Meet the new operator specialising in family-friendly safaris

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.