Is a safari safe for children? What I tell parents before they book
Yes. A safari is safe for children when the trip is built around their age: the right reserve, the right camp, and a guide who knows how to look after families. Most of the risk is managed in the planning, long before you reach the bush.
I have taken my own two on safari, and I have spent 16 years planning family trips from Cape Town. This is what I look at for every family, and what is worth asking before you book.
Wildlife: what keeps children safe on a game drive
Animals in safari areas are used to vehicles. Children are safe on a game drive because of a few simple rules, and a good guide makes sure everyone follows them:
- stay seated while the vehicle is near animals
- keep arms and heads inside
- keep voices low at a sighting
Children pick these up quickly and once they understand the reason, they can quickly become the quietest people in the vehicle!
The point parents tend to overlook is camp after dark. Many camps are unfenced, and animals walk through them at night. You will be escorted to and from your room, and with young children I want your room close to the main area, not at the end of a long walkway.
For under-sixes, I often suggest a fenced lodge or reserve. It lets parents relax in a way an open camp doesn't.
Game drive ages and private vehicles
Each lodge sets its own rules on children's ages for game drives, and they vary a great deal. A private vehicle changes everything for younger children. The drive runs on your child's clock: shorter, with snack stops, and no strangers to worry about when someone gets restless.
Walking safaris are a different matter. They are for older children only, and each camp sets its own minimum age.
Malaria and health
For families with under-fives, I usually start in a malaria-free area, such as South Africa's Eastern Cape or Madikwe. You get excellent game viewing without anti-malaria tablets.
Most safari areas in Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana and Zambia do carry malaria. That does not mean you have to avoid them at all costs, but it does mean:
- seeing a doctor or visiting a travel clinic well before you go to discuss your malaria options
- long sleeves and repellent from dusk
- choosing camps with nets or screened rooms
Some border crossings require a yellow fever certificate, depending on your route. Your travel clinic can confirm this once your itinerary is set.
Day to day, the heat and hydration need more attention than the lions do. Many lodge pools are not fenced and have no lifeguard, so I flag this to every family with young children.
Medical care in remote places
Many camps are a long way from a hospital. That is part of what makes them special, and it is why I make sure every family has travel insurance that includes medical evacuation. Good camps have first-aid-trained staff and a clear plan for getting help.
Getting around
Light aircraft are the easiest way to reach many camps, and children usually love them. Road transfers can be long and bumpy. Many safari vehicles don't come with child seats as standard, so I arrange them in advance for younger children.
What I check before I book a family into any camp
- Does the camp welcome children of your ages on game drives, not only in camp?
- Is a private vehicle available?
- Is the camp fenced, and how far is your room from the main area?
- Is the area malaria-free?
- Where is the nearest medical help, and does your insurance cover evacuation?
- Is the pool fenced?
- Are child seats available for transfers?
When it is worth waiting
- A baby or toddler, and the trip is in a malaria area: go malaria-free first and save East Africa for later. My age-by-age guide shows where I would start.
- You have your heart set on gorillas: the minimum age is 15, with no exceptions. Here is how I plan around it.
- A child who can't sit quietly yet: a private vehicle and short drives solve most of this. A child who is miserable in the vehicle is a sign to change the shape of the trip, not to cancel it.
The parents I plan for are rarely worried by the end of the first game drive. What they notice instead is how alert their children have become, and how calm.
If you are weighing up a first safari with young children, tell me about your family. I'll tell you where I would start.
Frequently asked questions
Is a safari safe for toddlers?
Yes, in the right place: a malaria-free reserve, a family-friendly or fenced lodge, a private vehicle and short drives.
What age can children go on game drives?
It depends on the lodge. Each one sets its own minimum age, and a private vehicle often makes younger ages possible.
Are there malaria-free safaris in Africa?
Yes, in South Africa, including the Eastern Cape and Madikwe.
Do children need malaria tablets on safari?
In malaria areas, yes. Speak to a doctor or travel clinic well before you travel, as there are options suitable for children.
Can children go on walking safaris?
Usually only older children. Each camp and park sets its own minimum age.
What travel insurance do we need for a family safari?
Cover that includes medical evacuation from remote areas.
More from the journal
Bring everyone: how to plan a multi-generational family trip to Africa
How I plan trips for three generations: leaving space in the agenda, pacing for the oldest and youngest, and where in Africa works best for grandparents and children.
Gorilla trekking with children: the age rule, and how to plan around it
The minimum age for gorilla trekking is 15. Here is how I plan around it: Rwanda or Uganda, options for younger siblings, and when to book.
Rafting the Orange River with children: four days, eight families, no signal
A first-hand account of a four-day Orange River rafting trip with eight families: the drive from Cape Town, life on the river, and which families it suits.
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