What Type of Safari

Specialist Reports Special Interest Holidays Safaris What Type of Safari 

Drive Yourself
While the National Parks like South Africa's Kruger allow you to drive in in your own vehicle, they do not allow those vehicles to leave the tarmacked roads. Although the Kruger is around the size of Wales so you won't exactly be crowded, you can't set off into the bush, and camp gates are locked between 6pm and 6am so night trips are not an option.

Private Game Reserves
These offer a slightly wilder experience but are more expensive (upwards of £100 per person per night) and offer more luxurious accommodation, often for small numbers, (generally around 12) and may organise night outings. Although extended families could take over the whole reserve (camps on the whole simply adapt according to their visitors), on the whole children under the age of 6 are less likely to be accepted and often not under the age of 12.

Accommodation
Tented accommodation might go down particularly well with children and is generally with an en suite bathroom so they wouldn't have to venture to the loo in the dark. These camps are sometimes well gated against animals. If they are not, animals may wander through the camp at night. You may prefer to avoid this kind of venue and if you do stay in such a camp you should probably ensure that the children sleep with you in case they need you in the night.

Whatever sort of camp you choose, bear in mind that the eating area is probably some distance from that for sleeping. This means that if the children eat first and go to be early they may be some distance from their parents. Given that the early mornings often mean parents want to sleep early, a family meal together may be a better solution.

Types of Game Viewing
Even if a child is allowed in a reserve they are not guaranteed a place on a game drive. These tend to be of three or four hours and the ranger will make a judgement about whether the child has the interest or patience to last for that time. Under 6s are generally not allowed on game drives in open-sided vehicles.

Only you know your child well enough to know their level of interest and of concentration but even if you are certain all will be well, you will probably have to take a private, enclosed vehicle. This will cost US$100-150 per day, subject to the ranger's approval of your child.

Really young children are usually left at base. ‘It's frightening how fast a lion stands up when it hears a baby cry,' said one tour operator. Babysitting can generally be arranged at any camp which allows children, probably by a member of the housekeeping staff and not expensive, though a tip would be expected.

On walking safaris, for example in Botswana and Zambia, it is important to be able to keep up, be quiet and listen carefully to the ranger. Young children are therefore not accepted.