Family Safari suggestions
Discussion
Both are amazing! It may depend a little on the children’s requirements.
Kenya has the whole migration thing - very cool but not in January. From that perspective I would probably think SA might work better. If you are going for 2 weeks then you won’t spend all of that time on safari, (children would almost certainly get very bored but also nearly bankrupt you), so being somewhere with more options outside the hotel may be better. Perhaps a week in Cape Town to finish.
This is a great private reserve:
https://www.andbeyond.com/destinations/africa/sout...
Many people just do 2-3 nights here, (it isn’t cheap), and you’re quite likely to see most of what you want in that time. We quite like to drive ourselves in the parks. You can’t go off road but you are in your own space and it’s rather fun being out on your own. Not so far from Phinda is:
https://www.hluhluwegamereserve.com/
You could then fly down to Cape Town for some time in a lovely part of SA with lots to do and pretty safe. Just some thoughts.
Kenya has the whole migration thing - very cool but not in January. From that perspective I would probably think SA might work better. If you are going for 2 weeks then you won’t spend all of that time on safari, (children would almost certainly get very bored but also nearly bankrupt you), so being somewhere with more options outside the hotel may be better. Perhaps a week in Cape Town to finish.
This is a great private reserve:
https://www.andbeyond.com/destinations/africa/sout...
Many people just do 2-3 nights here, (it isn’t cheap), and you’re quite likely to see most of what you want in that time. We quite like to drive ourselves in the parks. You can’t go off road but you are in your own space and it’s rather fun being out on your own. Not so far from Phinda is:
https://www.hluhluwegamereserve.com/
You could then fly down to Cape Town for some time in a lovely part of SA with lots to do and pretty safe. Just some thoughts.
alan-87 said:
Hi All,
Looking for some recommendations from anyone who has done a family friendly safari?
We are planning on going at the end of January next year and my wife has narrowed it down to either Kenya or South Africa. Any recommendations on providers / resorts etc?
How old are your kids? We are taking ours for the first time in April, when they will be 15 and 12. We are staying at Pumba.Looking for some recommendations from anyone who has done a family friendly safari?
We are planning on going at the end of January next year and my wife has narrowed it down to either Kenya or South Africa. Any recommendations on providers / resorts etc?
https://www.pumbagamereserve.co.za/pages/big-5-saf...
Have done Sabi Sands before too, but without kids.
alan-87 said:
Hi All,
Looking for some recommendations from anyone who has done a family friendly safari?
We are planning on going at the end of January next year and my wife has narrowed it down to either Kenya or South Africa. Any recommendations on providers / resorts etc?
Shamwari in South Africa have a children friendly lodge and activities, including safari drives, designed for children.Looking for some recommendations from anyone who has done a family friendly safari?
We are planning on going at the end of January next year and my wife has narrowed it down to either Kenya or South Africa. Any recommendations on providers / resorts etc?
Stayed at Shamwari ( not the family lodge) but it was excellent- not cheap mind.
As with many of these things it depends on budget and personal preference.
I looked at both and decided SA suited us better because of the amount of non-safari options available. SA also has the option of a holiday without the absolute need for injections/malaria treatment as long as you stay on the Garden Route. There are safari options in Addo or, if you want less travel other private reserves (though not as good) just 2 hrs drive from Cape Town.
Kruger however is the best place for safari in SA but is a malaria area (we’re going there in 2 weeks with our two 12yo twins) if that’s an issue.
Staying in a game lodge can be extremely expensive. We’ve done both lodge and self catering and this time we’re staying in a hotel on the banks of the Crocodile River that is the southern border of the park. We have a two bedroom suite in a 5* hotel for a fraction of the price of a lodge in the park but have park views over the river and daily game drives.
Once you’ve done the safari thing you can spend time in Camps Bay or similar and enjoy all the other stuff SA has to offer.
I looked at both and decided SA suited us better because of the amount of non-safari options available. SA also has the option of a holiday without the absolute need for injections/malaria treatment as long as you stay on the Garden Route. There are safari options in Addo or, if you want less travel other private reserves (though not as good) just 2 hrs drive from Cape Town.
Kruger however is the best place for safari in SA but is a malaria area (we’re going there in 2 weeks with our two 12yo twins) if that’s an issue.
Staying in a game lodge can be extremely expensive. We’ve done both lodge and self catering and this time we’re staying in a hotel on the banks of the Crocodile River that is the southern border of the park. We have a two bedroom suite in a 5* hotel for a fraction of the price of a lodge in the park but have park views over the river and daily game drives.
Once you’ve done the safari thing you can spend time in Camps Bay or similar and enjoy all the other stuff SA has to offer.
alan-87 said:
Mine are incredibly excited about the trip, even though it is still months away.
We've done a few safaris with the kids - so can probably help.
We spent 4 days at the Kings Camp in the Kruger (actually Timbavati private game reserve) - this was December 2018. Our youngest was 7.
https://www.kingscamp.com/
Absolutely stunning place, safari was incredible (saw all the Big Five) and the guides were first class. Youngest child did sleep a fair bit during the ride, but was happy to wake up when something exciting was spotted. She had no fear or anxiety even when close to a pride of lions.
This Christmas we did 3 days at the Chobe Game Lodge in Botswana - https://www.chobegamelodge.com/ - on the banks of the Chobe river so we had the opportunity to go on river safaris by boat. Again a stunning place to stay, the electric Land Cruisers were a revelation and amazing to see so many elephants, but the guides were nowhere near as good as we'd had at Kings Camp - felt like more like we were big animal spotting rather than really learning about the plants, birds and general ecology.
We followed that up with another 3 days at Khwai River Lodge in the Okavango Delta which was mind blowing. https://www.belmond.com/safaris/africa/botswana/be...
Superb accommodation, the guide was just fantastic - he's grown up in the area and just knew everything about everything. We had the chance to do some walking safaris (quite nerve wracking!) as well as game drives in the trucks.
I would say that 6 days safari was just too much for all of us - we didn't want to miss any of the drives so it's a lot of time sat in the truck and in the sun.
These places were all fairly high end, but there seemed to be places close by that were still pretty amazing but not quite so expensive.
In addition, I would definitely recommend a few days relaxing at Babylonstoren in the winelands near Cape Town at the start and the end of the holiday - probably our favourite place to stay in the whole world.
https://babylonstoren.com/
We spent 4 days at the Kings Camp in the Kruger (actually Timbavati private game reserve) - this was December 2018. Our youngest was 7.
https://www.kingscamp.com/
Absolutely stunning place, safari was incredible (saw all the Big Five) and the guides were first class. Youngest child did sleep a fair bit during the ride, but was happy to wake up when something exciting was spotted. She had no fear or anxiety even when close to a pride of lions.
This Christmas we did 3 days at the Chobe Game Lodge in Botswana - https://www.chobegamelodge.com/ - on the banks of the Chobe river so we had the opportunity to go on river safaris by boat. Again a stunning place to stay, the electric Land Cruisers were a revelation and amazing to see so many elephants, but the guides were nowhere near as good as we'd had at Kings Camp - felt like more like we were big animal spotting rather than really learning about the plants, birds and general ecology.
We followed that up with another 3 days at Khwai River Lodge in the Okavango Delta which was mind blowing. https://www.belmond.com/safaris/africa/botswana/be...
Superb accommodation, the guide was just fantastic - he's grown up in the area and just knew everything about everything. We had the chance to do some walking safaris (quite nerve wracking!) as well as game drives in the trucks.
I would say that 6 days safari was just too much for all of us - we didn't want to miss any of the drives so it's a lot of time sat in the truck and in the sun.
These places were all fairly high end, but there seemed to be places close by that were still pretty amazing but not quite so expensive.
In addition, I would definitely recommend a few days relaxing at Babylonstoren in the winelands near Cape Town at the start and the end of the holiday - probably our favourite place to stay in the whole world.
https://babylonstoren.com/
Hi Maturin,
Thanks for that info, some of the places look incredible. I've asked the tour operator I am in contact with about KwaZulu Natal and the Chobe area as it looks great. I can't seem to find a direct flight from Lon to Durban though and don't fancy flying into Joburg and then driving from there and across.
What route did you take when you recently went?
Thanks for that info, some of the places look incredible. I've asked the tour operator I am in contact with about KwaZulu Natal and the Chobe area as it looks great. I can't seem to find a direct flight from Lon to Durban though and don't fancy flying into Joburg and then driving from there and across.
What route did you take when you recently went?
Alun,
When we go to Durban, (my MiL lives there), we fly to Jo’burg and then fly down as it is a long way to drive! BA used to do Durban direct but not since COVID. Only “direct” option is to go with Qatar, Emirates, etc. where you may still have to get off the plane but the bags will be dealt with.
Pretty much book to Jo’burg then fly down to Durban. 15 odd hours no matter how you do it!
When we go to Durban, (my MiL lives there), we fly to Jo’burg and then fly down as it is a long way to drive! BA used to do Durban direct but not since COVID. Only “direct” option is to go with Qatar, Emirates, etc. where you may still have to get off the plane but the bags will be dealt with.
Pretty much book to Jo’burg then fly down to Durban. 15 odd hours no matter how you do it!
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