Family holidays and safaris
Family Safaris and Holidays
We offer the most wonderful, wildlife safaris in Africa for families. These days, parents actually want to spend their holidays with their children! At African Explorations we all have children and we take them on safari with us; it is so enjoyable to witness our children's wonderment and joy at their first encounter with wildlife. We have assembled the perfect array of properties in both game-rich and non malarial areas. The ultimate family safari combines well with the "ocean": perhaps a Robinson Crusoe lodge where children can spend hours searching for shells, being as active as they want, or a villa complete with ayahs (nannies), 24 hour service and, again, lots for children to do. Often a villa is the perfect solution, allowing total flexibility at meal times and no feelings of "intimidation" from other guests.
In Botswana we have the perfect, authentic, Young Explorer safaris which allow parents and children to discover the wonders of the African wilderness together. The safaris are closed to one family (or families travelling together) for six or seven nights, usually spread over two camps for variety, and you spend time tracking the spoor of big game, identifying birds and animals, finding out how to read the signs of the bush and learning bush skills. The children will be given a bush journal, safety tips, bird and mammal checklists, notes on common tracks and star constellations and a certificate at the end to prove that they are now fully fledged bush-babies! Lisa Reed is a wonderful freelance guide who can lead mobiles or guide at permanent camps; she is an ex-teacher and takes the family out on ecology and wilderness drives. Not only is Lisa ingenious and brilliant, she also has the patience of Job!
In Kenya, in the Samburu and Masai Mara National Parks, we have two lodges where they take children out specifically on their own game drives and teach them how to make their own fires, basket weaving, face painting, and all the bushlore passed on from the Samburu and Maasai tribes. For a family safari, we can arrange a private vehicle and get one of these guides to accompany you, so you can be together, and still gain all this knowledge!
In South Africa, there are safari lodges that have their own kids programmes, in KwaZulu Natal and in Madikwe.
Apart from tracking one sees excellent wildlife on a safari like this and there is the chance to do things like fishing or, perhaps, end up in the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans with a bit of quad biking.
One can experience 'sleep outs' in treehouses, camping on islands and traversing the Delta by mokoro (canoes) during the day. In East Africa families can go on safari in Kenya with camels or spend time on a ranch, taking in some fishing, horse riding, walking, game drives and masses of other activities. The opportunities are endless! We have several properties, mainly in South (but also East) Africa, that close the lodge to one family or family group; very spoiling! Finally, we have several select places that really work, for parents wanting a break or some time to themselves, where there is plenty of entertainment. A few even have nursery schools which are tremendous fun, so no feelings of guilt from parents as they know their children are being intelligently entertained and amused.
Malaria is an issue for parents. Whilst these days there are children's prophylactics available, Laikipia and the Chyulu Hills in Kenya are excellent for avoiding "dudus" (mosquitoes). In South Africa the Waterberg, Marakalele and Madikwe are all excellent for game and malaria-free. Places to stay in South Africa include Pitse, Jaci's Tree/Safari Lodge, Ants Nest and Ant's Hill, Jembisa and Marataba.
