Family Safari
Private Safari
July 4, 2019
Luxury Safari
July 6, 2019
An Africa safari makes an unforgettable holiday for a family especially for children as a child’s innate love of nature and animals comes to the fore and opens their eyes and minds to a very different world that must seem magical to them.
Family safari holidays can be a magnificent way for children to learn about nature and interact with different cultures. The whole family together on a mission to explore the landscape and find wildlife. These kind of experiences are magnificent on their own, however, shared with people you care about they become important points of connection, that will have value for decades and become a family memory.
Safari camps that take children of all ages do so because they have the staff that are able to translate everything so effortlessly and love giving them those first Africa experiences. Some excel at it more than others. Many accommodations in South Africa really do create the very best family safari holiday experiences and we would very much like to recommend, which would best suit your family. So don't hesitate to get in touch with us to help start the process.
Many families who travel with us are particularly keen to visit places where they don’t need to worry about taking antimalarials and the great news is that in South Africa, the possibilities in this regard are endless! We have a huge number of lodges and reserves that we support which are all malaria-free which means you can take your little people on safari without that added concern.
We love the Madikwe up in the north of the country, and the Eastern Cape safaris are just as spectacular and pretty much all give you the opportunity to find the ‘big five’! Sanbona is another fantastic option for families who want to include Cape Town in an itinerary as well as a safari without the bother of adding any domestic flights.
Here at Tailormade Africa, we know all the best family-friendly lodges and would be only too happy to help you pick the perfect one for you!
This is a really great question and one that gets asked a lot. Lodges that are geared up for families are usually great at being able to support the teeny tots; however, it does depend on the reserve. Many have a minimum age rule purely to avoid disrupting the animals. Lodges who do support babies on safari will be quite strict about families booking a private vehicle to give your family more comfort when travelling, avoiding the possibility of potentially worrying others on the car.
The African bush is wild and a safari drive can be around 4 hours long which can be quite tiring for parents and babies alike! That said, many of the lodges who welcome babies do offer babysitting and facilities which can cater to tiny humans so you don’t have to cut out a safari just because you have young ones. We are here to help and know all the top spots for families so let us help you plan your trip of a lifetime!
There are loads of things to keep children occupied, and the team working at lodges which are suited to children are some of the best most inspirational around! Kids Clubs are common in family-friendly lodges, and often lodges will have props just for children including rucksacks filled with all sorts of goodies. Activities include junior ranger programmes where little ones can learn all about the bush, animal spoor, and collect bugs which they can then tell their parents all about!
Many lodges also have additional facilities which are perfectly suited for children such as playrooms, and they’ll have wildlife DVDs and swimming pools so there really is a lot on hand to keep children engaged. If that isn’t enough, the chefs will often engage children in cooking pizzas or cookies and guides are also exceptional at including children in the safari process and will teach them bush skills like dung-tracking, and nurture their love for the bush. We’re sure that when you get home, you’ll have your own mini-guides hooked on nature!
Safaris are the best way to give children exposure to wildlife and nature, and we’d be delighted to help get you there. Lodges that are family-friendly have a number of activities to keep kids engaged including guided walks, junior ranger programmes, cooking exercises, outdoor sports which could include a game of volleyball or football with the team at the lodge – the list goes on, and on!
There are loads of ways for children to explore their environment and we can promise you that they won’t even miss their screen-time. How better to support family bonding that in nature?
Many of the lodges we love for families do indeed have childminders available and kids clubs especially for little ones so that everyone can enjoy their safari experience to the maximum. All of the teams are fully trained on how best to keep young ones entertained and learning is the name of the game! If you fancy a bit of an after-dinner drink, you can rest assured that your little ones will be well cared for so you can take a little time out from being on call!
This is a great question and really depends on the lodge and reserve. Some lodges organise dedicated children safaris, some are more flexible about babies and toddlers on vehicles and here at Tailormade Africa, we have tonnes of options so you’re in the best of hands.
The important thing is to pick up the phone to us and we can help guide you in the right direction. We certainly don’t want you to miss out on one of the best family holidays because you have mini-humans!
