Tips for taking children on safari
Our children have been fortunate to have been to Africa twice as of 2024. Through these experiences, we have learned a lot about what does, and does not, work for children while on safari. Here are a few thoughts:
- we found having a pool in camp to be a great way for the kids to burn some energy between game drives. Sitting in a vehicle for extended periods, no matter what is happening, can be hard for kids, and something that allows them to burn energy is really useful.
- if you are ok with some screen time, having good wifi allows for some down time for the parents too. Otherwise it can be very tiring constantly entertaining the kids in the bush.
- Look for camps that give private vehicles to families or groups of 4, or pay for one. You really want to be able to control your time and not have to compromise with other guests, if at all possible.
- Likely avoid all day game drives, the kids will get restless sitting that long.
- we prefer to avoid campus with communal dining, so that other guests don't get frustrated with our kids, and we can focus on them without ignoring everyone else.
- buffet for dinner is great if you can find it, that way you can eat quickly and get off to bed. More formal dining can take a while and the kids will be tired at the end of the day.
- buffet is also good if your kids are picky eaters, they are going to find something to eat. At a couple of camps that served fancier food our picky eater really didn't eat much, which made him grumpy.
- bring a good amount of activities for the kids, things like coloring books, etc, for slow periods. We brought a battery powered board that they could draw on and then erase with the click of a button, that let our kids draw and play games without taking up much space.
- some camps may offer checklists of animals and birds, but you can make your own and let the kids learn about some of the common animals before the trip, and then use it like a treasure hunt while on safari.
- Malaria prophylaxis is highly recommended. The kid-size malarone pills are very small, but it might take your kids a little while to learn how to swallow pills if they don't already. We started practicing with them a couple of months before the trip, and after a couple of weeks they were able to swallow pills. It's a useful thing to learn overall, and can keep them safe while on your trip.
- Camp staff are generally really good with kids, although it does vary from camp to camp a bit. We have had waitresses take the kids back to the kitchen, other staff teaching them some local language, and so on. In some camps there are special activities for kids (things like learning to shoot a bow and arrow, learning animal tracks, and learning about medicinal plants). These can be a good learning point for the children.
- It can also be a really good idea to look for activities other than just game drives to supplement your trip. Perhaps a visit to a local village to learn how they live? Or a walking tour of a local town? In Nairobi, as an example, there is Sheldrick's Elephant Orphanage where the kids can learn about the orphans and get close to some elephants. Or, also in Nairobi, there is the Giraffe Center where it is possible to feed giraffes.
Overall I'm sure kids will have a great time on safari, just be prepared to be flexible with them and realize that in the bush you'll need to keep them entertained.