Angama
The allure of safaris transcends age barriers, appealing to both adults and children as a source of adrenaline and amusement. Witnessing the majesty of the animal kingdom up close, breathing in the untamed wilderness, and connecting with nature early in life can have a profound impact on a child's development, whilst instilling a lifelong ardour for the natural world. Being close to nature and the wild comes with its lessons of resilience, interconnectedness, and one’s place in the world, yet planning a safari with children brings a unique set of challenges and questions.
To help us navigate the nitty gritty of taking children on safaris, we turned to the experts. We chat with Kate Boyd, the Head of Business Development at Angama Safaris who has not only spent her life immersed in the safari industry but is also a parent to her young ones. From addressing the most common concerns on when is the right time to take children on safaris to how as parents you have access to best practices, we’ve covered it all.
Angama
PL: At what age should children be taken on safaris?
Kate Boyd: There is no exact science on when a child should go on their first safari – it really does boil down to whether their attention will be captured on safari, especially in the downtime between big animal sightings. In my experience – having been on safari since I was tiny, and now having taken my children on safari their entire lives (the first 1-hour drive was at 9 weeks old), the earliest one could take children on safari is from about 2 and a half, but from the age of 4 is when you start to see little ones really start to engage with their environment. Bearing in mind, that many lodges only accept children from 6 years and over to absolutely ensure that safe behaviour is adhered to on vehicles when viewing predators.
PL: What is the importance of children connecting with nature early?
Kate Boyd: That’s easy – the natural world is magical, and tech-free. It harks back to the old world of storytelling and a simpler way of being. The natural world is also an easy example to young minds of the balance of Mother Earth, and how all things hold an important part in that balance. At a young age, early philosophies of conservation are able to be explained, and I have personally witnessed how these morals will sit and ruminate in a little mind, and days later their curiosity is still spinning questions and ideas on why it is so important to look after the earth and animals.
Angama
PL: Is it safe and what are the best safety practices?
Kate Boyd: Taking children on safari is completely safe if you follow the safety rules and regulations as laid out to you by your guide. When travelling with children, these rules might be a little tighter, simply to ensure the safety of everyone involved, but mostly children. The guides are completely at liberty not to drive into a sighting of an animal if they feel it is too risky to do so with a child in a vehicle. An example of this is a guide will leave a sighting of a predator if a young child starts to cry, as this cry will sound like a distress call and may encourage the predator to react. Well-trained and experienced safari guides know animal behaviour and how to read, so no matter if you are travelling with or without your children – always listen to your guide.
PL: What should parents be keeping in mind while planning?
Kate Boyd: When planning, I would look at staying at lodges with other experiences to do at the lodge, over and above going on safari. This allows children some downtime off of the vehicle where they can expend some energy; it might also allow mum and dad an hour or two of alone time while your little ones are whisked away and kept entertained by some of the warmest hospitality teams in the world. I would also encourage buying some ‘safari swag’ before departure, like children’s binoculars and a children’s mammal book – these bring endless hours of joy to little ones while out on safari. The two most important items to pack however are sun hats and sun cream – it gets hot out there in Africa.
The journey of introducing young explorers to the wild is not merely a vacation; it is an investment in the future. It is an opportunity to inspire a new generation of passionate conservationists, explorers, and custodians of our planet.
Are you ready to get your little one out in the wild? Contact us to plan their first wildlife safari and benefit from our partnerships with top wildlife lodges around the world.
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