subject: Enjoy A Family Safari In Africa [print this page] Taking your family on safari in Africa offers everyone something different. Whilst you as parents might see it as an adventure for you all to embark on and enjoy as your family unit it also breeds in children a very deep understanding and repect for nature and its delicate balance. Nothing opens a child's eyes wider than the expansive plains of the Serengeti, or meeting an Elephant face to face whilst out on a drive in the Madikwe.
A family safari in Africa stretches you child's inquisitive and enquiring mind beyond what is perhaps the norm enabling them to formulate opinions and ask questions that might otherwise never have been raised.
As an independent safari operator we suggest family safari lodges and camps in Africa that don't just 'accept' children, but are specifically set up for them. In our opinion it is important for children, their parents and other camp guests that a camp is properly set up to accommodate families. If you are hoping to safari in Africa with babies or toddlers then we would suggest you focus on the Malaria free regions in South Africa. South Africa is better placed for a young family as the game drives are often not quite so demanding. Just as with any long car journey a game drive of an hour or so over rough terrain just isn't conducive for a baby of young toddler.
However this doesn't mean if you have young children it is impossible to safari in Africa. It simply means we would suggest you head to Cape Town and the Garden Route both of which have numerous family attractions to keep even the very young entertained whilst in Africa. If your children are slightly older perhaps six and over they'll be more able to assimilate and understand their surroundings and fully benefit from a safari. At this age although South Africa is still a very attractive option, a family safari in Kenya or Tanzania would also be possible.
The majority of the safari lodges that we select for families have specialist family safari guides, which specifically are trained to guide a family on safari. The camps and lodges themselves often had activities such as bush treasure hunts, bead-making, baking in the camp kitchen and bedtime-stories from African storytellers for your children to enjoy. If you fancy an afternoon or evening to yourselves many camps and lodges have professionally trained nannies that can watch over your children for you whilst you dine nearby or go out on a safari drive.
In addition to South Africa a family might choose Kenya for a safari. Kenya is exceptional, particularly for those with children who are a little older with over spilling energy that seems in expendable. Kenya is regarded as the traditional safari hotspot and Kenya's well established infrastructure lends itself perfectly to family safaris.
Perhaps the most common question we are asked when speaking with parents is, what about malaria and the effects of medication or malaria prophylaxis where children are concerned. Although Anti-Malarials have come a long way in recent years you do have the option of the malaria free game parks of South Africa all of which are easily accessible and near to complimenting areas for a stay of a few days such as Cape Town. So for families with little ones wanting to see Simba in the wild and then head of to an aquarium or playpark this would be the best choice.
