Family Safari in East Africa: Ages, Best Parks and How to Plan It

A safari is one of the best trips you can take with children. Seeing a lion or an elephant family for real, rather than on a screen, makes a lasting impression, and many camps now go out of their way to welcome families. The key is to plan around your children’s ages and attention spans: shorter drives, fewer moves between camps and the right kind of accommodation make all the difference.

What age is right?

There is no fixed rule, but these guidelines help:

• Under 6: possible, but think carefully. Long game drives can be hard for small children, and some camps do not accept them or require a private vehicle. Short drives, a swimming pool and a lodge with space to run around work best.
• 6 to 12: often the ideal age. Children are curious, can sit through a game drive and are usually welcome everywhere, sometimes with children’s programmes and junior ranger activities.
• Teenagers: can do everything adults do, including walking safaris (often from 12 or 16 depending on the camp), night drives in conservancies and, from 15, gorilla trekking.

Practical tips

• Book a private vehicle. It lets you stop when the children are tired or hungry, return to camp early and set your own pace, without worrying about other guests.
• Keep transfers short. Choose fewer parks and stay longer in each. Flying between parks saves long drives.
• Choose family rooms or family tents. Many camps have family units with two bedrooms, so you can stay together.
• Mix in other activities. Swimming pools, walks with Maasai guides, visits to schools or community projects, and a few days on the beach at the end keep everyone happy.
• Talk to your doctor early. Ask about vaccinations and malaria prevention suitable for each child’s age.

Best places for families

• Masai Mara, Kenya: short flights from Nairobi, very good game viewing, and many family-friendly camps in the conservancies.
• Laikipia and Ol Pejeta, Kenya: rhinos, chimps at the sanctuary, and activities such as camel walks and horse riding.
• Northern Tanzania: Tarangire, the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti are a classic circuit; break up the drives with nights in the highlands.
• The coast: Diani, Watamu or Zanzibar are perfect for a few relaxed days after the safari.

Safety

Children must stay in the vehicle on game drives and should always be accompanied around camps, especially unfenced camps where animals walk through at night. Staff escort you to and from your tent after dark. Explain the rules to children before you arrive; most of them take it very seriously.

When to go

School holidays often coincide with good safari seasons: July and August are excellent in the Masai Mara and the Serengeti, though busy and more expensive. The Christmas and February half-term holidays are good for the calving season in Tanzania. Book early for these dates, as family rooms are limited.

Costs

Many camps offer reduced rates for children sharing with parents, and some have free stays for young children. A private vehicle is a fixed cost, so it becomes good value for a family of four or more. Our safari cost guide explains how prices work.

Read our 7-day Kenya itinerary and our safari and Zanzibar itinerary for routes that work well with children, or send us a quick enquiry with your children’s ages.

Big Five Wildlife planning team

We plan private safaris across Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda, and write from time spent in these parks.