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Multi-Generational Family Safaris
A multi-generational family safari in Africa promises to be one remembered and talked about for many years after. It won’t just be the wildlife sightings that will stay in the memory but the landscape too, the sunsets and the fireside meals. Africa has a way of bringing people closer together and turning a holiday into a celebration.
A family safari is also far easier to plan and enjoy than people might think. Many safari camps and lodges have dedicated family activity programmes and facilities – playgrounds and baby sitters – while others offer exclusive-use safari villas, complete with private guide, vehicle and chef.
We have selected travel destinations that span a broad range of experiences. Many of our South African safari destinations, for example, are malaria-free and suitable for families with younger children. Safari destinations in Botswana and Zambia on the other hand are better suited to older multi-generational families.
For the most authentic family safari under canvas, consider a tailor-made camping safari. Moving between private campsites in some of Africa’s best wildlife reserves, you have a professional guide to lead game drives and a friendly team to take care of everything at camp.
Browse our best family safari destinations and selected tours below or simply contact us with an idea about your African family safari and we’ll take it from there. Please also visit the Botswana Family Safaris page to get more information.
BEST FAMILY SAFARIS IN AFRICA
South Africa - Madikwe
Malaria-free Madikwe Private Reserve lies on the edge of the Kalahari and is recognised as a great conservation success story. Home to the Big 5 (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo) it is also an important haven for rare animals such as wild dog and brown hyena.
Many Madikwe lodges are particularly suitable for families, offering special activity programmes, kids’ meals, entertainment and child minders. There are also exclusive-use villas with private guides, housekeepers and a chef, and if you feel like a break from the wildlife, Madikwe is between a two and three-hour drive to Sun City, the biggest and boldest family entertainment resort in Africa.
South Africa - Sun City
Home to a giant water park, two championship golf courses, restaurants, casinos and theatres, Sun City can comfortably lay claim to having something for everyone. There is a huge list of things to do and see around the main resort but next door is malaria-free Pilanesberg National Park, one of South Africa’s most bio-diverse conservation areas and home to the Big 5.
You can choose to stay with the bright lights of Sun City. The resort has four hotels and you can book morning and afternoon game drives in Pilanesberg as well as hot-air balloon safaris; alternatively you can stay at safari accommodation in Pilanesberg itself. There are several safari lodges suitable for a family, and you will have the advantage of armchairs overlooking waterholes as well as night drives and under-the-stars bush dining.
South Africa - Garden Route
Drive a little further past the beaches and forests of Knysna and Plettenberg Bay and you arrive in big game country. The malaria-free Eastern Cape is home to several Big 5 private reserves with family-friendly accommodation. There are game drives to enjoy, guided walks and canoe adventures, and many reserves are within easy reach of the Eastern Cape’s beaches.
With Port Elizabeth as a local travel hub, the Garden Route safari destinations are easy to combine with Cape Town. Hire a car in Cape Town and work your way along the Garden Route to the Eastern Cape reserves, after which you return your car at Port Elizabeth and fly out.
South Africa - Kruger/Sabi Sands
South Africa’s flagship reserve has two main regions: the Kruger National Park itself, and the private reserves that border it. The best known private reserve is the Sabi Sands but the nearby Timbavati and Thornybush Private Reserves are equally as good for wildlife and have similar family-friendly accommodation and activities.
It is all about the big game experience in the Kruger and its private reserves. Indeed, the Sabi reserves have a reputation for delivering the best sightings of lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo anywhere in Africa. Explore by 4X4, on foot with guides, and from the comfort of a private suite with waterhole views.
Botswana & Zambia
Perfect for a multi-generational family looking for adventure, independence and flexibility, Botswana and Zambia are home to some of the largest and healthiest populations of big animals in Africa. Ask us about exclusive-use safari villas and family tents in Chobe, the Okavango Delta, Lower Zambezi and South Luangwa. We can even add on Victoria Falls and the beaches of Lake Malawi for a grand finale.
Unfenced camps, adventure activities such as walking and canoeing plus limited in-camp facilities for very young children make these destinations suitable for families with children from the age of six and older. See Botswana Family Safaris.
Selected Tours
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FAMILY SAFARIS IN AFRICA
FAMILY SAFARIS IN AFRICA
Our African family safaris have all the ingredients for an unforgettable holiday together.
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