Are you planning some family fun times this holiday but are still weighing up various options? Why not try an African family safari? The African bush and wildlife set the stage for experiences you cannot get anywhere else on the globe. It is here that you can experience nature at its best. Few things will create better memories for both children and their parents than a shared adventure in Africa.
So what is a safari?
Safari is a Swahili word that means journey. African safaris happen within game reserves and national parks in countries like Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa, Botswana, South Africa, Zambia, and Namibia. While on a safari, you can choose to stay in lodges, mobile camps or even tents.
The whole point is to get as close as you possibly could to the African Big Five, which include the lion, elephant, rhinoceros, leopard and buffalo. But these aren’t the only animals you’ll see on your safari. Based on the country you visit or the time of the year, you can also encounter hyenas, cheetahs, giraffes, baboons, mongooses, vervet monkey, warthog, hippos, wildebeest, wild dogs, birds and deer-like animals (nyala, impala, springbok, duiker, steenbok and so on).
Safety
Family safaris are very safe. In fact, the only problem that you may encounter is mosquito bites – which can be prevented by using a repellant.
Sounds like something you’d love to do? Then follow these tips to make your adventure a successful one:
Do your research: Take time to learn about the country (or countries) you are planning to visit. Some destinations are more perfect for certain seasons than others. For instance, you may want to be in East Africa during the annual zebra and wildebeest migration from Kenya and Tanzania or in South Africa after winter and so on.
Be age-appropriate: It’s also important to consider your children’s age when looking for adventure activities to take on. Find an operator who has experience dealing with kids and even includes interesting activities for the children.
Work with an expert: Unless you have travelled to Africa and are well-versed with the destinations, it may be wise to count on a well-informed and experienced travel agent. Otherwise, you wouldn’t even know what to look for as far as accommodations, game parks and reserves and cross-country travel is concerned. A pro will remove the guesswork from the process, allowing you and your loved ones to focus on having fun.
Plan with your kids: Don’t plan the safari alone – involve your kids to make the experience an even better one. Talk to them about the travel plans, showing them the places you’ll visit on a map. You can also read or watch informative content about the wildlife, people, cultures and history together – this will make the trip a whole lot of fun.
Setting the right expectations
Kids will always be kids – just because you are traveling or doing something fun doesn’t mean that they will all be happy at all times. There will be sdisagreements and break downs and stressful moments – it’s all part of growing – solve it and move on. Don’t let your days be ruined by breakdowns.
