Have you ever considered taking the whole family on a Safari holiday in South Africa? Yes, you read that correctly, the WHOLE family! Contrary to popular belief, there are in fact a handful safari tours and lodges for holidays in South Africa that are designed to make sure that your kids get to join in on the family adventure of a lifetime!
To help you make sure that the entire family can enjoy a relaxing holiday in the African bushveld, we’ve put together a list of lodges and tours that cater to the needs of every guest, no matter their age so you can have the best safari holiday in South Africa.
Family-Friendly Safari Holidays in South Africa
Morukuru Farm House – Madikwe Game Reserve
If you have a large family, then this one is for you! The Morukuru Farm House offers luxury in the heart of the African bush. The five-suite farm style house is perched beautifully on a 100-hectare oasis. With a safe, fenced-in area, the house offers the perfect spot for kids and families to enjoy the outdoors.
The lodge also welcomes children on game drives and the Morukuru Kidz program aims to spark a passion for game ranging in every one of their little guests. With their own guided tours, and bush walks, the kids will have plenty to do while you relax and take in the beautiful surrounds on your family holiday in South Africa.
Royal Malewane Africa House – Thornybush Game Reserve
Situated in the luscious Thornybush Game Reserve (situated within the Kruger National Park), the Royal Malewane Africa House offers a family-safari experience like none other. The house itself caters for up to 12 guests making it an ideal option for big families or large groups.
The lodge offers private guides, tours and drives designed to make your stay unique and personal. There is also a television lounge, a swimming pool and plenty of toys and games to keep the young bucks busy.
Londolozi
This private, family-run game reserve is an icon of conservation and luxury in South Africa. Situated on the Sand River within the Kruger National Park, this reserve is unmatched in class, luxury and beauty.
The Londolozi Cubs programme has been carefully shaped to ensure that kids gain insight into the world of conservation and the necessity of conservation. The Cub’s Den is equipped with a handful of tents, ponds and pretend-game drive vehicles, all of which make sure that they have the most fascinating time visiting the bushveld on your family holiday in South Africa.
Gondwana Family Lodge – Sanbona Gondwana Lodge
Designed for family safaris, this lodge offers luxury suites with spectacular views of the surrounding Karoo plains. The lodge hosts a “Kids on Safari” programme fitted with a range of outdoor activities, as well as various social and sporting activities to keep the kids engaged and interested on their holiday. They’ll even have the chance to learn about animals tracks and important plants in the area.
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Rock Lodge – Ulusaba
Ulusaba is Sir Richard Branson’s private game reserve situated in the beautiful Mpumalanga province of South Africa. This family-friendly safari destination was voted the number 1 resort in Africa in the Conde Nast Traveler Reader’s Choice Awards in 2016 and was ranked the third best resort in the world.
The resort also boasts a dedicated Cub’s Club aimed at keeping the little ones entertained. The lodge does not operate a set programme, but rather offers a range of activities that your kids can choose from. Kids will receive a backpack filled with safari goodies on arrival, a small hint of what is to come during their stay at the lodge.
Babysitting is also available at no extra charge. However, this service is subject to season and availability.
Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge
Sharing its borders with the Kruger National Park, the Sabi Sands offers you and your family an unforgettable chance to see the Big 5 in their natural habitat.
Designed with families in mind, the EleFun Centre is painted with tribal Ndebele designs and boasts a play park fitted with swings and loads of other activities to choose from. A day at EleFun will be filled with arts & crafts, games, treasure hunts and ranger games.
Kwandwe Ecca Lodge
Situated in the Eastern Cape region of South Africa, lies this affordable destination for anyone looking to experience the Eastern Cape in laid-back fashion. It also makes for an ideal stopover for anyone road-tripping along the Garden Route.
Children can become honorary members of the Blue Crane Conservation Club which means that they will learn all about conservation and will learn to identify animal tracks and droppings. You can also go on supervised fishing trips.
Madikwe Safari Lodge
Located in the north west area of Johannesburg, Madikwe Safari Lodge is a child-friendly lodge with a passion for making wildlife enjoyable and relatable for the whole family.
They encourage parents to bring their children on the safari tours and promise to make sure that there are child-friendly activities along the way. They also don’t charge for kids younger than six years.
There you have it, safaris and kids do mix, and they mix especially well at the game lodges and reserves mentioned above. Now all you have to do is pack your bags and head over for an experience of a lifetime on your family-friendly holiday to South African.