Riding safaris can be undertaken in luxury in Kenya – no more so than two safaris that specifically come to mind. In terms of a dedicated riding safari our two favourites are with some old friends of ours in the Masai Mara – where the Rolls Royce of riding safaris takes place during the wildebeest migration, where one canters along with the enormous herds of wildebeest and zebra. This truly is a most exhilarating experience and the riding is world class on gorgeous thoroughbred horses and polo ponies. There is also their home where ends or begins the safari – which has a cross country course and there is a polo field too.

For those who are not experienced riders, we can also arrange these safaris in the Chyulu Hills at the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro which is simply magnificent – miles and miles of space and with few predators (in comparison to the Mara).  A camp is erected for you and there are scheduled set departures. If there is a family or a group of friends, then we can tailor these safaris for you. In the Mara, you come back to your tented camp and share the laughs and tribulations of the day with like minded souls. These safaris also take place at other times of year in Laikipia where again, there is far less wildlife and certainly far fewer predators but an area of extreme beauty. One sleeps in a private camp most evenings, but also at a lovely homestead for the last couple of nights. Lastly, there is the Amboseli ride at the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro. Again, an area of extreme beauty and also excellent wildlife – especially elephant. The last two nights are spent with Kenyans at their home – which is a lovely touch! To me, there is nothing quite like a riding safari in Africa – one feels so alive – so much more in tune and in touch with nature and the earth as a whole – and yet one still has the opportunity to game view by vehicle should one wish – the perfect combination!

Luxury Safaris in Africa are our forte. Whether you would like the very best in luxury in terms of having private aeroplanes and the finest guides that the countries can produce at your fingertips, camps set up for you in the best wildlife locations or whether you want a film maker to improve your photography, perhaps you might like to spend time with an ornithologist or simply an all round naturalist guide, or even would like to see a particular species – such as a wild dog or a shoebill stork, we can achieve this for you! We have set up camps where the wild dogs are denning and where the shoebill stork is nesting – something that only sheer expertise and a lifetime spent on the African continent can allow us to do.

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For those starting out on their first safaris, we guide you closely and help you to make the right decision for you or your family.  Whether it is a private villa in the bush or on the coast for a family or group of friends, or a simple tented camp erected just for you where no other camp exists – where you watch the birds come to rest in the boughs of the trees – knowing it is just yourselves, your guide and crew and the birdlife – surely this must be the most blissful thing?  Or hot air ballooning across the world’s highest sand dunes, watching each of them change hue. Perhaps spend time with lion or elephant or wild dog researchers – nothing is beyond our remit.  You might even have dreamt of riding an elephant through the jewel of the Okavango Delta, observing the whole herd playing and interacting – a priceless experience! You have purely our passion and our expertise – and we look forward to arranging your safari of a lifetime!

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Gosh – now this is one wide topic of conversation! Choosing a safari is one of the most important decisions one will ever make in their lives! The reason for this is that a safari is not an inexpensive holiday – and one wants to ensure that the correct choices are made – whether for a couple or a family.

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Secondly, if it is your first safari – then we want to make the right impression. Getting it wrong will put you off for life – but getting it right will make you the staunchest advocate of safaris and wildlife for the rest of your life!

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Many of our clients take a safari every single year – it simply gets into one’s blood! Partially, I think it is because it takes people out of their comfort zone but secondly, its that primeval feeling – seeing the continent as it has been for millenia and will always be – whereas we will simply disappear…. Its the immediacy of your surroundings – the thrill of sleeping under canvas and hearing the roaring of the lions or the whoop of a hyaena close by – their sound carrying – and wondering what activity each night will be delivering.

Being on foot or on horseback one is far more vulnerable and the heartbeat quickens – this is a wonderful feeling and one feels so much more in touch with the earth and Africa itself.

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For some that immediacy is a terrifying prospect – in which case we have secure lodges that cocoon one entirely. For those with young children, security is at the forefront of one’s thoughts – and here we have fenced reserves or even non malarial safaris.

We spend time with you, learning all about you as an individual, or as a family, understanding your hobbies and interests, in order to make the perfect recommendations for you.

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We have a list to help you answer all the questions you never even thought of – and of course, with staff all from Africa – our expertise is unrivalled and we relish the prospect of tailoring your first or next safari to ensure it is an experience of a lifetime!

Anyone with a family will truly appreciate an adventure holiday in Africa.

So- what constitutes an adventure? This word has so many different meanings for so many different people. It can simply mean getting off the beaten track – and not doing what everyone else appears to do. It can mean doing something different to what you would normally do in your every day life – or even what you would normally do on holiday. For others it means lots of ‘daring do’ – and this we can provide in buckets full! I say family safaris simply because one can do the following:

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• go on a private mobile camp safari just for your family, with a camp erected in the best wildlife areas – with the very best guides.
• Go hot air ballooning across the desert
• Go white water rafting or bunjee jumping or canoeing amongst wild animals.
• Go zip lining through the canopies of trees 150 feet above the ground.
• Take a catamaran and go sailing around the islands in Seychelles, Madagascar and Tanzania.
• Take an Arab Dhow and sail around the Kenyan islands, fishing en route.
• Go quad biking across the desert.
• Go on a horse riding safari.
• Go camel trekking in Kenya with the local tribesmen, learning about their culture and wildlife along the way.
• Go on a private guided canoeing safari, stopping off on islands along the way and having a camp set up for you.
• Go and see gorillas or chimpanzees in Uganda or Rwanda.
• Go on an elephant back safari in Botswana or South Africa.
• Circumnavigate the mountains of Africa – Mount Kenya, Meru and Kilimanjaro with a private guide and crew set up just for you.
• Go canoeing or catamaran or laser sailing on Lake Malawi.
• Take a walking safari in Kenya, Tanzania or Zambia.
• Go on a week’s dhow and sea kayaking trip in Mozambique.
• Go snorkelling and diving in Mozambique.
• Go and see volcanoes erupting in Reunion.
• Go on a marine big 5 safari in South Africa, seeing dolphins, whales, sharks, penguins and seals.
• Spend time with lion or elephant researchers.
• Paraglide in South Africa or Microlight in Zambia.
• Mountain Bike amongst wildlife in Botswana and South Africa
• Go on a gastonomic cycling tour of the Cape in South Africa
• Be involved in game capture and relocation in Malawi and South Africa

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I understand many people’s concerns regarding taking a young family on holiday in Botswana and I suppose it depends upon what age one is considering, but certainly I feel that 6 and upward is the appropriate age to take a child on safari. One forgets that their mind is like a sponge, absorbing all the information and the sights and sounds of the African bush. These days there is a half dose of anti malarial tablets that one can give to ones children too.

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There are three or four specific places where I feel that famillies with young children most benefit. The first is in the Delta where we can arrange a boating and private camping safari which is seriously good fun. Here one can learn how to fish as well! Secondly is to stay at a camp which is entirely closed to your family with the most amazing guide who is completely tuned into children. He teaches them about identifying the footprints of the animals in the sand, of learning about the medicinal properties of trees and plants (such as the leaves used for a toothbrush), to reading the night sky of the southern hemisphere and the planets and stars and the folklore attached to them. Then one learns how to fish and generally what skills to adopt for survival in the bush.

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Contrast that with the Kalahari Desert where one can get close to meerkats and quad bike (and have a sleep out on the salt pans) and one has a simply perfect family safari. Perhaps end off at Victoria Falls or Livingstone – and visit a local school – as well as seeing the Falls themselves – it simply doesn’t get much better than this!

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Taking a private mobile camp perhaps guided by a teacher who interacts with the children and gives them projects to do in between – which are both fun and educational! All I know, is that a safari to Africa with one’s family surpasses any other type of family holiday I have ever been on!

Family Safaris in South Africa are certainly some of the most popular – not least because of the diversity of the country. I am biased, because I come from South Africa and take my own children there each year to see my family in South Africa.

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South Africa particularly scores with families with younger children – because they have malaria free game reserves and coastlines. Here one can have the best of both worlds. It is equally good for famillies with adolescent children – as we can arrange anything from seriously good camping in the Drakensberg Mountains, to horse riding, to going on safari, to doing some great white water rafting and kayaking, to really good sailing, canoeing around penguins, climbing Table Mountain, zip wiring 150 feet above the ground through canopies of trees and diving with sharks. With a great climate, most South African children are completely outdoorsy and seriously sporty. Add the two together and one has a simply fantastic mixture of adrenaline filled adventure and sun filled days of non stop sport – whether tennis, swimming, golf, fishing, riding, sailing, kiteboarding, kite surfing – the list is simply endless. Even if one is seeking purely luxurious accommodation – with a children’s club – at a Relais et Chateaux so that the parents can have some time to themselves and feel a bit pampered – we can simply arrange the lot! Call the experts now!

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There is nothing quite like having luxury weddings in Africa. There are so many places that really lend themselves to having the most amazing wedding!

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We have arranged a number of weddings for our clients and they have all been simply stunning! One of them was in Botswana at this truly beautiful camp in the Okavango Delta, where the ceremony was performed on a private island and the bride and groom arrived and departed on the back of an elephant.

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We have also arranged several in truly gorgeous bush locations – where we have set up location in the most beautiful spot overlooking a wide river. The bride had the most gorgeous wild flower bouquets and she was married in a simple long dress. They had the most lovely African choir singing to them. Another example was in Zambia in Livingstone – getting married on Livingstone Island where there is a permanent rainbow and the Victoria Falls right next to you. Again we had a beautiful African choir singing for them.

If you want something more traditional, we have some really lovely small, pretty churches in the winelands in the Cape in South Africa where one can make one’s vows and your names are etched into the ancient wooden doors. Another lovely church is in the Mpumalanga region on an avocado pear plantation – whilst a further suggestion is on one of our favourite estates in Plettenberg Bay.

It is still possible to go on holiday  and experience a non malaria africa – whether it is for a safari or simply a holiday that has no safari activity at all.

South Africa is always a good country to start with – as it offers fantastic areas which are non malarial – perfect for famillies with young children or for couples who are expecting a baby and don’t want to take any innoculations or indeed those on medication who simply cannot take anti malarial tablets.

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In terms of safari – Marakele, Madikwe and the Waterberg regions in South Africa offer the best game viewing in a non malarial area. These include staying at private villas or homesteads which one closes to a family or a party of friends, or even staying at a traditional tented camp. The game viewing is just as good as many of the parts of Kruger. For those who are not that interested in wildlife, then Cape Town has a huge amount to offer, from Cape Town itself to the winelands, where one can stay at magical little boutique hotels with views over the grape vines and the mountains. Then there is the garden route, where one can walk or canoe or simply explore and finally, end in Plettenberg Bay where we have anything from private houses to stay in, to modest guest houses and then our favourite, a Relais et Chateaux called Kurland. North of Cape Town is an area called Clanwilliam where there is rock art and the most amazing array of wild flowers – or even heading east to montagu or staying on a historical wheat farm where one can ride and be entertained by a third generation South African and experience a home stay.

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In Cape Town, one is spoilt for choice from beautiful, artistic boutique hotels to villas and further along the coast- perhaps stay at a gorgeous Relais et Chateaux lodge where one can go out and see the largest concentration of southern right whales by boat or on land.

Perhaps go white water rafting on the Orange River or go  or learn how to sail, cook, fly fish etc and there are wonderful places to stay which are artistic and cultural in the Limpopo Province and Magoebaskloof which are beautiful and spectacular and combine well with the malaria free waterberg mountains.

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Kenya also has non malarial regions although these are not as game rich as the Masai Mara for example, but they offer a good alternative and the flight from Europe is shorter to Kenya than to South Africa. Some of the most amazing family properties are based in the Laikipia region in Kenya – staying in tree houses, camping, staying at a farmhouse, horse riding, camel trekking etc.

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.

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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.

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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!

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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 Botswana – well, the country truly lends itself to some of the finest family safaris imaginable!

Depending upon the ages of your children, we can adapt a safari to suit your family perfectly! Top of the range must go to the young explorer’s programme that we offer. This is for children aged 6 upwards and is based in the Okavango Delta. Here the camp is closed to your family and we have the most wonderful guide in Paul Molesang. The children will learn how to identify the signs of the bush – the tracks left by animals and they will learn which plants and trees are used by the local people to make toothbrushes, to cure certain ills etc as well as the folklore attached to them.

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In addition, they learn about the night sky, how to fish for bream and a host of other fascinating facts. They then receive a certificate to say they have done all these things which the children all love – in fact, our two ten year olds thought it was the greatest thing ever!

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Then they can go to the Kalahari Desert, get close to meerkats and ride quad bikes over the salt pans, having a sleep out as well, beneath the stars. They can walk with San people and learn about their culture. Perhaps even visit an orphanage in Maun. If you ride, they might like to do some riding in the Delta or further north and we can arrange for the family to camp in your own private, mobile tented camp should you wish. We can also arrange a canoe safari for a couple of nights, learning to read the delta as the rivermen have done for a hundred years! Botswana is so rich in wildlife which makes this one of the most rewarding safaris possible!

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Alternately, if luxury is your thing, Botswana has no shortage of these style of lodges!  One can never put a price on these sort of safaris  – as the memory lasts forever! Perhaps start your safari at Victoria Falls which is such fun and end off on the coast somewhere, like Mozambique?