Planning a safari that involves traveling with children can be a challenging thing to many parents because there is a lot to think about. This has made many to assume that African Safaris are best for adults and fairly mature children/teenagers. An activity like gorilla trekking or other similar wildlife excursions require strict adherence to park safety rules, regulations and requires mental preparedness to complete. Bad press and lack of awareness has also made many Travelers ask questions about general safety while on safari in Africa.
However, it will interest you to know that may children travel to Africa with their parents every year to take part in amazing adventures that are not possible in their home countries. This shows that parents can still make their children’s dreams of visiting Africa and its wildlife come true by carefully planning the trip to ensure that the children have the best of their time while creating everlasting memories to cherish when back home. To make this dream come true, it’s vital that Travelers choose a trusted tour operator to help them do the planning while putting into consideration a few important factors we will discuss below:-
Children’s Age Group Consideration
Before confirming any trip that involves kids, it’s vital that the Adults consider their children’s age groups to help guide them on what activities to choose or which countries to visit. Let’s discuss the three age categories below:
Children below 6 years old: This category includes the youngest of children. They are the most challenging group to handle given the fact that they easily get tired, bored and could lose interest in an activity pretty fast. Kids in this age group are also good at throwing tantrums when feeling uneasy. For that reason, the Tour Operator should identify safari camps that have provisions for infant Travelers. The camps should have children Specialists/Guides who can keep the Kids engaged in fun activities throughout their stay in the safari camp. The activities that can best keep the little ones busy are usually non-safari activities like playing soccer, drawings, picking vegetables or counting hippos wondering about in the far distance. The level of interest in these activities will depend on the child’s personality. Many safari camps offer free accommodation for Kids below 6 years old hence leaving parents with only flights and park entry fees as the major expense.
Children between 7 to 11 years of age: Children in this category are fairly patient and can endure demanding long distance trips. They are fairly manageable and usually enjoy the process of traveling to the destination of visit even more than the actual destination or the planned activities. Therefore, the best activities to keep children of this age group busy include game drives, nature walks, game fishing and boat cruises among others. The children’s individual personalities are also important while choosing the activities for them while on a safari.
Teenage children: This category involves fairly mature children who belong within the teenage age group. Traveling with Children in this age group could also prove to be challenging if not well planned. Teenagers love their gadgets, playing games or using the internet when bored and not enjoying the trip. The most engaging activities for teenagers include quad biking around the nearby communities, going on community tours to meet the local people and taking part in cultural activities involving music and dance. They also love adrenaline raising activities like bungee jumping, water rafting and fly camping.
Note: It is important to note that gorilla trekking is restricted to children above 15 years of age. The age limit for chimpanzee trekking is 12 or 13 depending on the park or country you visit. Activities like nature walks, game drives and boat tours are open to children of all age groups. You can read more about the age limit for gorilla trekking or the minimum age for chimpanzee trekking.
Tips for planning a safari with Children
Having considered the children’s age groups and selected the activities for them to do, parents should also consider the following vital tips: –
Introducing the trip idea: During this step, it’s important to involve the children in the discussions so as to hear what they have to say about the trip. During this preliminary discussion, you should be able 
to explain to them how wonderful the experience will be by pointing out the expected activities and what they shall expect to see. In order to prepare them for the trip, it’s good to get them to read African wildlife story books, watch the National Geographic channel to see animals like lions, leopards, elephants among others. All these efforts will help build their excitement about the trip after which they will share their personal opinions about what they would like to see and the places they would like to visit. Armed with their feedback, you can then find the right tour operator to help you plan for the trip accordingly. Things that interest the children must always be put into consideration.
Consider traveling using direct flights: Using direct flights will save you the stress of having to go through several layovers which could mean discomfort for very young children who easily get bored and tired. Additionally, layovers lead to excessive spending on meals and other purchases at the airport. There is also the up and down movements in search of rest rooms in every airport terminal you get to.
Find out about age restrictions: Most safari camps in Africa welcome children of all age groups and especially between ages 4 to 12 years. It’s therefore important that your tour operator confirms with the safari camps of your choice about the children accommodation policies before making any confirmations. It’s important to note that most safari camps consider children aged 12 years and above to pay the same accommodation charges as adults. Adults should prepare to pay adult accommodation fees for their children because there is no guarantee that the children will get discounted rates especially if they travel during the peak seasons.
Consider hiring a private Guide: Having a private Guide in a trip that involves children will make everything less stressful and give you the peace of mind that you need during the safari. Some safari camps have specialized children’s Guides who keep the little ones active throughout their stay in the 
camp. Although their services may be expensive, private Guides will give undivided attention towards the children while engaging them in activities like short nature walks, telling them stories from African wildlife books, painting, birding and more fun activities. When the children are busy with these activities, the adults can use that time to go for restricted tours like gorilla trekking.
Consider a safari that is all-inclusive: When traveling with children, it is important to book a safari package that includes transportation, accommodation, meals and activities. Tour Operators are experts at organizing all-inclusive tours. They take care of pretty much everything and leave you with the responsibility to show up. An all-inclusive tour will enable you relax and just enjoy your trip without worrying about service providers or delays of any sort. It’s also important that you choose one country that will enable you to do all the activities you need without having to move from one country to another with children as it may tire them out.
Children also need to spend at least 2 to 3 days in each camp so that they can settle for some time and feel at home. Often times children are rushed from one destination to another in a bid to try to do all the activities listed down. This could exhaust the children and fail to create good memories of their trip. 
Instead, it’s important that they participate in activities that are in line with their personalities. There should be time in between activities to take naps.
Understand safety precautions: Kids are Kids. They may want to do things on their own out of curiosity without thinking about the possible dangers of not adhering to rules and regulations. With that in mind, adults must ensure that the children are not left alone to wander around since most of the safari camps are not enclosed/fenced. The children need to be well taken care of so that they do not disrupt the peace of other guests in the camp when throwing tantrums.
Packing List for a safari with Children
It’s important to prepare and pack these important items when traveling with children on safari. One is binoculars for everyone to ensure that they can observe wildlife clearly. Each mature child should have a camera because everyone has their own desired images. Always ensure that the children have their favorite snacks to keep them active and boost their mood. A hungry child can turn a fun trip into a very boring one if not well attended to. Other important things to consider packing are kid’s wildlife books, hats, sunglasses for game drives, insect repellents, raincoats, appropriate clothing (for both warm and cold weather), bottled drinking water (because they are the safest to consume) and other personal belongings of choice.
In conclusion, a safari with children can be one of the best experiences if well planned. Africa is different and a safari with your children is excellent for bonding or creating memories that will live with the family forever.
