Try to involve your children in the planning of your holiday as much as possible. Show them pre-holiday pictures in a book or brochure of the lodge or camp you are visiting and the animals that inhabit the area.



Perhaps, they are already learning about conservation at school and will be more interested in the surrounding flora and fauna, and the mechanisms in place to protect wildlife and nature. Whatever their interest; the more you involve your child in the preparation of the holiday, the more comfortable they will be, once they get there.

Children can be wary about new surroundings so try to avoid accommodation that is at the very bottom of the price range. In Africa, ‘cheap’ can be another word for ‘unsafe’. Make sure you choose a reputable establishment and avoid putting your child at risk.

Kruger National Park, South Africa

Kruger National Park, Big 5 is a children-friendly family safari, with fire-side stories, game drives, game viewing, photography and walking safari’s. Kruger Park safaris take place each morning and evening in open Land Rovers, which drive through a wide variety of habitats, allowing you to view the vast interactions of the wild.

All the tour guides used by the Kruger Park are properly qualified and registered by Theta (the training authority for the hospitality and tourism industry) and DEAT (Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism). All the guides are excellent, knowledgeable, and informative. One of the guides, David, is quite famous as he has proved rather popular with the children. He is also a father and knows how important it is to treat kids with respect. Many children return home with David as their ‘new best friend’. The regular guides all give you varied information about the habits of the animals and their habitat. There are also great folk stories to tell, explaining the different behaviours of particular animals.

The variety of animal and plant life is vast in the bushveld. Your kids will get to see the ‘big five’ and many other animals, including hyena, crocodile, hippo and a variety of bird species.

Sabi Sabi Game Lodges are located in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve, which is adjacent to the Kruger Park: they cater for children and provide just the right amount of pampering deserved of parents who’ve been out in the bush with the kids all day.

Luxurious game lodges with a wellness centre for those perfectly relaxing African massages; a meditation retreat to take the stress off and world renowned cuisine all add up to personalised safari luxury.

5 Things to Remember When Taking Your Kids on Safari

Children love Africa! It’s a veritable playground for any kid from the city. To see animals they’ve only seen in books; to experience a terrain so vast, so different from the urban space they reside in; to be told adventure stories about Rangers’ experiences with wildlife and all the details of different plant life that flourishes in the bushveld – it’s all fascinating to them! They return to urban life refreshed with a thousand new things to think about.

An important point to consider when taking your children on a wildlife adventure is that Game Reserves are places of peace and serenity for other guests, and you need to respect their need for silence. If your kids have moments of over-excitement - Rein them in!

On a Game Drive, there might be occasions where the Ranger/Guide demands absolute silence for safety reasons. You need to prepare your children for this eventuality and for the length of time they will be cooped up in the Land Rover.

Some Game Reserves insist that you book your own vehicles for game drives. The upside is that you get to have your own private family experience, without having to worry about the children getting too exuberant and upsetting fellow travellers.

When deciding on a safari, look carefully at the children’s policy for each lodge. Your dream destination might not be suitable for children. Some places only allow children over 12 – but that is the exception, rather than the rule.

Protect your child on Safari: make your child's Safari as comfortable as possible - pack the right clothes, use sun protection creams and sprays and ointments to repel insects.

Bear in mind that children suffer from jetlag in the same way as adults do, so don't plan anything too energetic on the first day of your holiday. Rather settle them in and use the first day to tour your accommodation and give them time to become accustomed to their new surroundings and recover from their journey.