Of all the safaris that one can undertake, I think family safaris must top the list. Simply because there is something wonderful to view life through the eye’s of a child – unlike our vision which tends to be hugely corrupted by cynicism and a variety of other preconceived ideas! To see the wonderment and joy as a child witnesses an entirely new world all around it, new experiences mounting on a daily basis is so incredibly rewarding. It is both profound and simple and entirely pleasurable! I have been taking my daughter on safari every year since she was literally a couple of years old and what is the most important aspect is the equal dose of wildlife and culture.  In addition, one must have a top notch and sympathetic guide. So often, one comes across a truly fantastic guide, who simply isn’t child friendly. This is not their fault. They simply have not had much access to children, invariably they are quite young and they are often focussed on conservation and science. This results in information being proffered to the parents at a scientific level and the child is not engaged at all. Sadly, this is the death knell for taking children on safari (and happens with huge regularity), as the child becomes completely bored! Therefore, a superb and child friendly guide is crucial to the success of any safari. Depending upon the age of the child, one can also have the most wonderful safaris in non malarial areas, both in Kenya and in South Africa in particular.

Family Safaris with AfricanExplorations.com

In East Africa particularly, the tribes have the most arresting traditional dress which children always love and they are taught how to make bows and arrows, how to recognise the spoormarks or the prints of animals in the sand, making plaster of paris imprints, teaching them about the night sky and the medicinal properties of plants and trees and the folklore that is attached to them. A safari is also an incredibly bonding form of holiday, where the entire family spends quality time together.

Family Safaris in Africa with AfricanExplorations.com

Forget all the modern technology, ds’, mp3 players, dvd players, i-pods and all the electronic modern gadgets enlisted to keep your children ‘occupied’. Here, they have something real which is educational and fun with a value which far exceeds anything that could be obtained through the modern medium.Perhaps go on a camel trek safari for a few days with the local Samburu tribe, or sleep out beneath the stars, or in a treehouse. Horse ride and fish or simply learn what it is like to have an uncomplicated yet exciting and simple lifestyle.  Sail on a catamaran around Madagascar or Lake Malawi or Tanzania,  end up on a beach and do some kite surfing in Kenya or Tanzania. It simply doesn’t get better than this! But the best thing of all, is when even the most jaded and widely travelled traveller returns, saying  it is the holiday of their lifetime!