We have a lot of experience when it comes to family safaris, as we have children of our own, and have often taken them with us on safari. There are hidden ‘tricks of the trade’ to make a safari family-friendly. For us the key is to include variety: energetic teenagers or active children will probably enjoy their safari a lot more if they can get out of the car once in a while to go canoeing, biking or walking. For larger families, we will ensure you have enough vehicles so that space is not an issue, and enough guides to ensure individual care and attention.
FAMILY SAFARI HIGHLIGHTS
Our ‘not to be missed’ recommendations for your family holiday
Learn about Africa
For many children today, the closest wildlife encounter that they will experience is a visit to their local zoo, or by watching a snippet of a National Geographic documentary.
In a world where little people know more about Google and gaming, than how to identify plants and animals, and which direction the wind is blowing – we think that there is no better way to spend a family holiday, than on safari in Africa.
Get close to nature and learn all about Africa’s magic
Meet new cultures
See Africa through your child’s eyes. As cliché as it may sound, a family safari is a trip of a lifetime, often positively affecting your child’s world view in just one holiday. We aim to suggest affordable, fun, and varied family itineraries.
There are even camps which offer Junior Ranger courses, so with our knowledge and connections and a chat about your family’s interests, we will design just what’s right for your family.
Experience cross-cultural exchange and exposure. Never stop learning…
Reconnect
From the time they wake up until the time they fall asleep (to the sounds of nocturnal animals and chatty insects – not the glare of their smartphones!) it’s a question of constant learning and absorbing the freshest air, with a delightful dose of Vitamin D – the rangers are a wealth of knowledge and love to share everything that they know – often they will quiz children on the spot to see whether they remember a fact shared earlier that day…
Reconnect as a family.
More things to do and see
ENJOY A WIDE VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES
Adventure among Africa’s wildest places; by foot, bike, horseback, canoe or boat. Or experience cross-cultural exchange and exposure. Tailored to your family’s needs and wishes.
LEARN AND PLAY
Beyond game drives in your safari vehicle – where your kids will witness a range of creatures great and small in their natural habitat – there’s an abundance of activities available. Whether it’s playing cricket with elephant dung, participating in a bug safari, graduating from a mini-rangers course (certificate and all!), learning how to make bows and arrows, how to make a fire, learning about the medicinal purposes of the surrounding flora – lessons on the stars and galaxies, the history of early explorers and tribes in a particular area, baking biscuits with local staff members in the kitchen or quad biking across salt pans to search for ancient fossils. There is no doubt that Africa will make a deep and lasting impression on them!
HAVE FUN!
All in all, a family safari is a truly unique opportunity for families to bond over sunsets, wildlife encounters and epic journeys between wide open spaces. While having a lot of fun learning and exploring the African continent together.
CREATE LASTING MEMORIES
Taking your children into Africa might stir up all sorts of concerns and questions… what will they eat, how will they pass time, will they be bored? No one imagines that it may very well be one of the most meaningful, educational and memorable experiences that a child could possibly have.
OUR HAPPY CUSTOMERS
"We totally recommend Planet Africa Safaris to help you plan the ideal family trip".
MELANIE F. (USA), TRAVELLED SEPTEMBER 2019The ideal stays for your family holiday
Stay at carefully selected family-friendly places
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Olakira Camp
Serengeti, Tanzania
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Naboisho Camp
Mara Naboisho Conservancy, Kenya
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Loisaba Tented Camp
Laikipia, Kenya
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Namiri Plains
Serengeti, Tanzania
Olakira Camp
Serengeti, Tanzania
Recently refurbished, this long time favorite migration camp is a perfect option for those looking to be in the middle of the Great Migration action. With just 9 tents, this camp offers an authentic, intimate bush experience. With one family tent, it’s ideal and an excellent value for families. The food is home-cooked, with the smell of freshly baked bread often wafting through the Serengeti air.
Olakira is located in the Ndutu region of the southern Serengeti between December and March/April. Then, it moves north to arguably the best location of any camp on the Mara river as it is literally on the banks of one of the primary crossing points of the Lamai region between June and November. Hot air ballooning is possible in both the northern and southern locations.
Naboisho Camp
Mara Naboisho Conservancy, Kenya
Situated in the Mara Naboisho Conservancy; a 50,000 acre conservancy bordering the Maasai Mara to the north and Olare Orok Conservancy to the east, this tented camp offers guests the chance to explore this diverse wilderness in a more intimate way. Unrestricted by park regulations, the range of activities are amongst the best in the region. The camp offers 9 spacious traditional tents that include comfortable beds and a tented safari bathroom that includes a flush toilet, sink and safari shower. The food is delicious and the hospitality makes you feel right at home.
The camp provides an active role in protecting the conservancy, and allows for a wide range of great activities along with traditional game driving; off road game drives (very rare in the eco-system), night game drives to witness the nocturnal animal activity, hot air ballooning, cultural visits and the chance to do walking safaris for up to 5 hours (adults over 16 years only). Or go fly camping and spend the night in a simple ‘fly camp’ in a quiet corner of the conservancy and enjoy splendid meals cooked over the campfire with only the sounds of the bush for company…
Loisaba Tented Camp
Laikipia, Kenya
Situated in the northern parts of the Laikipia Plateau, Loisaba is a well-known safari destination and is great for families and couples alike. Perched high up on an escarpment, the main camp boasts 9 tents (6 double/twin tents and 3 family tents). In addition to game drives, an abundance of activities area available to keep the kids entertained – fishing, camel treks, horse riding, mountain biking and more!
The area offers excellent all-round game viewing, with good sightings of leopard, wild dog and leopard. The star-beds have been famous at Loisaba for many years and with good reason: an amazing experience!
Namiri Plains
Serengeti, Tanzania
Conveniently located in Soit Le Motonyi, 1.5 hours east of Seronera, Namiri Plains is set in a small fever tree forest overlooking the Serengeti plains. Namiri means ‘big cat’ in Swahili and the name could not be more apt; this area was closed to the outside world as a cheetah sanctuary for over 20 years and – as a result – has an exceptional population of big cats, including the highest density of cheetah in East Africa. The wildebeest migration is generally accessible from camp from mid-November through March.
An intimate camp with only 6 tents and, as the only property in the area, offers you an exclusive and remote safari experience. Each tent has an en-suite bathroom with flushing toilet and bucket shower, but still retains the authenticity of a classic safari camp. The interiors are stylish yet earthy, and mesh walls open up to the surrounding bush giving an airy feel of integration with nature. Explore the area on game drives as well as enjoying breakfast picnics on Soit Le Motonyi rock and sundowners on top of the kopjes.
True to Planet Africa standards, the quality of service and guiding at this camp is absolutely top notch, so you are guaranteed a memorable stay at this unique camp!