As a travel company specializing in family and honeymoon trips to Africa, one of the greatest concerns clients have when it comes to international family travel is safety. We often hear from families who would love to travel to Africa but who also have some safety concerns: “Is a safari safe for our family?” “Are health conditions in Africa safe for my family?” “Is traveling to and through Africa safe for my family?”

The answer to all of those questions is yes, Africa is a safe and wonderful place to bring your family. But, as with all destinations outside of your own country, there are obvious safety precautions that should be addressed and looked into prior to departure.

Some of these universal travel concerns include health precautions, language barriers, differing cultures, and unfamiliar governments. With these concerns lingering, it’s important to be educated, and have the right tools to prevent any unexpected emergencies when traveling outside your native country. The enriching and rewarding family experiences far outweigh any of these concerning factors, as all safety precautions are addressed prior to departure.

But two of the most popular safety concerns we receive from clients are in regards to family safari tours and children on safari. Both of these safety concerns are addressed below:

Family Safari Tours:

When embarking on a family safari—or any type of safari for that matter—with a qualified and professional safari provider, you can rest assure knowing you and your loved ones are in excellent hands and completely safe.

Always taking rigorous safety precautions, each guide is armed, and equipped with handheld communication devices and extensive training in proper safety procedures and animal behavior. In fact, professional guides require a minimum of four years of training in the field before they can accompany safari goers on an outing.

Whether taking part in a canoe safari, walking safari, or game drive, professional guides know exactly where to go, what to do in case of any emergency, how far of a distance to keep from animals, and how to protect safari goers if an unexpected situation should arise. Each and every action a professional guide takes is always in the best interest of his or her safari participants.

When choosing a safari provider for your family, it’s important to ensure that the provider only employs guides who have the experience and training to handle any rare and unpredictable situations that could develop. A guide with experience can read a situation and avoid it before it even happens. A good guide develops a feel and instinct for the world around him or her, as they spend thousands of hours in the field.

Children on Safari:

Although some accommodations do require children to be a minimum of 12 years old, others do not have this requirement, and offer activities for nearly every age. Whether you have younger children or late teens, the entire family can enjoy exciting experiences that range from adventurous safaris to Cape Town city tours, horse riding tours on the beach to cultural expeditions with the native Bushmen, and a trip to Monkeyland Primate Sanctuary to elephant back rides. Not to mention, visiting Africa as a family is one of the most rewarding and unforgettable ways to share the experiences of new cultures, fascinating history, and exciting adventures, as an entire family.

And for those families with younger children, children-friendly camps offer a variety of activities for the young ones who aren’t yet of age to participate on a game drive or safari tour. While the children are enjoying bush treasure hunts, bead-making classes, and bedtime stories from traditional African storytellers, parents can relax or partake in an adventurous safari tour.

One of our favorite children’s programs is at Olarro Lodge in Kenya, which offers children ages 6 and up the opportunity to take part in The Olarro Juniors Adventurers Club (OJAC). The club is ran by certified and highly qualified Maasai guides who introduce the kids to animal tracking techniques, survival techniques used in traditional Maasai culture, plant species used for medicinal purposes, and environmentally conscious practices. It’s truly a rewarding experience for all children who take part, and, parents can rest assured knowing that their little ones are in good hands, having fun, and discovering new and exciting things about the environment.

For many people, bringing the whole family on vacation can sometimes mean fewer destination choices and conflicting desires on where to travel. Since there are so many family-oriented accommodations to choose from, it almost seems less stressful to choose a popular family vacation destination than to have to research unique places to take your family that are both safe and exciting.

Perhaps you stress about the safety and convenience factors of traveling internationally. Maybe you only feel safe going to trusted places you have heard about from friends or family. All of these reasons that lead to your stress are justifiable concerns. But what if there were a place you could bring the entire family that would introduce them to . . .

• An exotic world of adventure.
• Inspirational cultures.
• Unspoiled wildernesses.
• A safe traveling experience.
• Exceptional cuisine.
• Highly-acclaimed accommodations with superior service, and comfortable ambiances.
• A place less frequented by tourists, allowing you to get a real taste for the culture of the particular destination without having an overly westernized experience.

If all the above reasons provide solutions and ease to your concerns, then an African family safari is the perfect trip for you and your family.

As one of the very few places in the world where you can experience unspoiled wilderness as it was from the beginning, Africa is an eye-opening continent that educates, inspires, and leaves a lasting impression on you and your family for the rest of your life.

An African safari vacation isn’t just for couples or retirees who are looking to travel the world. A trip to Africa can be a very unique and rewarding family experience.

As a native of Zimbabwe, I have traveled throughout Africa as well as a wide spectrum of destinations around the world, and nothing compares to Africa’s unique and friendly spirit. Visiting and researching dozens upon dozens of accommodations across the southern countries of Africa, my team and I provide clients with only the best accommodations in Africa.

Now a resident of the United States, I frequently travel to Africa with my family and believe that the next best thing to living in Africa is sharing it with your family.

Experience the magic of Africa with your family. Let Hills of Africa Travel create a detailed itinerary, tailored around your every individual preference. Contact us today at 1.800.940.9344. We’re looking forward to making your dreams come true . . .

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