Taking your family on an African safari can be a deeply enriching experience. From experiencing the wonders of Africa’s wild animals in their natural environment to bonding over shared adventures, African safaris offer a wealth of opportunities to create lifelong family memories. However, planning a safari with children requires careful consideration to ensure their safety, comfort, and enjoyment throughout the journey.
Age Restrictions
Many safari lodges and camps have minimum age restrictions for children. These restrictions vary depending on the destination and the lodge policy. At many safari lodges, children under six are not allowed on open-safari vehicle game drives, mainly due to the potential for disturbances. There are some exceptions to the minimum age restrictions for children, but finding out which lodges accept children of all ages on game drives can be daunting. That is why we recommend you book your family safari 4X4 AFRICA who can offer expert advice on which lodges are child-friendly and, if possible, suggest ways to work around minimum age restrictions on game drives.
Opt for a Safari Vehicle
Opting for a private safari vehicle allows your family exclusive access to the safari guide throughout your game drives. This flexibility is particularly beneficial when traveling with younger children, as it gives you the freedom to determine the pace and duration of your outings according to your children’s needs and interests. If you notice your child is losing interest and starting to fret, you can ask your safari guide to cut the game drive short and drive you back to camp without having to worry about taking the wishes of other guests on the vehicle into account. Additionally, private safari vehicles offer a more intimate wildlife experience, with ample space for your family to observe wild animals comfortably.
Important Safety Protocols
Safety is paramount when traveling with children on safari. Before embarking on game drives or other activities, familiarize yourself and your family with the safety protocols provided by your safari operator or lodge. On our safaris, guest safety is our top priority and you will receive a full safety briefing at the start of your safari. Encourage your children to listen to their guide’s instructions and remain seated in the safari vehicle. Standing up or leaning out of the safari vehicle is a safety risk and might scare the animals away. It is also common courtesy to lower your voice at sightings and to keep movements to a minimum to avoid disturbing the wildlife. Beyond these simple rules, which apply to adults too, encourage your children to ask the guide questions. Safari guides love sharing their passion for African wildlife and the wonders of nature with young, inquiring minds. On our Kruger Park safaris, we supply every family with a free guidebook and animal checklist, which includes a map of the park. We find that most children love identifying and marking off the different animals they see during game drives.
Age and Height Restrictions
While game drives are the highlight of any African safari experience, many lodges offer additional adventure activities such as boating safaris, fishing excursions and sunset cruises, certain activities, however, may have age or height restrictions for safety reasons. For example, gorilla trekking, whitewater rafting, guided walking safaris and hot air balloon rides often require children to be a certain age or size to participate. Check the age and height requirements for all activities you plan to engage in during your safari and suggest alternatives in the event your children don’t meet the requirements. For this case many lodges opt for children’s activity programs, these programmes can include nature walks, arts and crafts, wildlife-themed games, and storytelling sessions, as parents are busy doing their activities.
Malaria Free Destinations
Malaria is one of the major concerns many parents have when planning a family safari. The good news is that many safari lodges in malaria-free areas have seen this as an opportunity to provide a safari experience geared towards families with children. Most malaria-free safari destinations are family-friendly and cater to children of all ages.
Choosing the Right Accommodation
Family-friendly safari lodges and camps typically offer a variety of accommodation options to suit families of different sizes. Family rooms or tents with multiple inter-leading bedrooms and dual en-suite bathrooms provide ample space and privacy for parents with children.
Meal Time Routines
Dining on safari often revolves around communal meals served at set times. Gathering around the fire at night to share stories of the most spectacular animal sightings of the day and tucking into a beautifully prepared meal is an integral part of the African safari experience. While this setup can be enjoyable for families, it is essential to consider your children’s dietary preferences and mealtime routines. Our travel consultants go the extra mile to inform the lodge in advance of any dietary restrictions or special requests for your children and inquire about flexible meal options to accommodate your family’s needs.
Swimming Pool and General Precautions
Many safari lodges have swimming pools where families can relax and cool off after a morning of adventure. However, very few swimming pools are covered with a safety net or fenced off to prevent young children from accidentally wandering over and falling into the pool. Always supervise your children closely around water to prevent accidents. Before going on a safari, speak to your children about the importance of respecting wildlife and always maintaining a safe distance. They should never reach out and try to touch a wild animal. Even the tame-looking antelopes, warthogs or monkeys that sometimes wander through the camp can be dangerous, particularly if children try to approach them, pet them, or feed them.
Always try to keep food out of sight. Some monkeys have lost their fear of humans and have learned to grab food out of their hands which can be frightening if you’re not expecting it.
Conclusion
There is no gift greater than taking your kids on safari! Your safari experience with your children will be one filled with awe and wonder. Picture the moment when your kids spot their first elephant or witness a lion prowling across the savanna. Their faces will light up with excitement, and the sense of adventure will bring your family closer than ever before. By the end of the trip, you’ll all share unforgettable memories, from thrilling game drives to stargazing around the campfire.
As you leave the African wilderness behind, you’ll take with you not just photos and souvenirs, but a deep appreciation for the planet’s incredible wildlife and the shared joy of experiencing it together. Your kids will return home with stories to tell, a newfound respect for nature, and an eagerness to explore more of the world’s wonders.
