Travelling to Botswana with teenagers gives you the widest range of destinations for a family safari. And compared to travelling with younger children, you’ll also have a larger window of opportunity to travel. This means better-timed combinations with other family-friendly destinations such as Cape Town and the Garden Route as well as access to cheaper accommodation rates.
To set the context, Botswana has long been acknowledged as one of Africa’s safest safari destinations for families with children of all ages. It’s a politically stable country with sound finances and strong infrastructure; there is very little crime – certainly in the safari areas anyway – and the weather is generally warm and sunny.
There are still considerations however. Some safari lodges are better for families than others (there’s more to do and they have a pool and Wi-Fi for example) and there are times of the year that should be avoided because of heavy rain. And of course there are the questions of malaria and your personal safety on safari – Botswana is Big Game country, after all.
TRAVELLING TO BOTSWANA WITH TEENS – WHERE TO GO
The main difference between travelling to Botswana with teenagers and travelling with younger children is that all the lodges and camps now accept children over the age of 12. That means you can go anywhere – Chobe, the Okavango Delta, the Kalahari – and you also won’t need a private guide and vehicle, unlike the case when you travel with small children.
The drawback is that you’ll generally be paying full accommodation rates for teens but not always: several excellent lodges offer discounted rates for children under the age of 16, significantly bringing the cost down without affecting the safari experience. Other lodges offer ‘family months’ – discounted accommodation at certain times of the year for families with kids under 16 – a deal better suited for older children anyway as these times may not be in peak season.
So travelling to Botswana with teenagers is all about getting the right accommodation. That means choosing lodges that have a wide range of activities – game drives, boat trips and guided walks – as well as facilities: a swimming pool and sundeck, games room and Wi-Fi. Many lodges offer additional activities for children of different ages such as cooking and animal tracking or even a game of soccer with local children.
If you have a large multi-generational family or perhaps two families travelling together, then there are smaller camps that can be booked exclusively. These are an excellent choice – they are located in some of the best wildlife areas in Botswana (often in privately-run concessions) – and you’ll have complete independence when it comes to activities and their timing.
BOTSWANA WITH TEENS – WHEN TO GO
The best time to travel to Botswana with teenagers is the dry winter season. By the end of May the summer rains have finished and the months of June, July and August are mild and almost completely dry. It’s cold at night – dipping below freezing in some places and it’s usually not much warmer than 10°C (50°F) when you get up for your morning activity. But it warms up after lunch to an average of 25°C (78°F) – more than warm enough for an afternoon by the pool.
It’s also the time of year with the lowest risk of malaria: insects in general are scarce in such cold and dry conditions and even more so the malaria-carrying mosquitos, now at the dormant stage of their life cycle. It is however strongly recommended that you consult a medical practitioner about malaria before you travel.
You could also try September and October. There’s still no rain but it’s now hot, especially October when you can expect an average low of 21°C (70°F) and an average high of 35°C (95°F). But the reward is some of the most sensational game viewing of the year – especially at the Chobe River and Savuti areas of the Chobe National Park where animals are thickly concentrated at water. The Moremi Game Reserve is also excellent at this time – choose a private concession and you can go on spot-lit night drives too.
Another time for travel with teens is the early summer season – November, December and early January. There is the chance of rain – usually in the form of afternoon thundershowers – but for adventurous families, it’s worth the risk: you’ll enjoy lower accommodation rates (except for the Christmas period) and very different kind of safari. By early December the landscape is watered and green; it’s the birthing season for many antelope (great for predators) as well as the time for animal migrations and fantastic bird watching.
BOTSWANA WITH TEENS – HOW SAFE IS IT?
Botswana has been safely accommodating families on safari for several decades; it’s a well-run, tightly regulated industry operated by some of the biggest names in the safari business. Transport to and from lodges is usually by air – light aeroplanes flown by some of the most experienced bush pilots in the region – while game drives take place in open-sided 4X4 vehicles with a professional guide at the wheel. Botswana’s lodges are well-run by skilled local management and their guides usually highly experienced. You’ll be safety-briefed on arrival and will be escorted to and from your accommodation if you wish.
Some safari accommodation in Botswana is similar to a hotel but at most camps you’ll be accommodated – if you want – in a family unit, a pair of walk-in tents connected and sharing a private bathroom and lounge. If there is no need to share accommodation with your teenage children, then they will be accommodated in their own suite, complete with bathroom.
Usually raised off the ground, these suites are insect-proof and have electric power for lights and cooling fans. And although most camps are not fenced (which means wandering animals) the lodges are very safely run; staff deal with wildlife in camp every day and your tent – despite its canvas construction – is seen by animals as a large and solid object to be avoided.
Further reading:
- Botswana Family Safaris – Main Page
- Travelling to Botswana with toddlers and babies
- Travelling to Botswana with children
- Kids Activities In Botswana
- Is Botswana Safe for Children
- Botswana Malaria Risk For Children
- Children’s Activities in Victoria Falls
