A vacation in Africa with children can be an unforgettable adventure. Here you will enjoy the beauty of wildlife, learn about the culture of local peoples and taste unusual dishes.
Seeing wild animals not in a zoo, but in their homeland is quite realistic even with children. Africa offers plenty of options for active vacations, including safaris, national parks, water sports and beach relaxation.
I will share a selection of eight destinations for vacations in Africa with kids.
South Africa
A good option for a family vacation without a break from civilization. In Cape Town you can climb Table Mountain by cable car, swim with penguins at Bolders Beach and visit Robben Island.
The Cape Peninsula is home to Africa’s westernmost point, the Cape of Good Hope. Nearby is Cape Point, where there are many convenient trails and a cable car that takes you to the lighthouse.
South Africa has the Garden Route, a 300-kilometer stretch of verdant coastline with a variety of attractions. Children will be interested in Cango Caves and Ostrich Farm in Oudshoorn, Cango Wildlife Ranch, Monkeyland and Birds of Eden reserves, safaris in Addo Elephant Park, and the big cats of Tenikwa Wildlife Rehabilitation & Awareness Centre.
Kenya
A popular destination in South Africa, where family tourism is particularly strong. Here you can even enjoy the wildlife in a hotel, such as the Instagrammable Giraffe Manor. This colonial-style mansion, steeped in greenery, offers guests an unforgettable experience of living alongside giraffes.
Nightly rates start at $800, with meals and Kenya airport transfers included. There is a pottery on site, where you can go for master classes.
Fifteen kilometers away is the Karen Blixen Museum, known from the movie Out of Africa with Meryl Streep, and David Shendrick’s nursery for orphaned elephants. It is better to arrive here at the beginning of feeding, it lasts from 11:00 to 12:00. Entrance to Nairobi National Park costs 40 dollars, and to the orphanage itself – 10 dollars.
You can sign up to support a specific elephant for a year for $50. The staff will send you a report on the elephant to your e-mail: how much weight it has gained, how much it has grown and how it is doing.
You can see wild animals in private reserves or in national parks. For example, in the Masai Mara. The cost of a ticket depends on the season and can range from 100 to 200 dollars. Here you can see all the “Big Five” of Africa, and also get acquainted with the indigenous population – the Maasai tribe.
Another option for a safari is the national park in Nairobi, where entry is cheaper. There are many birds in the morning and small ungulates, baboons and rhinos come out in the evening. There are no elephants here, but there is a whole pride of lions.
Once a year, the Maasai Mara is home to the great migration when huge herds of animals, predators and scavengers cross the Mara River.
Mauritius
The most suitable destination for a comfortable relaxed vacation. There are many good hotels, white sandy beaches with clean and warm water, as well as a lot of family entertainment.
All children love animals, and Mauritius is home to a variety of creatures. You can meet the largest turtles in the world at La Vanille Park. There are also iguanas, alligators, lemurs, monkeys and deer.
Another childhood dream is to meet a dolphin in the middle of the ocean. To see them, boat trips start very early, most often on the west coast, in Tamarine or Black River.
You can hand-feed a giraffe, go on an eco-safari, see a pink pigeon and pet a rhino at Casela Wildlife Park. There is also the largest rope park in Mauritius with a Via Ferrata and a zipline, as well as smaller attractions for children.
Tanzania
This country is somewhat similar to Kenya. Start your trip with a safari in the Serengeti National Park, which borders the Masai Mara. Here you can see the “big five” animals and witness the great migration. On your way to the park, don’t miss Olduvai Gorge, where the remains of human ancestors were found. Their fossilized footprints are on display in the museum. Admission costs about 30 dollars.
Lake Tanganyika is home to the Gombe Stream Park. It is home to many different creatures, including big cats, but is famous for its chimpanzee families. Guides can help you find them and take you to Mwamgongo village to learn about the locals and their culture.
Tanzania has its own lost world – the crater of the extinct volcano Ngorongoro with a diameter of about 20 kilometers and a depth of about 600 meters. It has its own river, two lakes, tropical forest and, of course, interesting inhabitants.
The crater has its own ecosystem – a concentration of all the animals of East Africa in a small area. Here you can meet blue gnu and burchell zebras, elephants, hippos, lions, black rhinos (they are rarer than white rhinos), three species of gazelles, secretary birds, ostriches, warthogs and other animals.
Zanzibar
It is an archipelago in the Indian Ocean, part of Tanzania. It is worth telling about it separately. It is popular for its white-sand beaches, strong tides, Prison Island with huge Seychelles turtles, spice farms and Jozani forest, where a rare species of monkeys, the red colobus, is found.
You can walk through the narrow streets of Stone Town, the oldest part of the capital of the archipelago, and from there – by boat to the island of Prizon, a couple of kilometers from the coast. It is inhabited by peacocks, small dikdik antelopes and huge Seychelles tortoises.
On the beaches of Pagès and Giambiani, you can enjoy a vacation by watching the high and low tide, all in the same day. In the morning it is good to swim, in the afternoon the water recedes for more than a kilometer and exposes the sand, where sea urchins, stars, shells and many other things to explore. In the evening the water returns and you can swim again. The timetable is approximate, more accurately displayed by the Tides Near Me app, made especially for Zanzibar.
On the island, it is interesting to visit spice farms. For example, Tangawizi Spice Farm or Kidichi Spice Farm. Be sure to take a guide, without a guide it will be just a walk through the green forest.
You can also do charity work and go to Cheetah’s Rock, a private rescue center that takes in wild animals in need of help. The excursion costs $150, but the money is used to feed and treat the center’s pets.
Tunisia
The smallest country in North Africa will take you on a journey through two worlds at once: the modern and the ancient. You can spend many interesting hours exploring the Roman past and mosques. In the capital of Tunisia there is a lot to see in the historic district – the medina. There are many colorful mosaics, stores and cafes with traditional food.
It is impossible not to mention the city of Carthage: there are the Roman baths of Antoninus overlooking the sea, the beautiful Cathedral of St. Louis of the XIX century and the Oceanographic Museum, where children will especially enjoy.
Morocco
A land of sunny sands, orange clay houses, spices and colorful carpets. Start your journey with a stroll through the ancient streets of Marrakech and immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the oriental souks with their color, spices and leather goods. See the Jemaa al Fna Square, the paradise gardens of the Koutoubia Mosque and the colorful patterns of Bahia Palace. Outside the city you can climb the golden sand dunes, where you’ll be greeted by Bedouin tents and majestic camels and can participate in jeep tours and sand surfing.
Check out the medina of Fes, where there are famous baths outside where skin is dyed and the Clock Café, which serves a burger with camel cutlet and holds cooking workshops on Moroccan cuisine.
Stay at one of the Agafay desert campsites, such as Agafay desert camp, and enjoy traditional Moroccan cuisine and a swimming pool in the middle of the sands. Explore the desert on camelback, experiencing freedom and unity with nature. Don’t miss the historic town of Ait Benhadou, built of clay on the sandy slopes.
Madagascar
A journey based on a much-loved cartoon. You won’t see elephants and giraffes like in other parts of Africa, but you will meet endemic species.
You can stop at Nusi Be, a small tourist island with lemurs, nature reserves, baobabs, giant tortoises and beautiful beaches.
Near the town of Murundava, you can see an avenue of baobabs. Endemic trees of the species Adansonia grandidier grow along a dirt road and swing their branches from a height of 30 meters, some of them more than 800 years old.
You can also drive to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of “Tsingy de Bemaraha Nature Reserve”, as well as to the Sakalava village and numerous fishing villages where you can buy souvenirs and eat fresh seafood.
A few hours drive from Murundava is Kirindi Forest, the best place on the island to see nocturnal animals.
A few more places to see the animals:
- Pereiras Park with chameleons, geckos and dancing Sifaka Verro lemurs;
- Palmarium Reserve, home to more than 10 species of lemurs, such as tufted indri, brown, and varis. The area is home to the rare nocturnal aye-aye lemurs;
- Nusi-Tanikeli Island – a marine reserve with colorful fish and turtles, a great place for snorkeling.
Tips for those who are planning a trip to Africa with children
1. Malaria is not as common in Africa as we used to think. It is spread in some areas and outbreaks occur in certain months. If you are worried, you should get a vaccination or take a course of pills. Always consult your doctor!
2. In Africa, public transportation is unreliable. It is better to rent a car.
3. Most safari parks won’t let kids under seven on jeep rides, so check in advance.
4. Download offline maps and guidebooks because the internet won’t always be available. These, as well as saved itineraries, will help you not to get lost, especially in large reserves or nature parks.
5. Standard insurance may not cover cases related to exotic infections or active vacations (e.g. safari). Be sure to check with your insurance company.
6. Long drives and flights are not an uncommon part of traveling in Africa. Downloading audiobooks or cartoons in advance will help keep your kids entertained on the road without creating unnecessary noise around them.
