Kids Gone Wild

More families are taking their kids on an African safari, attracted to lodges and their new focus on offering something special to young guests

By Richard Holmes

Walking almost impossibly quietly, the female elephant strolled sedately past our Land Cruiser, each footfall raising plumes of talcfine dust. Even with his little eight-year-old arms, my son David could have almost reached out and stroked her leathery mud-caked hide. David turned to me and grinned with his eyes and smile wide.

You never forget your first close-up encounter with Loxodonta africana, and even years later, David still relishes the thrill of that moment. Because family vacations are about making memories, and when those trips take us out of our comfort zone, they become truly unforgettable.

And on that score, you will have to work hard to beat an African safari. For what could be further than the humdrum of the everyday life than days spent bouncing through the African savannah, eyes peeled for toothy predators and herds of wild game? Come evening, it’s all boma dinners, stargazing and time together watching the ‘bush TV,’ a.k.a. the campfire.

PRIVATE GAME DRIVE FOR FAMILIES

For years, luxury safaris were mostly the preserve of honeymooners and retirees, but over the last decade, lodges have adapted to meet the trend toward multigenerational travel. Today, it’s a rare safari outfit that doesn’t offer interconnected suites, while communal areas are often expanded to create child-friendly spaces filled with games, books and multimedia.

Exclusive-use family villas are the sharp end of that trend. Typically set slightly away from the main lodge, a dedicated vehicle and safari guide come standard with this type of accommodation, while more luxurious options may boast private chefs and butlers. It’s a wonderful option for focused family quality time, but if your budget doesn’t stretch that far – ours didn’t – you’ll find suites with rollaway beds and privacy screens to keep the whole family happy in one room. Besides, you’ll likely spend little in your suite.

Because savvy operators have put enormous effort into evolving the experience of a safari vacation, keeping young and old busy with everything from bush walks to fishing excursions. Larger safari brands also offer bespoke kids’ programmes, with specialist guides teaching youngsters how to track animals, identify plants and make a campfire. At Sanbona Wildlife Reserve, a three-hour drive from Cape Town, there’s a walking trail through an outdoor classroom, adding a tactile hands-on experience in a safely fenced section of property.

ADVENTURE PLAYGROUND AT SHAMWARI GAME RESERVE

© RICHARD HOLMES

Kids’ clubs have also made inroads into the safari experience. Some are as simple as a playroom with a secure garden. Two years after our last visit, David still raves about the impressive offering at Riverdene Family Lodge in South Africa’s Shamwari Game Reserve. It’s an outdoor wonderland complete with treetop canopy walks, ziplines and climbing walls. It was so good, he was happy to skip the evening game drive, which allowed my wife and I some quality alone time.

Sold on a family safari? Great. But before you call up your travel agent, remember that – for safety reasons – where you go and what you’re able to do will depend on the age of your children.

EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS ON SAFARI

©SHAMWARI GAME RESERVE

Bush walks are always a memorable part of a safari experience – a particular highlight in Zambia, which is off limits for children younger than 12. In Botswana, some water-based activities are only open to those older than 16. At most camps across Africa, children younger than 12 may only go out on game drives at the lodge manager’s discretion to ensure the experiences of fellow guests aren’t impacted. It pays to ask the right questions before you book.

ADMIRING GIRAFFES ON A SAFARI OUTING

© SHAMWARI GAME RESERVE

Perhaps a private vehicle is the solution. Many lodges insist on a private vehicle if your children are younger than six years and it’s often worth paying that little bit extra. For starters, it lets you set the pace and the schedule. If you want to skip the pre-dawn departure or return to the lodge before the sunset drinks stop, you can make that call without worrying about other guests in the vehicle. It also lets you tailor your game drive to keep your own family happy, whether that’s seeking out a favourite animal or avoiding the more visceral aspects of life in the bush.

On David’s first ever safari drive, we rolled up to a lion with a kill late one afternoon. For most travellers, it would be a highlight and a tick on the safari to-do list. But the sight of a male lion chomping an eland soon had my young son in tears. Luckily, we had the vehicle to ourselves and asked the ranger to move along.

SIGHTING A MALE LION

But even that was a moment for the memory banks. Back home, David was thrilled to tell his friends about his frontrow seat to the wilderness. The fright was forgotten and the excitement remained. The lesson we learned there is that safari vacations are what you make of them. They can be relaxed and laidback, or a non-stop wilderness adventure. Whichever you choose, there’s a safari destination available that’s the right fit.