Words by Fiona MacKay, Images reproduced by Kind Permission of Footsteps in Africa
Traveling anywhere with your children can be immensely rewarding not just for you as a family but for them as individuals, providing them with experiential learning and experiences simply not possible at home. For many nature loving children and families the thought of an African safari is probably high on the wish list but might feel completely out of reach. In a bid to get your planning started I’ve utilised my own experience working in the safari lodge industry, and the connections I have throughout Africa to outline in this article some of the things to consider if a family safari is your dream vacation. I’ve even recommended a couple of places that are the most child friendly I know, plus they don’t stint on being in a prime safari locations, that any safari goer would love to have the opportunity to visit.
© Footsteps in Africa
One of my favourite memories from my time managing a game lodge in South Africa, was of two young brothers of 8 and 10 who spent 5 nights with us. I remember not just the sheer joy and enthusiasm they had for everything, but their depth of knowledge and passion for nature. They soaked up every crumb of knowledge they were given. On many levels they proved themselves to be the most attentive and well informed guests of any age we ever had. It was a delight to be in their company. I think all the staff gained as much as the boys. They queried, questioned and exclaimed over things a lot of our guests ignored. We were all passionate people in love with the environment in which we lived and worked and the boys provided a breath of fresh air, reinvigorating us all. They reminded us why we were doing what we were and just how amazing everything about the natural world really was.
With many of the problems that are faced in the world’s environments and by the world’s wildlife today, most solutions have at their core the importance of inspiring and educating our children and future generations, for whom we act as mere custodians of this planet. Education
doesn’t and shouldn’t just happen in the classroom. A family safari, allows your children to see and truly experiencing life, using all their senses, allows a far more impressive and lasting memory to be formed.
Giving children exposure to different cultures, languages, foods and environments at a young age can encourage passions that will last a lifetime and ultimately reap untold benefits for them as they age. Expanding their horizons and arming them with the ability to approach life and all it throws at them with a much broader well rounded perspective. Which in this stressful, modern world, where so much expectation to perform is heaped on young shoulders, can only be advantageous. There is a growing body of evidence that is showing how important providing an understanding of and creating a connection to nature is to both our physical and mental health, a safari can be the ultimate way to learn about the natural world and foster a love of nature in your children, which can continue into adulthood.
Everyone is an individual and that goes for children too, if you are considering a safari it is unlikely to be a cheap holiday, so it is worth considering if it is the right trip for your family and secondly if now is the right time to make that trip.
One consideration to be aware of is that many game lodges enforce age limits, which can be as high as 12 years of age before your children are allowed to stay. Although this can be frustrating, one of the main reasons these age limits are in place is related to safety for you and your children, as well as for the staff, other guests and indeed the wildlife. An age limit is the lodges best guess at when a child will be able to understand and follow instructions given to them without hesitation or confusion and act and behave sensibly and considerately towards others. Whilst there are lodges that have much lower age limits or none at all, I would still recommend you think whether your children could do those things. If the answer is no it might be worth waiting a year or two so that they can truly enjoy the whole experience.
It’s also important that your children enjoy spending time in nature, that they have an interest in and love of the natural world. After all that is really what being on safari is all about, immersing yourself in nature and experiencing it in all its glory. Game drives can last a couple of hours, so children need to be happy to sit in a vehicle and be attentive and relatively quiet for most of that time.
© Footsteps in Africa
If you’ve got this far and still think that a safari is a great choice, then your next questions are probably going to be more practical about how you actually make that dream a reality for your family.
Firstly I’d recommend looking for a travel provider who can really enhance the experience for you and your children beyond what you can do by yourself.
There are places that claim to be child friendly, simply because they have a family room, can offer a babysitter and throw in a few colouring books. More importantly there are those that go way beyond this, although you might have to do some digging to find them. These lodges are enthusiastic about having children in camp. They’ve thought of fun and informative ways to share their world and their passion with the children that visit them. They’ve also thought of the day-to-day practicalities and requirements that differ when accommodating children and families and implemented ways to provide for these too.
© Footsteps In Africa
As adults we will always remember those teachers who went that extra mile. Those that saw our little spark of enthusiasm and nurtured it, so that it could develop into a lifelong passion or even a profession. That person who inspired us to be more then we thought possible, who opened doors to worlds we’d only dreamed of. As adults we can sometimes be unintentionally condescending of children, dumbing things down too much, when really it just needs to be explained fully with some thought, patience and passion. It is these people, who take that extra time and nurture enthusiasm that you want to find to guide you and your family on safari.
So really I am trying to say that taking your children on a safari is an amazing and potentially life changing experience, for you and them. It is however unlikely to be a cheap one, so I can’t stress enough that it is really worth putting in the time to research what kind of experience you can expect and indeed that you want for your family. Armed with this knowledge look at not just the different lodges but also the different countries and what they offer, a safari in Tanzania or East Africa will be very different from one in Southern Africa and one might appeal far more you.
One of the best examples for families I’ve come across in all my years in Africa is a range of lodges in Botswana unified under the Footsteps in Africa banner. They have a truly fantastic policy towards children and families on safari. As a group of lodges you also have the option to combine a couple of locations which can help make the holiday more interesting and enjoyable for children as you get to explore a couple of places.
© Footsteps in Africa
They have some amazing lodges, located throughout Botswana’s incredible wilderness areas, which offer some of the prime safari regions in Africa, the Delta being a UNESCO world heritage site. Three of their lodges have no age restrictions at all and the remaining four have a lower age limit of just 6 years of age, making this a great option for people with younger families.
They’ve even come up with a downloadable activity pack that you can start the moment you leave home, ensuring your children are excited and engaged with their safari from the very beginning. They have interesting and fun activities that vary from lodge to lodge and depending on your children’s ages. These can include visiting the local Bushman to learn about their culture and make a bow and arrow. Learning from your guide all about animal tracks and how to track them, an invaluable skill in the bush. Or simply having a fun game of football using elephant dung. Add to this the benefit of a private vehicle and guide, so you aren’t restricted by other guests and flexible meal times, leaves you completely able to tailor your experience to suit you and your children, and leave with memories and experiences to last a lifetime.
© Footsteps in Africa
When you stay with them as a family you are a priority not an after thought. They have put a lot of thought into what they can do to make a truly child friendly experience. They have a wonderful document that compares all their lodges and explains what is on offer to families and children in each one, so that it is very easy to evaluate whether they will be suitable for your family and how you might combine them. The PDF can be found here http://www.footsteps-in-africa.com/uploads/6/2/0/8/6208718/childrens_booklet_august_2016.pdf
Even better Footsteps in Africa are currently running an amazing promotion to make your dream of a family safari even more accessible. Until the end of December 2018 you can have children 16 years and under stay for free when sharing a room with 2 adults at their incredible Delta camp, terms and conditions apply, ask for details of the Delta Camp Family special when booking. To find booking information please visit their website: http://www.footsteps-in-africa.com/
One of the biggest considerations for anyone going on safari, but perhaps more so for families is managing the risk of malaria. If this is particularly concerning for you, you may want to consider the eastern cape region in South Africa, one of just a few regions where you can enjoy an african safari in a malaria free area.
Kwandwe private game reserve offers a wonderful destination for families who specifically want a malaria free destination. This 55,000 acre, big five game reserve, offers a fabulous wilderness and big game experience, with the exclusivity of a private reserve. With its location close to Port Elizabeth in South Africa’s Eastern Cape it can easily be reached by air or incorporated into a self-drive holiday which would allow you and your family to explore the surrounding region, including wonderful beaches, South Africa’s famed Garden route or even a few days in Cape Town.
© Footsteps in Africa
There are several options at Kwandwe available for families, including many without a lower age limit, again making it suitable for even young families. Most of the options for younger families include a family suite or villa and a private game viewing vehicle with your own guide which gives your family complete flexibility for your safari. A wide range of activities are available but they vary slightly with the accommodation option you choose, but can include fun scavenger or treasure hunts which are incorporated into the game drives, various art and craft activities, or a chance to give back by planting local trees or heading out to help the local communities living in and around the area through the reserves Ubunye Foundation.
To find out more about Kwandwe and whether it is right for your family, full details can be found on their website and the specific information related to families is located here: http://www.kwandwe.com/experience/Families
I hope you have found this a useful introduction and overview to just some of what is on offer for families hoping to visit Africa and why it might appeal to your family. Please feel free to explore our website for other safari information, or if you have had a particularly fabulous experience that you would like to share with other families, let us know so we can pass on your recommendations.
