Family Specialist Operators

Specialist Reports Special Interest Holidays Safaris Family Specialist Operators Richard Bonham Safaris 

	Richard Bonham Safaris
+254-2-882521

Tailormade safaris in Kenya and Tanzania, welcoming under 12s. Runs two lodges of its own in Kenya and arranges itineraries including private farms or exclusive concessions on group ranches, generally sleeping 16 or less.

Recommendations

An itinerary in Kenya to Mutamaiyu House, a family-owned house in Northern Kenya on a 49,000 acre working farm on the edge of the Great Rift Valley with four African style cottages able to take an extra bed or cot for a toddler. The managers have two young ones themselves and a nanny who is reported glad look after any other children visiting the lodge. The area around the lodge is walled so toddlers are safe.
The managers can arrange bird watching, riding on walking with local tribesmen and their camels, donkey treks to the floor of the Rift Valley, a guided visit to the sacred Gall graves, or a hosted visit to the primary school on the ranch. There is also a heated swimming pool, day and night drives, guided bush walks, day trip to the local marketplace and farm tours.
During dinner children can stay with a staff member in their room.
After four days the suggestions is to transfer to Ol Donyo Wuas in the foothills of the Chyulu range halfway between Tsavo and Amboseli and set on 300,000 acres of communal Maasai owned land. There are seven cottages, two with an additional bedroom for young children, both near the dining room and arrangements can be made for a member of staff to stay with children in the evening.
Guests can go horse riding, walking or view game from open 4x4 vehicles - there are bush breakfasts, sundowners on kopjes and candlit outdoor dinners listening to the animals.
The owners - Richard Bonham and his sister Trish Luke - both have children. Richard lives in the Chyulu Hills with his family (6 and 4 year olds) and Trish visits often with her children (ranging from 29 to 7 years old). Chris and Tamsin have a toddler (3 years old) who is at the Lodge the whole time.
Back to Nairobi families can be met by a guide and vehicle for visits for example to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust that caters for orphaned elephants, rhinos and other animals, a visit to the Griaffe Centre where guests can feed the Rothschild giraffe out of their hand, and the Butterfly Centre, with a stop of for lunch and some shopping. A day room can be arranged at one of the hotels.

Sample Price

For the itinerary above based on two adults and 2 children under 12 (2 rooms throughout the trip) would be £8,455, flights to Nairobi extra.