SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA slid off the top of the travel bucket list during the past two years. Government border closures, required isolation periods and many unknowns (Do I want to share a puddle-jumper with strangers? What if I get sick?) rendered a photo-safari holiday unappetizing. But now that restrictions have been lifted, bookings are roaring back, especially for entire clans. Jacqui Goodwin, head of travel company Gray & Co.’s Cape Town office, cites a 35% increase in safari bookings compared to 2019, with more than 50% of them by families. Trips for families with young children have tripled.
But not every game reserve is optimal for families. Many camps are located in remote areas, requiring small-aircraft flights and bumpy 4×4 drives. Some lodges are aimed at couples, don’t have connecting rooms or don’t allow kids at all, while most follow a daily routine (predawn wake-up calls, long morning drives) that would make a tween scream. Nevertheless, a handful of lodges cater specifically to families. “I know camps where kids learn bush skills from Maasai guides and interact with kids from completely different cultures,” said Ms. Goodwin.
5 African Safaris That Are Actually Family-Friendly
