Family Adventure & Safari Holidays

• Bear in mind that despite the generally high prices, this is generally not a luxurious holiday option. However, accommodation is clean, comfortable and often characterful.

• Ask yourselves if you’re the kind of family who enjoys sharing company for a week or two – most adventure-holiday operators take small groups of 15–20, hence 3–5 families. It might even be an idea to check with your operator if any other families have already booked on a given trip and date, to find out if your children will be with other kids of around the same age (especially if you are travelling with one child).

• Take into account that adventure holidays may also not be right for families who like to go their own way and not be tied down to schedules and arrangements made by others.

• Consider whether your kids of an age when they can adapt to a new schedule – one that may differ from one day to the next. If you have young kids who still nap, have rigid mealtimes and/or are limited in what they eat, you may find this kind of holiday too stressful.

• Think about whether your family is fit enough for the kind of holiday you’re planning. Though itineraries for family adventure holidays are less taxing than adult holidays, there’ll still normally be a reasonable amount of walking and excursions, often in conditions hotter than kids are used to.

• Research your destination before booking – if lots of innoculations are required, or the region is malarial, you need to plan ahead (and may even want to look elsewhere if travelling with younger kids). See our Healthy & Safe Family Holidays and Breaks page.

• Before you arrive, prepare yourself for culture shock and for the need for time to adjust to your new surroundings. Warn your kids that locals may take a strong interest in them but that this is normally a friendly interest.