s also vital that your kids are mature enough to follow safety instructions from a guide when you’re on safari.

Fly or drive? – Many African safari destinations are incredibly vast and can involve long travel distances. Consider whether your kids are patient enough for long vehicle journeys or whether a fly-in safari, where you take private planes between lodges, could be a better option. 

Age requirements – be aware that some lodges have a minimum age requirement for safaris but they may also provide babysitting services, kids’ clubs and activities. Children aged seven and up tend to get the most out of safaris as they’re old enough to cope with longer drives and keen to learn about the wildlife and landscape. 

Travelling with teens – If you’re travelling with teens, you may want to include educational and environmental safari activities. For instance, Kenya offers visits to anti-poaching units and the opportunity to track lions and cheetahs, while Kariega in South Africa runs rhino conservation experiences. If you have an adventurous teen (over 16 years old), seek out camps like Shamwari in South Africa, which operate guided walking safaris 

Where to stay – Luxury tented camps, resort-style lodges and private villas – the accommodation options for safaris are endless. Safari lodges are the easiest option, with connecting rooms and child-friendly menus, as well as pools, kids’ clubs and junior safaris. Many offer exciting bush tracker programmes, short safari drives and even survival skill sessions. Top lodges tend to be involved with their local communities too and offer educational village visits and conservation activities. 

When to go – if you’re travelling with kids, you’ll need to select destinations that offer good weather during the UK school holidays. Bear in mind that many African countries are so large that the weather varies by region. As a general rule, dry seasons offer fantastic wildlife viewing as animals congregate around rivers and waterholes. You’ll also want to avoid the scorching peak summer temperatures and wet seasons when roads can be washed out. 

Top family safari destinations 

It can be hard to choose which safari destination in Africa would suit your family best, so here’s a look at some of the top choices. 

South Africa

South Africa’s Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal region and Kruger National Park enjoy sunny, dry weather during the UK’s Easter, May and October school holidays, while northern destinations like Madikwe and the Kruger area are great for summer breaks. English is widely spoken and given that there’s just a two-hour time difference with the UK (one in the summer), there’s no jetlag. Favourable exchange rates mean your money goes further too and good main roads make South Africa ideal for family self-drive adventures on the lush Garden Route. 

When it comes to safaris, there are plenty of places to spot the Big Five in South Africa, from famous Kruger National Park to malaria-free private game reserves like Shamwari on the Cape. For a varied trip, add some beach time or a boat tour to see the Marine Big Five: whales, penguins, dolphins, sharks and Cape Fur seals. South Africa is perfect for safari and the city breaks, which combine urban sightseeing in Cape Town with taster safaris in the Eastern Cape Game Reserve. 

Where to stay in South Africa – our top pick for families

Shamwari Game Reserve lies on the malaria-free Eastern Cape and is known for its Born Free Big Cat Sanctuary and Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre. Family-friendly facilities abound, from interconnecting rooms and flexible mealtimes to a Kids on Safari programme. The camp’s adventure centre is a haven for kids, with a rock-climbing wall, treehouse and zipline. For under fours, Shamwari has a professional childminding service.

Kenya and Tanzania

You can’t get better than Kenya or Tanzania for a classic, Lion-King-style family safari. Both destinations offer ideal weather for summer, October half-term and Christmas breaks. Although many popular destinations require malaria medication, it’s worth it for the chance to visit legendary parks like the Maasai Mara and Serengeti. You can even enjoy bucket-list wildlife spotting during the Great Migration between July and September. 

Experience family-focused safari lodges with private 4×4 vehicles, kids’ clubs and activities. For a dose of world-schooling, introduce your children to fascinating new cultures with respectful visits to local villages. After an action-packed safari, head to the sun-soaked coast for some beach time. Kenya boasts white-sand beaches in Diani, while the idyllic spice island of Zanzibar awaits in Tanzania. 

Where to stay in Kenya and Tanzania – our top picks for families

Sarova Mara in Kenya’s Maasai Mara has two-bed safari tents for a luxe glamping experience. The fenced camp has a pool, the Ozone Kids’ Club and tailored activities for all ages, including crafts and nature walks. In Tanzania, Lemala has family accommodation like Nanyukie Lodge in the Serengeti, which has stilted safari tents, a kids’ club and guided walks for children aged six to ten. 

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe offers an extra splash of adventure if you’re traveling with teenagers, as you’ll come face-to-face with mighty Victoria Falls. The world-famous Smoke that Thunders can be explored via adrenaline-pumping ziplines, helicopter trips and white-water rafting, which daring teens will love. The falls are spectacular all year-round but water levels are highest in the February and May school holidays. 

An essential Zimbabwe itinerary will also include safaris in wildlife-rich national parks. In the Summer and October half-term holidays, animals congregate on the banks of Zambezi and huge herds of elephants and buffalo can be seen in Hwange National Park. Head off the beaten track with an unsurpassed Zimbabwe tour, which features a trip to UNESCO-listed Lake Kariba and Mana Pools for water safaris where you’ll see everything from crocodiles to hippos and 48 species of birds. 

Where to stay in Zimbabwe – our top pick for families

Bomani Tented Lodge in Hwange offers a true slice of wilderness, with family tented suites. Enjoy game drives and bush walks, as well as exciting night drives and canoeing. Teens will love the chance to take part in a pump run, where you’ll deliver supplies to the park’s water pump stations and waterholes, which provide a vital water source for animals and people all year-round.

Namibia

If you’re a self-drive kind of family, head to Namibia. The country is famed for its epic road trips which will take you from some of the world’s tallest sand dunes in the Namib Desert to the eerie, shipwreck-littered Skeleton Coast and wildlife-fringed waterholes at Etosha National Park in the north. During the UK summer holidays and October half-term, the temperatures in Namibia hover around the mid-20s and dry season means animals gather around waterholes, providing supreme sightings. 

As well as traditional safaris in Etosha National Park, Namibia offers family-friendly tours such as sandboarding and searching for creepie crawlies in the Namib Desert, as well as dolphin-watching cruises from Walvis Bay. Private nature reserves like Okonjima enjoy less-crowded safaris and the chance to meet rescued cheetahs at the AfriCat Foundation. At Onguma Reserve on the outskirts of Etosha, you can even take a walking safari and stay in a luxury tented camp. 

Where to stay in Namibia – our top pick for families

Okonjima Plains Camp, a former cattle ranch turned conservation success story, offers a two-bedroom family unit and pool as well as endangered species game drives. At Onguma Bush Camp, kids will love the afternoon young explorer’s walk and can spend time swimming and playing on the sprawling lawns. Stay in one of the chic family lofts and enjoy wildlife watching at the waterhole from the comfort of camp.