Taking children on a safari holiday? What age and where?

Robert Ferguson, a Director of Real Africa, discusses the pro’s and con’s of taking children on safari and shares some of his experiences , highlights and low points, of doing so.

Taking your children on safari is one of the most rewarding holiday experiences you can do. What young child doesn’t sit enraptured by the film “Madagascar”? (or its two sequels for that matter.) When they grow a bit older there is “Worlds Most Deadly” on CBBC and several programmes where children go and are zoo keepers for the day. Family evenings watching the David Attenborough documentaries such as “Life on Earth” and “Living Planet” were and are part of the happy memories of growing up. With improved communications and camera techniques, series such as “Big Cat Diaries” and “Living Planet Live” can now bring the excitement of live game watching streaming into your own living room. How much better to be there for yourselves.

Deciding when to take your kids on safari depends very much on your kids – they’re all different. Some children with a passion for wildlife and good attention spans will be ready at a younger age than others. Whatever age, so long as you go to the right place and are prepared, the children will have a great time.

A crying baby: concern or food?

The youngest I’ve ever seen anyone on safari was in a private camp outside the National Parks and reserves and it was a baby of 6 months. Hmm. Not what I’d advise. I’m guessing that it didn’t get much out of the experience and that its memories of the experience will be limited. It was interesting for me, however, to see how the animals reacted to its presence. It cried a one point, the safari vehicle having stopped its reassuring bouncing and rolling across the plains as we’d’ spotted a pride of sleeping lions (do they ever do anything else?!) and we were quietly watching them. Their reaction as the baby spluttered into life was instant and alarming. The lionesses sat up,ears pricked. The nearest looked at us, parked about 20 or so metres away. Safari vehicles are ignored by most animals as being non-threatening and non-edible, depending on whether the animal is a carnivore or a herbivore. She got up and walked towards the vehicle, her head cocked to one side in the way a dog will do when trying to work something out. Our guide started the engine, the baby fell quiet and we drove away. I chatted with the guide later, and we couldn’t decide whether the lions were interested in the sound of a young and defenseless potential meal, or whether the noise was suitably near to that of their own very young cubs that they were worried that it was one in distress. It was only the females who reacted but as they do the rearing as well as the hunting this wasn’t really a clue.

This experience does however explain why most National Parks have a minimum age limit. Young children call out, which can upset the game (and other visitors for that matter.) They can also wander off, not appreciating the dangers. Most private reserves also have restrictions, depending on whether they have accommodation suitable for very young children, whether their camp/ lodge is fenced (to keep the animals out and the children in) and whether they can control the game-viewing.

How did we organise our own safari holiday with the children?

So my own experience. We took our two girls on safari when they were aged 8 and 6. We realised that the would have limited long term memories of it when they grew up, but as both liked animals (or at least the ones in the local zoo) it would be fun for them to enjoy now. We chose a private game-reserve in the Eastern Cape of South Africa for several reasons. Firstly, there is no malaria there so the kids didn’t need to take malaria tablets. Second, it was a fenced camp so there was no prospect of them going for a private “explore” when we weren’t looking. Third, we could have a private game viewing vehicle so as not to annoy our fellow guests and to allow us to return to the lodge whenever we wanted. Fourth, there was a swimming pool for them to go in when not out in the reserve. We stayed three nights, not too long as all children have a limited attention span at that age. We brought check-lists and colouring guides, giving them something to aim for on each day. they had to spot 10 different animals and 5 trees each day to trigger a reward.

Did they enjoy it? Undoubtedly. The look of excitement as we spotted elephants for the first time, with them bouncing in their seats, eyed wide and fingers pointing is one I’ll  treasure. Did we enjoy it? Certainly, so long as you are prepared and are at the right lodge. You also.have to make compromises. Children will not stay alert of the whole 2-3 hours of a game drive, however many animals you see or quizzes you set them. Accept that letting them bring an iPod or DS will keep them quiet, you less stressed and them happier for longer. When an animal is spotted they will soon drop it to get a photo – a camera each and daily competition for the best image it a great motivator!

Was it worth while? 4 years later we still talk about it, the girls still enjoy dropping it in conversations to their friends, especially when seeing a photo in a book or programme on TV. What do they remember? I did an experiment. I asked the youngest, at the time of the trip 6 and now 10, to write her memories of the safari down for me. It cost me a trip to the cinema and here it is:

I really enjoyed my safari trip in South Africa. It was the best trip of my life. The landscape was beautiful and the animals were amazing. I remember clearly the time when we were in our truck and an Elephant came up to us and sniffed my sister’s face. The guide, Derek, was great. He kept her calm for the few seconds it was sniffing and when it had gone away she was fine. I also remember when there was a thunder and lightning storm. The rain was warm but we all sheltered in the living room. As the lightning ran across the sky again I noticed a giant shape out of the window. When there was another flash we all realised that it was only an elephant trying to find food. I don’t know why but we all found this hysterical and burst out laughing, I guess it was because I was so scared.

It was around Easter time while we were there and I was disappointed that I was going to miss the Easter bunny (I was only young), so our guide put out some mini packets of chocolate for us in the garden so we could find them. He was good like that. Another time was when he let us toast some marshmallows on are fire. They were delicious.

While in the truck on day there was a male lion just lying in the middle of the track, sun bathing I suppose it was. I don’t know how exactly but they did eventually shift him of the track. There was also a small heard of giraffes that for a while followed alongside us. This was my all-time best holiday. I really enjoyed it and hope that I can do it again.

Not bad. Admittedly our guide was called Dirk, not Derek, and there’s a fair amount about food (her father’s daughter…) but these are happy memories that are still with her. She certainly enjoyed the experience as she is pressing hard to go on another safari, this time in Kenya.

So in an ideal world, what would be the best age to take children on a safari? My opinion, and it is just that, would be from 10 upwards. They are old enough to understand what you are doing. They can interact with the guides, asking their own questions. The guides can take them and teach them thinks kids enjoy – a bit of tracking or prodding around in elephant poo. They understand better the need for quietness and being sensible. They can be easily distracted when bored. Don’t go for too long, make sure there are swimming pools, even maybe a junior club to keep them busy. Incorporate variety – do a boat trip – so its not always in a vehicle and as I’ve said before, prepare things to get them involved. Put them in charge of making a video of the trip. One of our clients did this and their son Jack made this great safari video

You can download lists of birds, mammals, plants, lizards etc. Do so and get them checking them off. A safari holiday is a great family holiday and the more you prepare, the more you and your children will get out of the experience and the more great memories you will all have to live long in all your memories.

There are various options for safari holidays for families. As we did, a trip to the Cape Provinces allows safari to be combined with Cape Town, penguins, whales, horse-riding and other activities. It is a rounded holiday with the excitement of safari and lots more. There is, as a mentioned above, the additional advantage of having no malaria. Some lodges and camps cater for families, with family or adjoining rooms and fenced camps. There are junior explorer clubs and guides trained in teaching bush craft to children. Most of these trips can be combined with beach stays. We have suitable itineraries for families in Kenya, Tanzania and Botswana, all of which can be tailored to your interests. Another suggestion is to travel with friends – two families together will make the price cheaper (the shared cost of the vehicle and guide) and the children have friends they can play with when not our game-viewing. Wherever you go, you’ll have a holiday to remember for years to come.

By Robert Ferguson

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