Custom Itinerary
Haggerty Family Safari
Africa can work for families with kids of all ages – especially South Africa and Kenya, which have a greater variety of all-ages camps, kids’ activities, and private villas. We discussed a two-part trip so the kids’ group can split from the adults’ group after the initial safari. I’ve outlined a few favorite options by country below, along with some ballpark prices. I don’t have 2027 rates yet, so these are estimates – and availability is not guaranteed. We’ll go through more options once we narrow down the destination.
South Africa is the most accessible safari option in Africa. There are multiple direct flights to Johannesburg and Cape Town from Newark, DC, and Atlanta. The most dense wildlife is in the Greater Kruger National Park area – particularly in the private reserves – but there are now solid options around the country. In addition to safari, you have lots of activities in Cape Town and the Winelands, and you are relatively close to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. Prices are also generally better in South Africa for the level of room you get.
It is sometimes nice to have a night at an airport hotel to gather the group, but I would jump right into the safari soon after that. Everyone will be jet lagged, but this is actually beneficial when you have to wake up at 5:30-6 am for game drives and can nap all afternoon if you want. There are two areas that I would focus on for options: The Eastern Cape or the aforementioned Kruger private reserves.
The Eastern Cape is arguably the easiest place to safari with kids in Africa. It’s malaria-free, and there are multiple all-ages lodges with kids’ clubs here. The wildlife isn’t quite at Kruger level yet, but you will find all of the big animals (elephant, giraffe, lion). Rhinos are much more plentiful here. Temperatures will be in the 55-70 range, since it’s a bit cooler here, but many camps offer kids’ clubs and heated pools. My favorite lodge for families is Kwandwe Ecca (approx. $11-12k per night for a full buyout); you could take over the property for around 4 nights. You get a top-tier luxury safari here. Another good option is Shamwari Riverdine (approx. $9k per night for the group and most of the lodge). This has amazing kids’ facilities, like a large playground and a wildlife rehab center. However, it doesn’t have as authentic an African vibe as Kwandwe.
The Greater Kruger area is the other option – known for its abundance of wildlife. Lots of elephants and one of the highest leopard densities in Africa, but not as many family options. Simbavati River Lodge (approx. $9k per night for most of the lodge for the group) is one of the best and a favorite among clients. It’s a bit larger at 11 rooms so that you couldn’t take it over. However, they are used to kids, with a kids’ club and pool to keep everyone happy. Temperatures in the 60-80 range here.
After your shared safari, I would send the family group to Cape Town. The waterfront is beautiful and very accessible to families with lots of restaurants, hotels ($200-400/nt per room), and the Two Oceans Aquarium. Off the waterfront, you can take the cable car to the top of Table Mountain or drive to Betty’s Bay to see the penguin colony. If parents are wine lovers, the nearby Winelands are also really great for families. It’s not as adult-oriented as Napa/Sonoma, and many wineries have playgrounds for kids.
If the adult group wants more adventure, I would send them to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. The falls will be impressive and in full mist mode in June. I suggest walking them and then taking a helicopter ride to see them from above. There nice boutique hotels ($400/nt per room) and dining options in Vic Falls town, and sometimes you will see elephants crossing the street on your way to dinner.
A great combo with Victoria Falls is Hwange National Park if you’re looking for a few nights at a wilder safari destination than South Africa. It’s a vast area, and the guides here are hands down the best in Africa (especially for walking). I was at Camp Hwange ($750 per person per night) a few months ago and had an incredible elephant encounter on foot.
Kenya offers many safari options and lends itself well to a longer safari. It’s not quite as easy logistically as South Africa, with one direct flight from New York. Still, it does have multiple baby-animal orphanages and a better cultural experience with Maasai guides. While Kenya technically has malaria, most of the places I would send you are high elevation and have not seen a case in decades.
I would stay two nights in Nairobi to start your trip. This will give you time to see the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust elephant orphanage and the Giraffe Centre. There are several boutique options ($400/nt) in the Karen neighborhood that are good for families.
Depart from the domestic Nairobi Wilson airport on the third morning in Kenya. You’ll take a prop plane to the high elevation Laikipia Plateau near Mount Kenya. It’s not as famous as the Maasai Mara, but the wildlife is almost as good, the weather is great, and there are better family options here. One of my favorites is Lewa Private Wilderness (approx. $14k per night for full group buyout), a luxury family lodge in the Lewa Conservancy. This is a great spot to see a variety of wildlife, especially rhino, meet the Maasai, and do activities like horseback riding and mountain biking. Plus, you would have it entirely to yourself. This is one of the nicer options, so I can find y’all something more adventurous and cheaper if you need.
After the shared safari, I would likely send the family group to Olepangi Farm ($500-800/nt for a room), which is only about an hour away from Lewa. It’s a quirky boutique hotel with access to various activities in the area, including farm tours, waterfall hikes, and the rhino orphanage.
For the adults, I think a fun idea for the second half of the trip could be chartering a traditional dhow sailboat ($1k per person per night – 2nt minimum) along the coast for a few nights. You can sleep on or below deck (above is traditional), and the crew will take you to the best snorkeling and fishing spots around. Alternatively, Kenya offers great trekking around Mount Kenya, as well as cultural activities and safaris further north.
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