For your children, an African safari may be a fantastic trip. Given how important your children are to you, it’s natural that you want their travel experience to be as smooth and happy as possible. A little forethought may go a long way towards making your African experience memorable, seamless, and rewarding.
Make the most of your African safari family vacations by including your children in the adventure. It’s an event your family will never forget, inextricably linked by your joint safari adventure.
Long travel Distances
When traveling with children, it is important to keep in mind that Africa is vast. The drive from Cape Town to Johannesburg takes more than 1400 miles and over 14 hours. And that’s on well-maintained roads, whereas many African roads may be bumpy and sluggish, especially when traveling off the usual route.
While seeing Africa’s amazing creatures on a game drive is exhilarating, they often last up to three hours and there are frequently lengthy periods of time when you don’t see any animals at all (unless you’re in the Ngorongoro Crater!). It’s fascinating for adults, but time moves slowly in a car when you’re five, and nothing ruins a vacation like a bored, whining youngster in a car.
Traveling to Kenya and Tanzania
East Africa is the best region for wild safaris. It is cheaper than the southern Africa safaris and is well known for its rich tribal traditions and culture.
Both Masai mara and Serengeti National Park are the best in East Africa and you can visit the Masai Village with the Kids. However, traveling to this part of the world you are supposed to have a shot of yellow fever which is once and goes for a Lifetime.
Malaria
Malaria is not a toy illness, and this is especially true for children under the age of five. Children acquire malaria poorly, and symptoms increase fast, so it’s best not to send them to malaria-infested areas. Prophylaxis (malaria prevention medicine) is available for both adults and children.
Traveling to southern Africa
Namibia and Botswana are kids friendly because they have excellent infrastructure and national parks.
Botswana has the stunning Okavango Delta where you can have a unique experience of watching the hippos and having a boat ride. Although the Central and Northwest regions of Botswana are at low risk of Malaria.
Namibia is diverse and has outstanding landscapes which make the trip amazing and more Interesting. Some of the activities include sandboarding on the Sossusvlei dunes and exploring the large clay pan of Dead Vlei.
Restrictions on Hotel
Children under the age of 12 are not allowed to camp in most of the “wild” camps and must be accompanied by a parent or adult. The majority of the time, guides will take you to and from your tent, however, this is just not safe for young children!