Planning guide · 6 min read
Safari with children: a family guide
Safaris work well with children when the pacing is right. Here is what to watch for, and the age rules that catch people out.
By the Citrus Tour Safaris team
Pacing is the whole problem
Children cope with wildlife far better than they cope with six hours in a vehicle. The routes that fail with families are the ones with a long transfer every day; the ones that succeed have shorter driving legs, two-night stays and something to do that is not a game drive.
Two nights in one place is worth more than an extra park, in a way that is even more true with children than without.
The stops that earn their place
Lake Naivasha is the most useful family stop in Kenya. A boat among hippos, Crescent Island where you can walk safely among zebra and giraffe because there are no large predators, and Hell's Gate which can be cycled through red cliffs.
Ol Pejeta adds guided walks, rhino tracking with the conservation team, and the Sweetwaters chimpanzee sanctuary. In Uganda, Lake Mburo permits walking and horseback riding because there are no elephant and few predators. In Nairobi, the elephant orphanage and the Giraffe Centre are reliably a hit.
Age rules that catch people out
Gorilla and chimpanzee activities have age and health rules set by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. Families should confirm the current conditions before permits are purchased.
Camps may also set their own age policies. We check these before quoting.
Practical arrangements
A private vehicle matters more with children than without — you can cut a drive short, stop when someone needs to, and not worry about other travellers' patience. The per-person cost of going private falls quickly as the group grows, and for a family of four it is often close to the group rate.
Family rooms, adjoining rooms and triple configurations vary enormously between properties, and the good ones go early. Tell us the ages and how you would like to be roomed at the point of enquiry.
