A Family Safari is about the most special safari that anybody can have. So – what’s so special about a family safari? Okay – how about the special bond that it promotes within a family – the sacrosanct time that one has at a time like this that simply doesn’t exist at any other time?

Getting to know one another again as a family and appreciating the time one has with each other? Whether that spends time doing things that you used to enjoy once upon a time as a time as a family ie: horse riding, fishing, quad biking, snorkelling, diving, playing tennis or afresh and learning about how one’s interests have diversified.

Family Safari with AfricanExplorations.com

Whether that means going down an avenue of scientific knowledge of lion and elephant behaviour or spending time with chimpanzees and gorillas – or even seeing the big 5 and then finishing off with spending some time sailing on the ocean whether that is in a catamaran or on a laser boat or windsurfing or waterskiing or deep sea diving.

Family Safari with AfricanExplorations.com

Whether it is the marine big 5 or the land big 5, we can assemble whatever wish you have in mind – whether a safari in the savannah plains or spending time with elephants, lions, giraffe, zebra – a full big 5 safari – or something photographic where it is just you and your camera – or perhaps climbing a mountain – or seeing the best primates in the world – we are complete specialists – we all come from Africa – our passion is in Africa – and we are used to designing a custom made holiday of a lifetime – so don’t hesitate to call us for your dream safari!

Family Safari with AfricanExplorations.com

Whether canoeing, sailing, beaching, having contact with the local population and understanding their culture and learning about wildlife – we are here for you!

Family Safari Holidays are my favourite way of travelling together as a family. There is simply so much to do – which is also away from the social media that has dominated our children’s lives!

Each year I take my own family on two safaris a year – this year it was a riding holiday and a luxury safari in South Africa – ending up in Cape Town and Plettenberg Bay.  Mozambique is a great country to end up at for the coast – gorgeous waters of 30 degrees celsius, amazing snorkelling and we have found a first class lodge which caters really beautifull for younger children – which is owner managed.

Family Safari Holidays with AfricanExplorations.com

Last year it was Kenya – doing a camel trekking safari, doing a riding safari, then spending some time in the Masai Mara at a wonderful tented camp where the owner has his own children – and then ending up on the coast.  We have a handful of places which we use for our famillies which are sensational! They range from a private villa in Lamu complete with private skipper who can take you out snorkelling and sailing around different islands each day – to a lovely Robinson Crusoe-esque place which is family owned and they have more watersports facilities than one can shake a stick at – and that is also based in Lamu. We have some places in Kiwayu which are sensational – notably one where there is fabulous deep sea and fly fishing, great snorkelling, windsurfing, laser sailing and water skiing.  At certain times of year you can go swimming with the dolphins which is simply amazing! I did it this year! Next year we are going back to Madagascar which is great for children – you can take a catamaran for several days around the islands!

Family Safari Holidays with AfricanExplorations.com

Botswana is superb – and a couple of the camps have a special programme for children – and we can arrange a private mobile tented camp which means its a camp that moves and only your family stays there. Go quad biking on the salt pans of the Kalahari desert – learn to fish in the Okavango Delta – learn how to read the stars as well as the footprints of the animals on the sand. Zambia is great – and you can combine it with the Lake of Malawi where one can take a catamaran or simply go sailing .

Family Safari Holidays with AfricanExplorations.com

Then we have Tanzania, which you can team up with either Zanzibar or Unguja or Mafia Island, go snorkelling, diving, dolphining, kite surfing and wakeboarding – just to name a few activities on offer!

Luxury honeymoons – well, this is one of the moments in life which should be treasured – and – how better to do this than with a luxurious honeymoon? Most people would agree that the lead up to their wedding is nothing short of traumatic – exciting of course and the highlight is your special day – but then, you need to be rewarded for all that hard work in making your day such a success!

luxury honeymoons at Sasaab with AfricanExplorations.com

If choosing the continent of Africa – quite where does one start? Most people need a break right at the beginning – somewhere to acclimatise and simply let the entire magnificent experience sink in! Then, once you have regained your breath, so to speak, move on to a wonderful safari – where it can be just the two of you in a vehicle, or on foot, savouring the moments together. Perhaps you might like to start in Kenya, staying somewhere romantic at the beginning, with infinite views, a little riding for those that do, picnic lunches and bush breakfasts set up as a surprise, after a walk. Flycamp for a night, where you sleep beneath the stars, an entire camp erected just for the two of you…. or walk, ride or take a camel to a treehouse where you will sleep for the night! Then move off to the Masai Mara or Samburu (or we suggest both!) and sleep in an enormous tent, bedouin style, with persian carpets and lots of big cushions and day beds, either overlooking a river or the plains. Have sundowners on a large rock, with miles of savannah plains and wildlife sprawling out in front of you. End up on the coast, either the Kenyan coast, where there are some gorgeous, romantic boutique hotels, who arrange dining in a different place each night for you. Perhaps in a cave one night, lit with lanterns,  or on the beach, or around a swimming pool or on your own verandah? The Tanzanian coast is especially good for those that dive, or if a large, opulent hotel is more your style, then combine it with Mauritius or the Seychelles.

luxury honeymoon at Zarafa Camp with AfricanExplorations.com

Namibia is another amazing country, with beautiful deserts and one can spend time in a beautiful lodge which is open sided, with views of sand dunes surrounding one, or perhaps a skylight so one can view the stars. The piece de resistance is taking a hot air balloon ride over the dunes at dawn as the dunes change hue!

Luxury Namibia with AfricanExplorations.com

South Africa also offers some amazing designer style lodges, where comfort is the keyword and then one can move on to either Mozambique, Mauritius, Madagascar or the Seychelles from there!

In Tanzania, stay in a gorgeous, luxurious lodge or camp in the Serengeti, followed by a stay in the Ngorongoro Crater, where fresh roses are flown in daily for you and placed next to your bath that your butler has run for you, a glass of wine on the side, and views of the Crater from your bath!

Botswana is fabulous too, one can walk with elephants, learning all about these magnificent pachyderms, and stay on a gorgeous island, with just a handful of luxurious tents, and a lagoon surrounding you, so that you fall asleep to the gentle snort of the hippos. Or even spend time riding an elephant and staying at a luxurious lodge with fabulous views of the Okavango Delta.

Luxury Banyan Tree Seychelles with AfricanExplorations.com

There are so many dreamy places that one could spend months – let alone days – with your treasured partner – you simply wont want to leave! Remember though, that to spend longer at a place is better, as it means you dont have to undertake the early morning game drives, but rather participate on them as you wish – remember, this is all about fun and relaxation – in equal measures!

A Kenya Madagascar honeymoon! What an amazing combination!  Start off by having a truly  fantastic safari in Kenya, I would suggest a gorgeous, romantic Bedouin styled camp, either in the Masai Mara or Samburu – although I would probably recommend both, as the areas are so incredibly different. The one park is north of the equator and is semi-desert, arid landscape with unique, indigenous species whilst the other is south of the equator with entirely different terrain and landscapes.  Whilst in the Mara, go hot air ballooning or take a low level flight across the plains, culminating in landing for champagne at sunset! Just how romantic is that! Alternately, start off with a real favourite of mine, Shompole Lodge, where each villa is on three levels – the first is your bedroom which is entirely open fronted with the most amazing views, and deck with dining chairs and table and a large Arab daybed, then the next level is the largest bathroom you have ever seen, again completely open fronted (yet completely private) and lastly, on the third floor is your very own, private, cool pool where you can relax in privacy. Have a look at the December issue of Tatler, on the website where there is a piece on Shompole and ourselves!

Kenya Madagascar Honeymoon with AfricanExplorations.com

Then fly to Madagascar, where you can stay at the gorgeous Relais et Chateaux Anjajavy, or another of my favourite places around Nosy Be, situated on a private island. Have the most stunning  food, fantastic massages and spa treatments, five different beaches to yourself and some wonderful lemurs and sifakas. Perhaps take a kayak through the mangoves where the birdlife is spectacular! Otherwise there is amazing fishing and snorkelling and diving.-

Kenya Madagascar honeymoon with AfricanExplorations.com

Being largely covered by desert, Namibia lends itself to some fantastic areas where one can go quad biking in the desert. These are not quad biking safaris as such – rather places where one can go quad biking as one of the activities on offer.

Namibia - Quad Biking Safaris with AfricanExplorations.com

One can go quad biking simply for the day in the Swakopmund region (together with a whole host of other adventure oriented activities!), or one can stay somewhere like  Serra Cafema  which is one of my favourite camps of all time, where one can explore the dunes by quad bike as well as visit the people of the OvaHimba tribe and also go on wonderful walks and boat rides along the Kunene River. This is one of the most spectacular regions and gorgeous for birdlife. We can combine this with a safari to the Namib Desert and Sossusvlei, where again, one stays  at a lovely lodge called Sossusvlei  Desert  Lodge.  Spend the days exploring the sand dunes and the Namib desert by quad bike which is exhilarating!

Quad Biking Safaris with AfricanExplorations.com

In Botswana, one can explore the Kalahari desert by quad bike, venturing out on the salt pans. This is one of the most amazing experiences ever and combined with the perfect safari in the Okavango Delta.

I really don’t think there is any other way of undertaking a safari these days with complete success unless it is entirely bespoke, which is exactly what we do at African Explorations.

Bespoke Safaris from AfricanExplorations.com

In order to ensure the perfect success of a safari, one has to really understand what makes that person tick – the sort of accommodation they would most enjoy – from a luxurious lodge complete with butler service, to a  small, intimate permanent lodge or tented camp in a beautiful location, to a private mobile tented camp erected purely for you. Then if you would require a private guide to accompany you throughout your safari – and if so, we must ensure they match your personality – then we need to include any particular hobbies or interests that you may have. Perhaps scientific – in which case we would arrange for you to accompany a lion scientist, or go out with an elephant specialist, or a wild dog specialist. Perhaps you might be interested in photography, in which case we would select a guide or camp which facilitates just this – camps that provide bean bags and special platforms for your camera – some camps even have a media room – and then one can even join a specialist photographic safari. You might be a keen birdwatcher, in which case we might even place you on a special Shoebill stork safari.

Bespoke Safaris with AfricanExplorations.com

It may be a wonderful family safari – in which case we would listen carefully to the interests of your children and match them – sending them to places which offered perhaps a private villa complete with skipper and private boat – or a luxury Robinson Crusoe styled place with more watersports than ever imagined!  We can arrange for you to spend a day with a Samburu or Maasai warrior, learning about their culture – or even visit a school. You may be a rider travelling with a non rider – that is easily arranged, too! You might want to sail at the end of your safari – just say the word! Perhaps you simply want something completely luxurious and utterly romantic – we have all the places at our fingertips! Whatever it is you wish to do – we can tailor it to you – perfectly! Bespoke Safaris are, after all, just what we’re about!

No other country in Africa can offer excellent wildlife safaris in a non malarial area  like South Africa does. The choice is so wide – from just outside of Johannesburg only 3 1/2 hours drive away in the Waterberg Region, to Marakelele and Madikwe – these are all areas where an abundance of wildlife exists in completely non malarial areas. Then we have the Cape – and the Eastern Cape specifically which is littered with game reserves – although just a handful here have truly excellent game.

Safaris South Africa non malarial with AfricanExplorations.com

So – who looks for Safaris South Africa non malarial? Famillies with small children, (with older children there is the half dose of Malarone which I always give to my own children, with no side affects). Pregnant women – often couples who were planning on safari for their honeymoon, but find they are about to become parents and therefore need to travel to non malarial areas.

Safaris South Africa non malarial with AfricanExplorations.com

South Africa really does lend itself to famillies and honeymooners alike – the accommodation is more luxurious than any of its other African counterparts and for children, many of the lodges offer family safari activities.

Even in Kenya, there are non malarial areas – where there are spectacular views and wildlife, but then one can’t include the coast.

There are few others holidays that one can take in life to rival something quite so spectacular as a luxury Africa safari! These days, it is so easy to undertake a safari in complete and varying degrees of comfort. Whether one is looking for a private mobile tented safari with private vehicle and guide, allowing one complete flexibility  and exclusivity each day, to staying at a luxury permanent camp to the ultimate designer lodge, happily all these safaris are now possible to do!

Luxury Africa Safari with AfricanExplorations.com

The next difficult question would be – which country?  Well, for first time safari goers, little equals East Africa with its large, infinite savannah plains and concentrations of wildlife, to the delights of Zambia which is uncommercial, beautiful and plentiful of wildlife and probably the finest country for walking safaris, to Botswana, Mozambique, Malawi, Namibia, Uganda, Rwanda, Madagascar and South Africa. Each country has its own special and unique factors – and we are here to assist you with our wide choice of luxury safaris, all tailored to you by our African experts from Africa!

Luxury Africa Safari with AfricanExplorations.com

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!

There are few places in Africa where one can obtain a truly luxurious safari – but a Luxury Safari in Kenya must rate one of the highest, alongside South Africa, Botswana and even Tanzania these days. The Kenyans really understand an informal style alongside the most fantastic, concentrated wildlife viewing in Africa. There are some wonderful lodges in the Masai Mara, where fabulous wildlife can be seen in close proximity, especially during the phenomenal wildebeest migration. Samburu, which lies north of the equator,  boasts two of the most luxurious lodges in Kenya.

Shompole with AfricanExplorations.com

Further south in Magadi, sits the most gorgeous lodge which also has a private house and a two bedroomed house with the most superb views and astounding wildlife. It is a community based project which is fantastic to see how proactive many of the Kenyan lodges are in working hand in hand with the local communities who greatly benefit from their existence.

Cottars Camp with AfricanExplorations.com

Laikipia also has its fair share of drop dead gorgeous lodges and houses  set in the dramatic landscape of the Laikipia escarpment. Many of these lodges are informal and homely but with the most tasteful of touches everywhere. This area is particularly good for horse riding. All in all, Kenya remains one of my favourite countries in Africa and a very obvious first choice for most people who want to go on safari!

Luxury Safari in Kenya with AfricanExplorations.com