Family Safari Vacations in Africa

Family safari vacations are one of our areas of expertise at Yellow Zebra Safaris. Whether you’re travelling with teenagers, with small children, or as part of a multi-generational group, we’ll listen to your needs and design a trip to suit everyone’s interests.

Specific African wildlife destinations are particularly well suited to those travelling with children. To help you start planning your family safari vacation, we provide specific destination recommendations below, as well as a few example family trips we've designed based on the age of the children travelling:

South Africa is ideal for families travelling with young children, as it is home to several malaria-free wildlife reserves. These reserves can be easily paired with Cape Town and the Garden Route, two destinations that are popular with families, or even Mauritius – Africa’s most family-friendly beach destination. For complete peace of mind, the main priority with children under 5 is to travel to malaria-free areas. As virtually all the rest of Africa lies within the malaria belt, South Africa is the only destination we wholeheartedly recommend for families with toddlers and young children.

Family wildlife safaris in South Africa and Kenya work well for those with children between the ages of 5 and 10. South Africa’s parks are well structured for children, with several lodges offering excellent children’s programmes. Kenya is also a fine choice for a family safari destination. The Maasai Mara offers one of the world’s best big game-viewing experiences, while Laikipia and Lewa showcase vast private reserves, exclusive-use accommodation, and an exciting range of activities for children and adults alike, including night drives, horse riding, quad biking, and forest walks.

Africa’s most adventurous safari experiences unfold for families with older children. Tanzania is one of our favourite destinations for older children and teens, especially the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, where you’ll find the perfect balance of big game, family-friendly lodges, cultural encounters, and inspiring activities. Zanzibar’s tropical beaches are a superb place to finish, as this scenic island destination boasts a selection of family-friendly resorts, dynamic watersports, and wonderful diving opportunities. Botswana is also a diverse and adventurous family safari destination, provided you’re willing to pay the prices for some of Africa’s highest-end lodges!

Africa is the land of action-packed adventure and remote wild spaces that will captivate your entire family. Adventurous, explorer-style journeys are best appreciated by children over 10 – this is a chance to get thoroughly creative with your itinerary! Adventurous families will love southern Tanzania with its small, owner-run camps and gripping activities such as boating, fly camping, and walking. Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is also an option for those with older children seeking the ultimate bonding experience to the ‘Roof of Africa’. Serious thrill-seekers will be hooked on Zambia, where walking safaris take the limelight alongside canoeing safaris on the Zambezi river.

An African wildlife safari offers endless eye-opening opportunities for children to learn and explore. Our blog post, Things For Kids To Do On Safari, is a great starting point as it highlights some of our child-friendly favourites, including:

• Junior Ranger programme: Fun-filled line-ups to keep the kids engaged and inspired!
• Micro safari: Guided explorations around camp in search of lizards, insects, snakes, and scorpions!
• Bush buddies: Key staff members at Wilderness lodges who mentor kids and keep them entertained.
• Fishing: Hours of fun on Zambia’s mighty Zambezi river for slightly older children.
• Frogging: An intro to some of the 40 species of frog across Phinda Game Reserve.
• Archery: Teach kids how to make traditional bows and (blunt) arrows and hone their skills with some target practice.
• Plaster-casting tracks: Interactive wildlife tracking where kids plaster-cast animal tracks as keepsakes.
• Cooking: Includes visiting lodge vegetable gardens, picking fresh ingredients, and even baking classes.

As you plan your family safari vacation, you’ll no doubt have plenty of questions. Here’s everything you need to know:

Packing for a family safari vacation requires a combination of comfort, ease, and practicality:

• Neutral-colored clothing for game viewing
• Comfortable, breathable materials
• Lightweight jackets for early mornings and evenings
• A camera to capture lifelong family memories
• Favourite children’s toys and/or games for journeys
• Swimwear and flip-flops for the pool

A safari is a wonderful family vacation experience for children of all ages. South Africa is our first choice for families with very young children due to its malaria-free private reserves, while kids aged 5 to 10 will love South Africa or Kenya for these countries’ child-friendly activities and big game density. The sky is the limit with older kids, who can participate in the full spectrum of safari experiences, from sleep-outs under the stars to bush walks, canoeing, and fly camping.

This depends on the destination and the age of the children. Many of our recommended lodges offer kids’ programmes and child-friendly activities. We’ll guide you through minimum age requirements and ensure your personalised itinerary includes age-appropriate activity suggestions.

Big Five game viewing, cultural experiences, bush walks, conservation projects, arts and crafts, and cooking are just a few ideas to get you started!

Anti-malaria medication is required for many African safari destinations. The risk is minimal in certain areas due to high altitude and cold mornings and evenings. However, we encourage all travelers to seek medical advice at least eight weeks prior to departure.

Those wishing to avoid anti-malaria medication should consider a malaria-free zone such as Tswalu in South Africa’s Kalahari Desert.

Your safety is our utmost priority, and we recommend family-friendly safari destinations based on their suitability for travel with children. South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, and Zambia are excellent choices. 

We only work with tried-and-tested safari lodges, and you will always be accompanied by a professional guide or member of staff.