Family safari in Botswana

The last thing you need on safari is to be worrying that your kids might be disturbing other guests all the time.

The majority of guests travelling to Botswana during the main school vacation periods should be fine with kids. In fact, many positively love having them around. But we need to plan for the worst.

That’s why we like swimming pool areas that are removed from the main lodge. It’s also why we like lodges that give families a private safari vehicle as a matter of course.

The bottom line is that all kids are different. We need you to tell us all about your youngsters, so that we can make a perfect plan.

We are also very used to catering for kids with learning difficulties or disabilities. Please don’t think of these as obstructions.

We should also reinstate the point made in the safety section, that it is essential that your kids follow the camp rules at all times. If they wander off or run around between the buildings, it could be extremely dangerous. If this happens repeatedly, don’t be surprised if the camp manager insists that you leave immediately, the risk is too great. There would be no refunds.

careful planning should lead to relaxed and happy kids

This is a great age range for safari in Botswana.

We assume that for children in this age range we can now consider malarial areas, including Botswana. However we do generally prefer to stick to the Jun-Oct dry season where the health risks are at their lowest.

Most safari camps accept children in this age range, although there are a few which start at 7-8 years and a few which start at 16 years. Most properties offer significant price reductions on the adult price, especially for children sharing a room with parents.

The greater issue in this age group tends to be which activities the children are permitted to join. Many safari camps permit children to stay in the lodge, but not to join vehicle safaris unless a private vehicle is taken, at considerable extra cost. More dangerous or arduous activities, such as walking safari or canoe safari, they may not be able to join at all.

Some camps operate special activities designed for children, such as vehicle safaris, walks and tracking lessons, bow and arrow shooting, that kind of thing. The danger of going too far in this direction is that it can all start to become a bit goofy, the presence of a ‘kiddie club’ can be a worrying sign in terms of safari authenticity.

In this age range in particular we find that there tends to be a wide range in the behaviour and needs for different children. Some kids as young as five are well-behaved, trustworthy, able and willing to take part in the usual camp activities. Other children as old as twelve are less suited to mix in with adult guests and need more child-focused attention.

We are more than happy to cater for all types of children, although it is extremely important that you let us know about their characters in advance, so that we can help put together a perfectly tailored trip.

heading into a really nice age range

Travelling with adult kids, eighteen and over, is a luxury that not all families are able to enjoy as they tend to want to do their own thing. But a big safari can sometimes prove to be a large enough carrot to tempt them into joining you!

The paragraph in the previous section about helping to round and develop young adults by exposing them to diverse cultures is still very valid for older offspring, although obviously at this age the dynamics do change.

Sometimes young adults between 18 and 28 travel to these countries on their own to participate in volunteer work, perhaps for several weeks or months, with their families joining them for a shorter trip either in the middle or at the end of their tour of duty. We often handle the family part of these trips, coordinating between kids who are already in Africa and parents who are still back home.

There are very few lodges which do not treat an 18 year old as a full adult in terms of price, so other techniques have to be used to keep the budget under control.

a rare and precious opportunity for family time

The short answer is that the safari areas of Botswana are increasingly safe and suitable, the older the child.

child ages are critical to health

Generally speaking, travelling in Botswana with children is almost completely safe, so long as they adhere absolutely to the rules laid down by the camp managers and guides.

We are unaware of any serious incidents involving children in recent decades. Nevertheless, an awareness of the key issues is very important.

Almost all of the lodges and camps in Botswana are unfenced, so animals are free to wander in and out.

Smaller children are at risk, particularly from leopards, which mostly hunt around dawn and dusk. Although attacks are extremely rare, they do happen and small children need to be closely accompanied at all times.

Many of the lodges are set up on elevated decks, which could therefore be considered slightly safer for small kids, although this could also encourage a false sense of security.

All kids, and adults for that matter, need to understand that running in wild areas is strictly forbidden, either around the camp or out in the bush. This creates a serious risk of triggering hunting behaviour in animals which would otherwise usually have no interest in humans. Kids often get tempted, for a range of reasons, to run between the rooms. This is extremely dangerous and must be avoided.

Similarly, when out on vehicle safari, when you are in close proximity to animals such as elephants or lions, it is essential that children remain seated, still and very quiet.

it is critical that children obey the rules

If you are short on time, then it is possible to do a single week on safari in Botswana. But most families combine their safari with nights in other parts of Africa.

The most popular option is the Cape (Cape Town, Whale Coast, Cape Winelands), which is a fabulous area to explore with kids, with loads of diversity, quality lodges and incredible value. Flights are direct, so it couldn’t be easier.

The next most popular option is to combine with the tropical beaches of the Indian Ocean. Actually, these are rather awkward to combine with Botswana, necessitating a bland overnight at Johannesburg Airport on the way through. This is the main reason safari in Tanzania is more popular safari safari-and-beach trips, since it can be so easily combined with Zanzibar and the other islands off the coast.

If you do choose to overnight in Johannesburg in the middle of your trip, then you have a wide choice of beach options. The best option is usually the Mozambique coast, which is closest and has a fabulous range of cool lodges to suit all budgets. Other options include Madagascar (for more wildlife), Mauritius (for non-malarial resorts), Zanzibar (for Swahili culture) and even the Seychelles (for the cachet). The Maldives are much more distant and necessitate a connection via the Persian Gulf.

You might also like to precede your safari with a few nights in Victoria Falls, which is a great place to slide gently into Africa, ensuring that you make the most of your safari. There are lots of family-oriented activities in this area.

Obviously there are lots of other locations which are further afield, we are always happy to look at any number of combinations with you.

popular options include tropical beaches and the Cape

It is very fortunate that the most popular time for a safari in Botswana, the Jun-Oct dry season, coincides with cooler weather.

During the early part of that season, May-Aug, the nights can actually get quite cold, which has no adverse effect on the safari experience, but does virtually eliminate the possibility of mosquitoes and other flying insects.

Guests from USA, Canada and Europe can therefore consider June or July, as the perfect time to visit, since it also usually coincides with school vacations.

It is important to realise that the seasonality in the Cape is converse to that in the main safari areas. For this reason, you may also consider the Mar/Apr Spring Break period. If you are lucky, that will combine the low season pricing in Botswana with the late summer in the Cape.

most families aim for June or July

If your children are 6 years and older, then you have a very wide range of lodges to choose from. Here are some key features that you might like to look out for.

Most lodges have family suites, usually with two rooms being connected via a shared corridor or lounge and two separate bathrooms. If one of these is not available, then the parents may need to split so that none of the younger children are left to sleep in a tent on their own.

Most lodges have swimming pools, but often these are located in close proximity to the main public areas. We much prefer pools in totally separate areas, so that kids can splash around and have fun, without worrying about disturbing other guests.

A few lodges have a separate annex, which can operate separately from the main lodge and may also include a small swimming pool.

Some lodges offer special programs of child activities. Generally speaking, this should not be necessary, since all good guides are expert at adapting the experience to suit everyone in the group.

Almost all lodges are able to offer child-minding. In reality, this usually comes down to one of the ladies from the laundry or kitchen earning a little extra money by coming to sit with your kids. This is most commonly done during the evening, when younger children may take an early dinner and then go to bed, leaving the parents to stay up later into the evening. It may be worth mentioning this to us in advance, if it is of interest to you.

To choose specific lodges for your family trip, have a chat with one of our Safari Experts, let them know what you have in mind and let them show you the best options.

Alternatively, you can use the Explore button to research all the best camps in Africa and beyond.

a place where the kids can relax and have fun

One of the main problems of travelling as a family is that you are often obliged to travel during peak seasons, when availability is usually very tight in all the best properties.

It is really important to book as early as you can.

It is worth bearing in mind that many of the best camps and lodges only have 5 or 6 rooms, so finding availability for multiple rooms during the more popular times of year can get tricky.

If you intend to travel in a group of three to six guests, then you should probably try to plan at least 6-9 months ahead.

If you intend to travel in a group of six or more, then you should probably try to plan at least 9-18 months ahead.

Don’t worry if you can’t plan ahead, just get in touch and we will try to work wonders.

If a trip ever starts to become significantly distorted by a lack of availability, we will always let you know. We would prefer that you delay by a year than have a second rate experience.

make sure to book as early as you can