See animals in their natural habitat, watch a herd of elephants walk past your vehicle, spot a mother cheetah with her cubs, or listen to a pride of lions roaring at night – a family safari holiday is a magical experience you will never forget.
At Yellow Zebra we understand the importance of creating safaris that suit the whole family. Whether you’re travelling with teenagers or as part of a large multi-generational family group with parents, grandparents, and kids of all ages, we will design a trip to suit everyone.
Don’t just take our word for it!
‘I was recommended Yellow Zebra. The dedicated team were both knowledgeable and incredibly patient. We opted for Tanzania – the less-visited south rather than the majesty of the Great Migration in the north.... It was perfect. The format is standard – the experience anything but.... It was – hands down – the best holiday we have ever had.’
"Our family, ranging from five-year-olds to an 80-year-old, had the trip of a lifetime.
Most heartwarming was the interaction between the guides and the grandchildren. They catered to their needs, their interests, and their imaginations. It was wonderful.
Yellow Zebra’s itinerary allowed for very valuable “family” time. The true measure of how well Yellow Zebra served the needs of our family is that the siblings are looking to plan another family trip! 10 stars on a 5 star scale."
The best safari holidays with children
To help you start planning your family safari holiday, here we recommend specific destinations as well as family trips we've designed around the age of the children travelling:
Holidays for families with children under five
If you're travelling with very young children, the main priority is to travel to areas that have no malaria. As virtually all of Africa lies within the malaria belt, the only destination we would recommend for families with very young children is South Africa. There are a number of malaria-free holiday reserves in South Africa, which can easily be combined with Cape Town and the Garden Route, or even the beach destination of Mauritius – Africa’s most family-friendly beach destination.
Safari holidays for kids between 5 and 10
For families with children between the ages of 5 and 10, we would recommend a safari holiday to either South Africa or Kenya. South Africa’s parks (both non-malaria and malarial areas such as the Kruger) are well set up for children, with a number of lodges offering excellent children's programmes that occupy the middle of the day during safaris. Kenya is also an extremely good destination for family safari holidays. The Maasai Mara offers superb big-game viewing, while the Laikipia and Lewa area offers a large range of activities, and also interaction with local cultures.
Safari holidays for older children and teens
The whole of Africa opens up for families with older children, especially as children of this age do not necessarily need the range of non-safari activities offered in the destinations we recommend for younger families.
One of our favourite destinations for families with older children is Tanzania, especially the north of the country where the Serengeti and Ngorongoro region have the perfect balance of big game and great lodges, as well as authenticity and adventure. Trips to Tanzania can also include a cultural element, as the Maasai tribe lives throughout the region. The beaches of the Zanzibar Archipelago are also a superb place to finish. Botswana is also a wonderful destination, but it is expensive – you have to expect to pay Africa’s highest safari prices if you go there.
Best adventurous family holidays
If you think your children are able to handle the kind of wild experiences Africa can offer, we really recommend that families with children over 10 consider a more adventurous trip.
Southern Tanzania is particularly ideal for adventurous families, as it has many small camps where the focus is on adventurous activities such as boating, fly camping, and walking. Climbing Kilimanjaro is also an option for a family wishing to do something different during their safari-focused holiday. Zambia is our other recommendation. It is home to the most adventurous safari in Africa. Walking is the highlight here, while there are also a number of canoe safari options on the Zambezi river.
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"Yellow Zebra are genuine specialists; they know the African bush like the back of their hand."
Brian Jackman, safari expert for The Sunday Times, The Telegraph, Condé Nast, and the BBC
'Europe's Leading Safari Tour Operator' at the World Travel Awards
8 years in a row, since 2015
"Wies Van der Meer was very patient and answered all of our questions"
Steve O.
"Yellow Zebra excels at understanding our needs and proposing a fantastic itinerary. They take the uncertainty and confusion out of planning. They're super nice, easy to work with, and the trip we arranged them to Southern Africa in 2018 was flawless. We've now planned a 2024 trip through Yellow Z..."
Big Supporter
"I haved worked with YZ 2 years in the past and am planning another trip for 2024. Emma has been responsible and flexible as needed. She provides good information and advice based on her travel experiences."
Georgene Novak
"Olivia was great at listening to my specific requests. It truly is a designed for your wants and needs tour.
The follow-up information regarding travel insurance, visas etc was top notch. You feel very prepared for your trip!"
Nadja Bendouro
"I have been delighted with the planning process of our Yellow Zebra African Safari in Botswana. Our travel specialist, Wies Van Der Meer, East Africa manager, was enthusiastic, helpful and informative. His vast knowledge of Africa provided valuable information and perspective about the areas bes..."
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