For many travellers, safari is something they imagine doing later in life, once the children are older, once schedules are quieter, once travel becomes easier.

In reality, some of the most memorable safaris happen with the entire family going along for the adventure. 

Children experience the wilderness differently. They notice the details adults often miss,  the tracks in the sand, the call of a hornbill, the slow movement of elephants through the trees. 

A safari becomes less about ticking off wildlife sightings and more about shared discovery.

At BHS, we often say there isn’t one “family safari.” There is simply the right safari for your family right now,  designed around age, curiosity, and the kind of experience that will feel most rewarding for the whole family travelling together. 

Is Safari Safe for Families?

This is usually the first question parents ask.

The answer is simple: yes, when done properly. 

Safari lodges across Africa operate with extremely strict safety protocols, and experienced guides are trained not only in wildlife behaviour but also in guest safety.

For families travelling with BHS, we carefully select lodges that: 

• Have strong guiding teams
• Offer dedicated family suits or family villas
• Run child-friendly activities alongside traditional game drives
• Have clear safety protocols and experienced staff

Children are always supervised on safari activities, and guides naturally adapt their style to younger guests, turning game drives into storytelling sessions, tracking lessons, and wildlife discovery.

It’s one of the rare holidays where kids are completely engaged without screens.

Malaria and Family Travel

Another common concern is malaria.

The reality is that many excellent safari destinations are malaria-free, making them ideal for families with younger children. 

Some of our favourite malaria-free regions include: 

Eastern Cape - South Africa

Home to several outstanding reserves where families can enjoy Big Five safari without malaria risk.

Madikwe - South Africa

One of the best malaria-free safari destinations with superb wildlife and family-friendly lodges.

‍Waterberg - South Africa

Beautiful landscapes and conservation-focused reserves perfect for relaxed family safaris.

For families comfortable travelling in malaria areas, destinations like Kruger, Botswana, and Zambia open up even more options, with risks generally manageable through careful planning and up-to-date travel advice.

The key is simply choosing the right destination for your childrens age and comfort level. 

Safari with Kids: Choosing the Right Experience for Each Age

One of the most common misconceptions about safari is that children need to be a certain age to enjoy it.

The truth is that safari evolves with your family.

As BHS founder, Brett Horley often says:

“There isn’t one version of a family safari. The best journeys are the ones that grow with your family, matching the destination, the pace, and the experience to the age and curiosity of the people travelling.”

That philosophy shapes how we design family safaris at BHS.

Rather than forcing a standard itinerary to work for everyone, we think carefully about where a family is in their journey,  choosing destinations, lodges, and activities that will feel natural and rewarding for that stage of life.

Safari with Babies (0-2 years) 

This stage is about ease and flexibility.

Parents travelling with babies benefit most from safari setups that prioritise comfort and rhythm.

We normally recommend:

• Exclusive-use safari villas or private houses
• Malaria-free reserves, particularly in South Africa’s Eastern Cape
• Lodges with excellent service that understand nap times and feeding routines
• Minimal transfers and relaxed daily pacing

Private safari homes work particularly well at this stage. With your own vehicle, guide, and schedule, the experience can flow around your family’s natural rhythm.

Destinations like the Eastern Cape work particularly well here, where reserves combine excellent wildlife with malaria-free peace of mind.

Safari with Toddlers (3-6 years)

Toddlers bring energy, curiosity, and an endless stream of questions.

Safari at this age should feel magical rather than structured.

We look for lodges that offer:

• Junior Ranger programmes
• Space to run and explore safely
• Flexible game drives

Properties such as Lion Sands Tinga, Tanda Tula, and a number of Delta island camps in Botswana work well because they combine exceptional wildlife with relaxed environments where guides naturally adapt the experience for younger travellers.

At this stage, flexibility matters more than wildlife density.

Safari with Tweens (7-12 years) 

This is often the golden age for safari.

Children at this stage begin to understand the bush, not just the animals, but the ecosystems and stories that connect everything.

They love:

• Tracking animals with guides
• Learning bird calls and spoor
• Junior ranger activities
• Canoeing or mokoro excursions
• Exploring new landscapes

This is also when families often expand into East Africa, Botswana, or Victoria Falls, where the scale of the landscape and wildlife makes a powerful impression.

Confidence grows quickly here,  and kids often begin spotting animals before the adults do.

Safari with Teenagers (13-17 years) 

Teenagers tend to crave adventure and independence.

At this stage safari becomes less about simple wildlife sightings and more about exploration and perspective.

We often recommend experiences that include:

• Walking safaris
• Photographic-focused camps
• Desert exploration in Namibia
• Adventure activities around Victoria Falls
• Wilderness regions of Botswana

Add in time in Cape Town, for coastline, food, and culture, and you have a journey that feels dynamic and rewarding for the entire family.

Teenagers thrive when given responsibility and real experiences, and safari delivers both.

Multi-Generational Safari

Family safaris often include grandparents, parents, and children travelling together.

In these cases, the solution is usually exclusive-use safari homes.

These properties allow for:

• Flexible meal times
• Private game drives
• Your own guide and chef
• Space for everyone to retreat when needed

They remove friction and allow each generation to enjoy the experience in their own way.

Private-use lodges and villas are particularly valuable for multi-generational travel, where different ages naturally move at different rhythms.

Why We Love Kwandwe for Families

If there is one destination we often recommend for families travelling to South Africa, it is Kwandwe Private Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape.

Kwandwe brings together many of the elements that make family safari work exceptionally well.

The reserve is malaria-free, which immediately simplifies travel planning for families with younger children. It also offers several exclusive-use villas and private homesteads, allowing families to enjoy the entire safari experience privately, with their own guide, vehicle, and flexible daily schedule.

This flexibility makes a significant difference when travelling with children. Game drives can be adapted around energy levels, meals can move naturally through the day, and guides can tailor activities to keep younger explorers engaged.

Families staying at Kwandwe can also enjoy a variety of experiences beyond traditional game drives, including nature walks, wildlife tracking, and interactive conservation-focused activities designed to introduce younger travellers to the rhythms of the bush.

Combined with excellent guiding and strong Big Five wildlife viewing, Kwandwe offers one of the most accessible and rewarding safari experiences for families visiting South Africa.

Combining Safari with the Beach

One of our favourite family itineraries combines bush and beach into a single journey.

Start with a few days on safari watching elephants, lions, and rhino, then finish on the coast where kids can run wild on the sand and snorkel in warm ocean waters.

For example, one recent family itinerary we designed began with a safari in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi, one of Africa’s oldest reserves and home to rich biodiversity including the Big Five and one of the world’s densest white rhino populations.

From there the family travelled to iSimangaliso Wetland Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where forests, wetlands, and coastline meet in a single ecosystem.

Days there were spent canoeing through lake systems, exploring sand forests, snorkelling in the Indian Ocean, and tracking turtles along remote beaches.

It’s the type of journey where every day feels different, and children experience both the wildlife of the bush and the freedom of the ocean.

Why Safari Creates Lifelong Memories

A safari does something a few holidays can:

It slows families down.

There are no theme parks, no schedules packed with attractions, just the rhythm of the natural world. 

Early morning game drives

Long lunches under trees

Stories around the fire at night

Kids begin noticing things most adults miss:

The alarm call of a bird

Tracks in the sand

How the bush changes as the sun sets

Those small moments turn into memories that last for decades. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Family Safaris

Is an African safari suitable for children?

Yes. Many safari lodges welcome families and offer activities, flexible game drives, and family suites designed for younger travellers. Choosing the right lodge and destination for your children’s ages makes all the difference.

What is the best age for a child’s first safari? 

Many children enjoy safari from around 7–12 years old, when curiosity about wildlife really grows. However, younger children can also have great experiences when travelling to family-friendly lodges with flexible schedules.

Are there malaria-free safari destinations in Africa?

Yes. Several excellent safari regions are malaria-free, including the Eastern Cape and Waterberg in South Africa, making them particularly appealing for family travel.

Is safari safe for families?

Safari is very safe when travelling with experienced guides and reputable lodges. Activities are carefully managed, and guides are trained to ensure guests remain safe around wildlife.

Which safari destinations are best for families in South Africa?

The Eastern Cape, particularly Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, is a favourite thanks to its malaria-free status and private safari villas. The Waterberg and parts of Kruger are also popular family safari regions.

Planning Your First Family Safari 

A great family safari is all about balance, choosing destinations that offer adventure, flexibility, and space for everyone to enjoy the journey in their own way.

For some families that might mean a malaria-free safari in the Eastern Cape at places like Kwandwe, while others may prefer a journey that blends safari with coastlines, forests, or rivers.

At BHS, every family safari is tailored to the travellers themselves,  considering the ages of the children, the pace of the trip, and the experiences that will feel most rewarding for everyone.

Get in touch with our team and let us start planning your dream adventure.