Important Tips On Planning A Successful Family Safari Holiday in Africa
Family safari holidays in Africa. One of the greatest vacation presents that will captivate the entire family is organising a family safari holidays in Africa with animal viewing. Children are captivated by wild creatures from a very young age, which is why we see more animated stories with animals on our iPads and in our living rooms. Children will be captivated and leave with lifelong memories that are essential to preserving our future dying natural world when they go on a family safari holiday in Africa’s natural settings.
However, organising a family safari holiday in Africa is a difficult undertaking that calls for a significant investment of time and careful thought of every aspect of a trip with children. Safari vacations typically entail long drives, lodging in isolated locations with little amenities, spending a lot of time in the wilderness searching for animals, exercising a great deal of patience, and taking crucial but invasive, difficult safety precautions. Africa Safari is therefore more appropriate for adults and teenagers.
However, you can realise your ambition of taking your younger children on a wilderness trip in Africa with careful preparation.
Here are some helpful hints for making a family-friendly trip to Kenya’s expansive savannah wilderness or Uganda’s rainforest jungles, home to enormous primates, an unforgettable experience.
- Start with gradually introducing the idea to the children
- Use direct flights to eliminate family travel stress
- Check for age restrictions
- Include family-friendly activities
- The family doesn’t have to do all the safari activities
- Consider an all-inclusive private family safari holiday
- Bring binoculars, wildlife books and a healthy supply of snacks
- Allow everyone to capture the moments
- Kids enjoy finding smaller creatures
- Child supervision and safety precautions
- Gradually introduce the idea to the kids – Planning A Successful Family Safari Holiday in East Africa
Why Africa Safari is Ideal for Families
– Inspires a love for nature and wildlife
– Creates lifelong memories
– Encourages conservation awareness
– Offers quality time together
Start with gradually introducing the idea to the children
It can take a lot of time to sit in the back of a four-by-four truck and watch wild animals on game drives on the African plains. When you take your kids on extended game drives in anticipation of the next big sighting, can you promise they won’t get bored?
Spend a day in a nearby wildlife park to gradually introduce the kids to the notion of a family safari vacation before committing to it. To find out if the kids would enjoy the trip or how much time they can devote to animal viewing on a game drive, you could even purchase a few books about African wildlife and watch National Geographic videos about the continent’s wild life.
Finding the best tour operator to handle your vacation needs will be made easier if you talk about everyone’s expectations for the safari.
Use direct flights to decrease family travel stress
Plan a Successful Family Safari Vacation in East Africa by Taking Direct Flights with Children
If your trip requires flying, choose a direct flight to reduce anxiety right away. When flying with your kids, little layovers can be excruciating as you rush around strange airport terminals looking for food and facilities.
Long layovers, on the other hand, cause fatigue and boredom. By choosing a direct trip, you can also save money on useless shopping and airport snacks.
Check age restrictions – Planning A Successful family safari holidays in Africa
When organising a family safari trip in East Africa, keep in mind that while the majority of safari camps and lodges accept kids of almost any age, some have a minimum age requirement, usually between 4 and 12 years old. Before confirming your reservation, have your safari manager check the accommodations’ kid policy if you are travelling with children under the age of twelve.
You’ll discover that several safari activities have age restrictions. For instance, chimpanzee tracking and gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Uganda require participants to be at least 15 years old. Both activities will provide teens over 15 with an adrenaline rush that will help them stay focused.
However, the majority of safari vacation camps provide activities like walking safari, canoeing, nature hikes, and community visits, and admission requires parental consent.
Anyone above 12 is regarded as an adult by the majority of safari camps and lodges, which has nothing to do with the age restrictions on activities. Therefore, even if you want your children to stay in the same room as you, budget for their lodging as adults while planning your family safari vacation. Only when your child under 12 is staying in a room with an adult will other lodges give you a child discount rate.
Include family friendly activities – family safari holidays in Africa
Include family-friendly activities while on family safari holidays in Africa
Include family-friendly activities while on family safari holidays in AfricaFamily-friendly activity programs have been created by numerous safari holiday camps, and some even feature a special guide for kids’ activities.
A local family guide who specialises in keeping kids engaged and active on safari is usually included in these family-friendly safari excursions. Around camp, the guide keeps the kids entertained with a variety of safari activities, such as collecting bugs, painting or drawing animals, bird watching, and narrating African bush tales.
They can accompany the kids on quick game drives or bush excursions where they can help them gather leaves, insects, feathers, pods, and other animal droppings and faeces. The stress of child care during the family safari vacation can be reduced by hiring a child-specialized safari ranger who can watch the kids while the parents go on long game drives or any other activity.
In any case, other parents would rather manage their kids’ expectations during the entire trip while sharing the many outdoor safari experiences with them. Children who are a little older (8 to 12 years old) can enjoy taking a game drive or doing a nature walk.
Planning for a private four-by-four safari truck that can transport the entire family into the forest will therefore be most appreciated. In this manner, you can decide how long the game drive will go and come back to the camp when the kids are tired.
Assign the children the task of selecting safari activities. Their enthusiasm and excitement for the safari will grow as a result. Additionally, they will be taught the value of adaptability and become more receptive to performing things that other people desire.
Involve them in the planning and decision-making process from the start to give them a sense of ownership over the journey. The family safari vacation is, after all, a time for the entire family, as the name implies. Also, contented children on vacation translate into contented, stress-free parents.
Downtime from safari – The family doesn’t have to do all the safari activities
The family doesn’t have to do all the safari activities on family safari holidays in Africa
The family doesn’t have to do all the safari activities on family safari holidays in AfricaNeedless to say, travelling with kids differs greatly from travelling by yourself, with friends, or with a significant other. The days of rushing around trying to fit as many sites and activities as you could into a single day are long gone. Teenagers, toddlers, and babies can all become restless, so take your time, be reasonable, and follow your instincts.
Plan a large adventure or activity in the morning and unwind later if any members of your family are early risers. You don’t have to finish all you set out to do, so if the family is slow in the morning, postpone the activities to the afternoon.
Avoid packing too much into your family safari vacation and allow time for relaxation. Keep in mind that infants and small children still require naps. Older kids, on the other hand, may long for some alone time to use their devices.
You will most likely benefit from spending an hour or two apart from the children if you are travelling with your spouse. You don’t have to spend your downtime in your lodge room however; you may go a nature walk in the afternoon, watch the sunset, go swimming, or have a bonfire.
A family on safari in Africa making a bush snack in the evening – Think of a private family safari vacation that includes everything.
Consider an all-inclusive private family safari holidays in Africa
Even though everyone has happy family vacation memories, we can all likely recall some excursions that didn’t always go as planned. Regardless of the age of the children, parents may have anxiety when travelling with them.
However, you don’t have to deal with the day-to-day hassles of organising the trip and managing your kids. Think about reserving a private safari that includes everything from a local tour company.
When you choose an all-inclusive family safari holiday, the tour operator will handle all aspect of your trip, including meals, transportation, transfers, family-friendly lodging, standard drinks, and all safari activities. It means lessening travel fatigue and preserving time for quality time spent with your loved ones. Although it might seem pricey at first, an all-inclusive safari provides great value.
Additionally, the extras are what make an all-inclusive family safari truly valuable. A surprise family dinner with stunning views of nature’s paintings, freshly baked treats with your morning coffee, that perfectly prepared chilled drink when you pause to watch the sunset in the middle of nowhere, your knowledgeable safari guide’s extraordinary skills, or local storytelling around the campfire.
Bring binoculars, wildlife books and a supply of healthy snacks
Children who are hungry can be terrible and cause stress to any adult travelling with them. Hunger can affect youngsters at any time. Whether you’re on a game drive in a national park or chilling at the poolside, be sure to pack a healthy supply of everyone’s favourite snacks. Hopefully, it will fill your kids up enough to keep them going until the next meal and improve their mood and energy levels.
One of the finest tips for organising a family safari trip in East Africa is to bring binoculars for every child. You may be certain that nobody will miss the incredible sighting when every member of the family, equipped with their own pair of binoculars, finally spots the elusive leopard.
Children’s books that describe the animals, birds, and fauna of Africa are also essential for an educational investigation. The majority of African safari game driving frequently features the same animals, thus pointing out variations and thoroughly studying them keeps the kids interested and occupied.
Allow everyone to capture the moments on camera
The main goals of family trips are to create memories, have fun, and try new things. The tiny things and those unforeseen moments are typically the focus. Let everyone participate in taking pictures of the moments; you’ll be shocked at what they end up with.
Every family member may easily and affordably own a camera in this digital age and take hundreds of pictures in a single day. The majority of us carry smart devices with decent cameras. Everyone may still take beautiful pictures with their smartphones or iPads if they cannot afford a DSLR or point-and-shoot camera.
However, keep in mind that you’ll be on a family vacation, so don’t worry about catching the moment all day. Which is more significant, happiness or the picture? We’ve all seen pictures of family vacations where one or more people are smiling icily or have tears in their eyes. The once-in-a-lifetime vacation will be ruined by the parent’s fixation with getting the ideal photo of everyone having a great time.
However, your own eyes are the ideal lenses for taking striking pictures. Encourage the kids to become more present, appreciate the situation, and put down their smartphones and cameras. The perfect photo moment is likely to present itself spontaneously.
Kids enjoy finding smaller creatures
Even though the Africa BIG FIVE creatures are popular on safari, children on a family safari vacation shouldn’t see them. Youngsters have a different perspective and are frequently just as fascinated by little animals. Birds and other small wild animals can be exciting to them if they are guided.
The “Small Five” are the rhino beetle, buffalo weaver, ant lion, leopard tortoise, and elephant shrew. Make plans with your family safari guide to look for them.
Child supervision and safety precautions
Finally, as we’ve already mentioned, there are typically health and safety precautions associated with bringing kids to see animals in the wild. You must be ready to be on guard at all times, but your children must be able to comprehend and follow safety guidelines (no running, always stay with an adult, never leave the truck or camp alone, etc.). family safari holidays in Africa.
You want to recall the peace and beauty of spending a sundowner in the African bush, not because your youngest made friends with a nearby zebra while you were away.
Families on safari should take conventional measures, such as shielding themselves from the scorching African sun. On walks and drives, hats and sunscreen are essential, as are mosquito repellant and “covering up” exposed skin in the early evening, particularly in malarial areas. Additionally, make sure your kids understand that they should only drink bottled or filtered water.
The majority of safari lodges and camps prioritise calm, quiet, and reconnecting with nature, which might not be your kids’ thing. Many small children, who frequently get bored and misbehave, are definitely not suited for a “adults” safari. You have to make sure your kids don’t interfere with other safari camp visitors’ delight while on a family safari holidays in Africa
Above all, it would be beneficial if you paid attention to the safety precautions that the lodge or camp has set forth regarding running and walking within the camp. Make sure your kids are aware of the limitations and that you monitor their whereabouts. You might need to keep a closer eye on your younger children because many safari lodges lack fences. Family safari holidays in Africa.
Planning your family safari holiday with a local expert
We can confidently state that we will look after you and your entire family in the most remote part of East Africa because we have had over ten years to hone our safari vacation planning and management skills. Africa Reveal Safaris is a family-run safari firm that specialises in organising safari vacations in Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda in East Africa.
With all of our resources at your disposal, we can assist you in tailoring your family safari holidays in Africa to your preferences and financial constraints. Our knowledgeable local staff will advise you on the best family activities for you, whether it’s gorilla trekking in Uganda’s mountain jungles, wandering with wild chimps in their natural habitat, or taking in views of lion prides or elephant herds. Additionally, we’ll give you top-notch family guides to divert the children while you embark on an adult adventure.
Our family safari holidays in Africa are completely private, which includes private lodging, transportation, and transfers, as well as private tour guides and a tour manager. Nothing is shared with other tourists.
For a prompt, free quote without any commitment, call us at the numbers shown in the footer, send us an email at info@africarevealsafaris.com, or complete the inquiry form.
