Family Holidays You’ve Probably Never Thought Of
Heading off as a family in the summer and at Christmas is obvious, but there are plenty of other school holidays to use for a safari, and lots of places with great wildlife and weather to use them. Here are some great family holiday ideas you’ve probably never thought of:
February Half Term
Skiing can break the bank in the February half term, but it’s shoulder season for a family safari in Kenya, South Africa or Tanzania. The first two have direct flights and Tanzania’s wide-ranging internal flights make connecting safari and beach ridiculously easy.
Family safari tent at Sayari Camp
Enjoy great wildlife away from the crowds from Sayari Camp in the Serengeti. Family tents here sleep up to five people in comfort. Finish on the beach at Matemwe Lodge on Zanzibar with split level rooms with children’s beds on the mezzanine.
Easter Holidays
It’s still a long way from being warm enough to surf in Cornwall, and the snow has gone slushy in the Alps, so head to Cape Town and combine it with a family safari in Botswana or Zimbabwe.
Dining under the stars at Khwai Bush Camp
The variety of activities in and around South Africa’s Mother City – from penguins on Boulders Beach to a cablecar up Table Mountain – is only matched by the diversity of accommodation. Boutique hotels such as Welgelegen have family rooms for up to four, while the Cape Grace offers two and three bedroom suites.
The Cape Grace, perfectly positioned for exploring Cape Town
Direct flights to Maun (Botswana) or Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe) open up a wealth of family safari opportunities in areas with great wildlife and small numbers of visitors. Khwai Bush Camp on the fringes of the Okavango Delta has two two-bedroom chalets for families and Somalisa Acacia in Hwange National Park has huge tents with two separate bedrooms.
Exciting wildlife encounters at Somalisa Acacia Camp
October Half Term
The clocks have changed (for the worse) and leaves are coming off the trees in the UK, but it’s hot and sunny throughout Africa and the Indian Ocean.
Fabulous wildlife viewing at Borana Lodge
In much of Southern Africa it might be too much for all but the biggest sun lovers, but the altitude of camps across Kenya makes temperatures pleasant rather than challenging. Stay somewhere like family friendly Borana, where there is a pool to cool off in between a huge variety of safari activities.
Alfajiri Villas combine wonderfully with time on a Kenyan safari
From here you can head to the coast to stay in one of the villas at Alfajiri for some R&R after your safari. Or if your children’s autumn half term is two weeks, perhaps head further afield to the Seychelles to really spoil yourselves.
Pre-Christmas
If your kids break up early, avoid the dark days of December with a pre-Christmas break in malaria free South Africa taking advantage of low season rates (up to 19 December you’ll pay almost half the cost of Christmas week). Yes you may get some rainfall, but it’s typically short sharp downpours in the middle of the day during siesta time, and the grass is still short, so wildlife viewing is easy.
Family wildlife drive at Madikwe Safari Lodge
Madikwe Reserve has all Africa’s iconic wildlife yet is easily accessible from Johannesburg. At Madikwe Safari Lodge the family suites sleep up to five and there are plenty of activities to keep everyone busy as well as the twice daily wildlife drives.
Stunning setting at Marataba Safari Lodge
Alongside the low season rates is an offer combining three nights at Madikwe with three more in Marakele National Park at Marataba Lodge, where the family suites sleep up to four, and your internal flights are free!
What next?
We would be delighted to help with planning your perfect holiday – we’ve plenty more ideas you’ve probaby never thought of that make wonderful family safaris . Our team of experts has travelled widely, often with their own children, throughout Africa and the Indian Ocean and can offer expert advice. Do get in touch – chatting to people by phone or email is what we do best. We listen, we explain, we answer all sorts of questions even those you didn’t know to ask, and finally we make suggestions. If this is your first time to Africa or your twenty first, we have a team standing by to help make the planning easy and the journey the best ever. Please get in touch whatever stage you’re at.
Hi
Next Easter we would like to go on a family safari holiday!
Can you put together an itinerary for the two weeks of Easter holidays? Total budget is £25,000. We’d like to see animals! But also introduce the children to a different culture/way of life. If time allows a few beach days.
Diana Thomson 70, reasonably fit and active
Alastair Thomson 66, hip replacement and can not ride a bike
Tristan Sargeaunt 42, very fit
Katrina Sargeaunt 44
Edward Sargeaunt 10
Eleanor Sargeaunt 9
Hi Diana, thank you for your message. I have passed your details onto our expert sales team who will be in touch with a few suggestions. All the best, Katy