Safari So Goody: The Best Family Safaris

Forget the ropey safari parks of your childhood, where lions mated lazily and bored baboons gnawed at windscreen washers. There’s only one real way to see wildlife and bring ‘The Jungle Book’ to life, and that’s on safari.

Choosing a good tour operator is the key to a successful family safari holiday. They’ll find you the right safari and tailor an itinerary to suit you and the needs of your family. Our top tips for going on safari with kids are:
•    Supply kids with their own camera and/or pair of binoculars
•    Make a checklist or animal bingo card with animals and birds to tick off
•    Choose a family-friendly lodge that offers alternatives to game drives
•    Stay somewhere with a pool so kids can cool off from the African sun
•    Book a two-centre holiday and combine a safari with a beach holiday

BEST SAFARI DESTINATIONS
South Africa
The place for a more flexible (and usually malaria-free) safari experience, and hence great for families with younger children. Many game reserves are close enough to ‘civilisation’ that you can go safari-lite and enjoy day expeditions too. Safari specialists Imagine Africa combines a trip to Madikwe, a malaria-free game reserve in the North West Province, with a week by the beach in Cape Town, starting at £2257pp (£1496 per child) including international flights.

Kenya
A great year-round destination, with temperatures hovering around the mid–high 20s. August is generally more expensive as it coincides with the Great Migration.

Zambia
Currently being touted as the next hot safari destination but perfect for families, too. Its home to 19 game reserves, the big five (elephant, lion, leopard, rhino and buffalo), and the awesome Victoria Falls, while for dads who bungee, it’s an adrenaline junkie’s heaven. 

For Younger Kids
Safari specialists Somak Holidays’ Kili Safari for starts off in the glorious Amboseli National Park, in the shadow of Mount Kilimanjaro, and moves on to Lake Naivasha and finally Masai Mara. The short itinerary jam-packed with lively game-drives and bush walks is a great way for young families to experience the best of Kenya and its wildlife. Prices start at £1,399pp, £1,249 for children 11 or under.

For Older Kids
Eight is a great age for kids to discover the joys of safari. Zambia’s Royal Zambezi Lodge is perfect for children around this age, offering a variety of safari experiences, from walking, canoeing and boating to the more usual driving safaris, plus a childcare service if grown-ups want to game-spot alone. A sample price on a 6-night family safari (2 adults, 2 children) with five nights at Royal Zambezi Lodge and one night in Lusaka is about £7000.

For Kids of All Ages
The Olarro Lodge in Kenya offers family-friendly five-star luxury on the edge of the Masai Mara, combing super-stylish décor with the Olarro Junior Adventurers Club offering bush adventures, survival skills tuition and insights into Masai warrior traditions.