Meet the new operator specialising in family-friendly safaris
We talk to new specialist tour operator Coral Tree Travel about planning wildlife adventures for families in Africa, and whether there’s an age that just doesn’t work for this kind of immersive trip
The safari is no longer seen as an escape that’s only for wealthy over-50s and time-rich retirees. The desire for more immersive experiences and "once-in-a-lifetime holidays" has seen the age of safari-goers dip significantly post pandemic. More families are now stepping outside their comfort zones to explore Africa’s wildlife and wild spaces. Safari lodges are adding more family-friendly rooms and activities to their offering and reducing age limits to welcome this new era of safari traveller.
Husband and wife co-founders Mike and Tess Kelly set up trade-friendly Coral Tree Travel during the midst of the pandemic after travelling through Africa with their young family on a recce for their business. Now with a team of five, they are growing fast and have seen the educational appeal of a safari become a key factor in families heading to see the continent’s spectacular wildlife.
What age do you think children really start to appreciate the experience?
Opinions can differ on this, as it does depend on what your goals are as a family for the safari holiday, but as a guide we say that children who are five and over will get the most out of a safari. This is not to say that children younger than that should not go on a safari – it’s perfectly possible if suitable camps and lodges are chosen for the itinerary, and the day-to-day planning factors in all necessary elements to make the experience smooth for everyone. A four-year-old can have a great safari experience if they have adequate rest time built into the day, a private vehicle is factored in, and sleeping arrangements suit the whole family.
Which countries do you recommend families book?
It’s important to choose destinations and accommodation that are suitable for the needs of the individual family. Direct flights can be important, and these are only to Nairobi, Johannesburg, and Cape Town from the UK. If not taking direct flights, it can be important to add adequate rest time in between legs, such as city/airport stopovers before continuing on to the wildlife destinations. South Africa and Kenya are particularly well set up for taking young children and parents will find many lodge/camp managers and owners who have designed the experience with their own children in mind.
What about safety?
This is a very important aspect of any holiday for a parent. As such, we only partner with accommodation providers who have passed independent health and safety checks. We also follow Foreign Office advice and minimum age restrictions at safari properties, which are often determined by whether the area is fenced or there is adequate separation from the wildlife whilst in camp.
How about malaria risk and vaccinations – is that a factor?
This gets asked a lot less than one might think. There’s a bit of an obsession within the industry that if parents are travelling with children they must be in a malaria-free area, whereas in reality many parents are happy to take their children once they understand the risk and the relative ease of taking modern malaria prophylaxis, which is available for children.
When it comes to vaccinations, yellow fever is required for some countries, but it’s one inoculation and lasts for a lifetime. Of course, each parent will have their own risk profile they are happy with, and the itinerary will need to be designed accordingly.
How much does a family safari cost?
How long is a piece of string? In truth, there is no easy answer to this, as the cost per person will vary depending on factors such as the level of accommodation clients are looking for, the time of year they want to travel (high and low season safari accommodation rates can vary immensely month to month), what class of cabin to fly in, and if there is anything specific activity-wise that’s included in the itinerary, such as a hot air balloon trip.
Children will usually pay reduced rates, but what each safari operator classes as a ‘child’ can vary hugely. Some operators are now offering child rates up to age 21 to encourage older families to travel, whereas others do ‘kids stay free’ special offers outside of high season for anyone under 18. This can add immense value for money if the itinerary is designed accordingly.
What time of year is best to travel?
This is another question that doesn’t have a straightforward answer. There is always a destination in Africa that will suit the time of year you want to travel.
There are two ways to approach planning a safari to Africa. Either time the date of travel to coincide with your clients’ main interests and requirements for the trip, for example, the weather in destination, specific wildlife phenomena, cost, etc. Or if their date of travel is fixed, choosing the travel destination that would give them the best combination of experience and price at that time.
Is there family-friendly accommodation?
A resounding yes. Around 10-15 years ago, family tents and rooms were often an afterthought. Today, with the rapid rise in family safari travel, camps are adding more and more family accommodation in varying sizes; whether that’s a standard double + twin family unit, or an exclusive-use, five-bedroom house, and everything in between. Swimming pools are also being added at many properties, as operators recognise that they’re great for children to cool off in the middle of the day and allow the parents to get some rest.
Will children get bored?
A tailor-made family safari will involve more than just game drives. Most safari camps now have specialised children’s activities, which often involve bush skills, cultural learning, conservation and active pursuits. There’s so much more than sitting in a car looking at wildlife, which can get repetitive for youngsters, so it’s important to design the itinerary accordingly.
Many operators are now also providing private vehicles as standard, which makes for an even more relaxing and engaging experience as families don’t have to worry about impacting on other guests and can move on whenever the children are ready.
Is there such a thing as too young to go on safari?
There is no such thing as too young to travel to Africa, it will just depend on when the parents and children are ready. No matter what age the children are when parents decide to venture on safari, there will be somewhere in Africa that can offer the ideal experience for them as a family.
The most important thing when planning the trip is to understand the kind of experience the family are looking for, as well as anything they might be anxious about, and design the itinerary accordingly. This takes skill and expert knowledge, so it’s important to work with a specialist. We are experienced in planning safaris for families of all ages and sizes and have been taking our own children to the bush since they were under one year old.
Safari packages to suit all ages
Best for toddlers
South Africa three-centre holiday in Cape Town, Garden Route and Eastern Cape Game Reserve includes boat rides, penguin spotting, coastal walks, whale watching, safe swimming, horse riding, monkey spotting, big five game drives, scavenger hunts, sand art and African bedtime stories, nine nights, from £3,450pp.
coraltreetravel.com/itinerary/eastern-cape-family-safari-holiday
Best for ages 5-11
Combining the famous Masai Mara with the Kenyan coast, learn about conserving the big five, pick your own garden vegetables, cool off in the huge pool and go to Masai warrior school. Then relax on the white sand beaches in Diani in a private family villa, enjoying family water sports, making sandcastles and exploring the tropical gardens, 10 nights, from £3,680pp.
coraltreetravel.com/itinerary/kenya-family-safari-and-beach-holiday
Best for teenagers
Southern Tanzania bush experience, thrilling walking safaris learning about all creatures great and small, boat safaris spotting giant crocodiles, tiger fishing and cool off in the camp swimming pool, seven nights, from £4,255pp.
coraltreetravel.com/itinerary/southern-tanzania-safari-holiday
Best for multi-generational celebrations
Enjoy the beauty of the Masai Mara from the comfort of a private home in the bush. Look for the big five, learn about the indigenous Masai culture, enjoy bush breakfasts, chats around the camp fire followed by beach relaxation or keep active with scuba diving, snorkelling, fishing or sunset dhow cruises, 10 nights, from £4,200pp
coraltreetravel.com/itinerary/kenya-multi-generation-family-safari-and-villa-holiday
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Place of registration: England and Wales.
Company number 08723341.
Registered address: 6th Floor, 2 London Wall Place, London EC2Y 5AU
