Planning the perfect family safari
Not all safari tour operators are the same. You want to find one with a reputation for planning excellent family safari holidays and that’s where we come in, with 25 years of experience we know how to help you plan your perfect family safari.
I’ve been planning family safaris for over 15 years. Whether it’s your first holiday in Africa, or a return visit taking your children for the first time, there are a few things to think about that can help make things run smoothly.
My top tips:
1. Plan ahead
The best safari camps are typically small. If you want two or three rooms, or a two-bedroomed family suite, you need to be quick out of the blocks. The same goes for the lovely private safari houses scattered across Southern and East Africa – once they’re booked, that’s it.
Cool off at the pool after a morning full of activities Robin’s House, a private house in Zambia.
If you’re planning a big family holiday to Africa in the summer, or around Christmas and New Year, then we recommend you begin the planning process at least a year ahead.
Riding at Ant’s Nest in South Africa, an incredible family experience.
2. Have a family brainstorm
The more we know about your wishes, the better we can craft your perfect family safari. Understanding what you’ve enjoyed in previous holidays and sharing your top priorities will be super useful.
These can be as varied as:
– I’d like to be able to walk as well as view wildlife from a safari vehicle
– We would like to combine some time on the beach with our safari
– I want a loo that flushes
– I don’t want to feel like I’m in some kind of big zoo
– I want a guide who will engage with my children
– I want a nanny or babysitting service
Spend quality time with the family at Lamai Serengeti, Tanzania.
3. Produce a list
Once you’ve brainstormed I suggest writing a list of ‘family safari holiday priorities’. Not everything is always going to be achievable, but if you know which things ‘have to happen’ and which are ‘nice if they’re possible’ it’s easier to know where compromises might be made.
Spot tracks at Ngala Safari Lodge, South Africa.
4. Phone, email, face-to-face
We speak to most of our family clients on several occasions during the holiday planning and booking process. We’ll be tailoring your holiday and will chat to you as often as needed to refine things until you have the perfect safari.
If you’re comfortable doing so, we encourage face-to-face meetings. These work particularly well for planning family safaris, whether it’s a family’s first time or any members have been to Africa before. They allow both sides to get the measure of each other, nobody is left out of the planning, and you get to spread maps on the table, look at webpages or brochures together, and swap plenty of thoughts. You’ll often get to a detailed family holiday plan more quickly than phone conversations and emails.
Children will love the bunk room at Lelapa, part of Madikwe Safari Lodge in South Africa
5. Don’t hesitate, book
Once you’ve found the best family safari holiday for you, book it and you can relax in the knowledge that there’s an exciting trip waiting that’s tailored to your needs and likely to be “The best family holiday we’ve ever done”.
Kinondo Kwetu family fun on the Kenyan coast.
What next?
Get inspired and sign up for our free Insider’s Guide to Africa. Our team of experts has travelled widely throughout Africa and the Indian Ocean and can offer expert advice on every type of safari from family and beach holidays to riding and primate safaris. If you are keen to plan the perfect family safari holiday do get in touch – chatting to people in person, by phone or email is what we do best. We listen, we explain, we answer all sorts of questions even those you didn’t know to ask, and finally we make suggestions. Whether this is your first time to Africa or your twenty first, we have a team standing by to help make the planning easy and the journey the best ever. Please get in touch whatever stage you’re at.
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Family of four (children ages 12 & 16), looking for safari & beach holiday, as cheap as possible. Tel 07788541516
Hi Giulia, Thank you for getting in touch I have passed your details onto our team who will be in contact soon. All the best Katy
Hi,
Looking to find out when the best time of year is to go on a S.Africa safari with our 5 & 7 year olds. Looking to go in 2027. And start investigating options. We would love comfortable accommodation, excellent catering, a pool and options to drive and walk if possible.
Thank you
Thank you
Dear Laura, thanks for getting in touch. I have passed on your details to our Travel Experts who will be in touch shortly with further information. Best wishes, Maggie
Looking for a safari holiday for end of July 2026, 2 adults plus 16 and 14 year old
Dear Carole, many thanks for getting in touch. One of our travel experts will be in touch with more details shortly. Best wishes, Maggie
Looking for a safari beach holiday for 2 adults and a 14 year old as cheap as possible please
Dear Rebecca, thank you for your comment. Our safari and beach holidays typically start from around £5,000 per person, with reduced rates for children under 16. For cost-effective options, lesser-known regions like Malawi or KwaZulu-Natal offer excellent value compared to the more well-known areas. I have passed on your details to our Travel Expert’s for further information. Best wishes, Maggie
2 adults 1 child (age 4) safari beach holiday, cheap as possible
Dear Jake, I’d like to provide you with a little more information regarding costs for a tailor-made Aardvark Safari. The bigger names on safari (like the Masai Mara in Kenya or Serengeti in Tanzania) are more expensive and you can expect to pay between £800 and £1,200 per adult per night. If you are flexible with the time of year, budget and the country you wish to travel, it would be possible to put together a trip around £4,000 to £5,000 per person (excluding international flights) in areas/countries that are less well known and therefore charge less per night, such as Malawi or the Kwa-Zulu Natal region in South Africa. Rates for children are usually reduced to 50-70% of the cost of an adult. I hope that helps, and if you would like me to put you in touch with one of our travel experts, please let me know. Best wishes, Katy
Is there a minimum age you’d suggest for taking kids on safari?
Dear Brian, a lot of camps offer a private vehicle for families, which allows much more flexibility, and the guide will work the day to suit what is best for you and your children. Children are very well looked after on safari; many camps and lodges offer babysitting services, and a great selection of activities to suit children of all ages. Many of us at Aardvark Safaris have taken our own children on safari. I took my 8 year old to South Africa last year, and it was the most incredible expereince and she still talks about it now. It’s important you choose the right lodge and camp for your needs, and that’s where we come in. Drawing on our own firsthand experience, we can help steer you in the right direction. This blog gives a little more detail and may answer some of the questions you have. https://aardvarksafaris.com/top-5-children-on-safari-myths-busted-2/ In the meantime, I will pass your details to our team of travel experts who will be happy to answer any questions you may have. Best wishes, Katy