Family Safaris - Questions and Answers

Is Africa safe for families?
Your safety is our most important concern. We will only suggest you visit countries, regions and camps we feel comfortable with. We are in constant communication with local ground handlers, camp owners and mangers and are alerted to any potential problems. With a professionally planned family safari you will have an enjoyable, safe and hassle free holiday. 

Where is best for children?
All of the countries in which we operate work well for children. However, our recommendations would depend on what you most want to see and do, the time of travel and ages of your children.

What is the youngest age you can take a child on safari?
There is no one answer to this as children of the same age vary so much. In general the family safaris we plan tend to be for children of six years and over, but we can arrange suitable trips for families with younger children. You know your child best and what holidays have worked in the past.  When travelling with younger children the most important thing is that the place where you stay can cater for all your family's needs, and any other guests will be comfortable with young children around

What happens during the evening and at night?
In the evening it is important for parents to be able to relax and enjoy delicious alfresco dining either with or without children. Children of all ages will normally be welcome at dinner, but for those travelling with younger children, it’s also possible to arrange early mealtimes. A babysitter can then keep an eye on them while parents enjoy their own supper knowing their children are sleeping safely.

Some camps and lodges will have interconnecting family cottages or tents which are perfect for those travelling with younger children. Where this sort of accommodation is not available, it is often possible to put an extra bed in a safari tent to accommodate a child.

Some parents will choose to split up for a few nights in a camp and each sleep in a tent with their children. However, many parents are surprised at how adaptable their children are when on a family safari – for lots of children, sharing a tent in the bush with a sibling is the highlight of the trip. Tents are always equipped with a whistle or claxon for alerting camp staff to a problem during the night and it’s also possible to arrange for a night watchman to keep an eye on children’s tents overnight. 

What about malaria and other nasties?
Malaria and malaria prophylactics concern many of us. If this is putting you off going to Africa, then do be aware there are plenty of excellent safari camps in non-malarial areas.

For other safari areas where malaria is an issue, there are now medications which are suitable for use by children. The paediatric formulation of Malarone is proven to be very effective and is simple for children to take. We use only camps that have good mosquito nets and repellents and encourage you to visit areas when mosquitoes and other insects are at their lowest. This is typically when there is no rain and at the cooler times of year.

What happens if my child is ill?
All camps will have a full medical emergency kit and staff trained to use it.

Emergency medical evacuations are incredibly unusual. When necessary a plane will be summoned to the nearest airstrip (often this is a specially equipped and staffed medi-rescue plane) to which the patient will be brought by vehicle.

Can we combine the beach with a family safari?
A few nights on the beach is a perfect complement to a family safari. It’s a great way to chill out and relax at either end of a trip and is very popular with families. The eastern side of Africa is blessed with endless Indian Ocean beaches and turquoise seas and you can enjoy a safari and the sea in the same country. It is also possible to combine a traditional family safari with the islands of Mauritius, Seychelles or Zanzibar as well as other less well known surrounding islands