Safari

PAGAS · February 2012

What is the youngest aged child you would take on safari in Africa?

ktmae55 · February 2012

I know lots of resorts don't allow kids under a certain age so that's the first thing I'd look into. I'd make sure I was doing a private drive or one specifically for families, and I would take into account my kid's demeanor. I don't have kids, but I'd think about taking my 7 year old niece b/c she's very mature and quiet. If she were on the more hyper/louder side I might have more concerns - I wouldn't want her being loud and annoying the other people on the safari, or scaring off the animals (basically, the kid needs to know when to sit still, be quiet, and listen to direction or it could actually be dangerous).

ondrea · February 2012

My friends took their DS when he was 2. but they had lived there for a few years and went back so they had a comfort that I think most people don't. For me personally it's a lot of money to spend on something that they won't be old enough to remember/enjoy. For us we will take DS when he's older than 10.

Rose.9.6.03 · February 2012

I looked into safari in S. Africa for when my girls were 3 years old. There are definitely options out there. However, most places won't actually allow a child under the age of five/six to go out on safari and see animals, unless you arrange a private ride. Rather, a lot of camps have a kid's club/childcare instead. We were strongly considering going to Phinda private reserve.

Other plans got in the way, but I think we're planning to go for my 40th, when the girls will be 7.

sunshine_day_dreams · February 2012

I agree with PP that you need to check with the place you plan to stay. When we were in Tanzania, there were a lot of places that wouldn't let kids under 12 stay.

To me, it would also depend on what type of safari vehicle you will be in and how quiet/well behaved your children are. If you are in a completely open safari vehicle (ie: not just the pop-top) I would make sure that your child is at the age and maturity level that they can sit completely quiet and still when told. Sudden movement and sounds make animals do crazy things.

But also, like another PP said, it is SO expensive to get to Africa and then go on safari. I would want to wait until my child was an age that they would remember, enjoy and truly appreciate the experience.

Publius · February 2012

We went to Kruger in December and there were a lot of little kids there. If we have a kid, it will entirely depend on how well the kid sits in a car for long periods of time.

sushisamba · February 2012

We went on our honeymoon to S. Africa and discussed going back someday with kids. But given the expense and the fact that it would be an experience we would want them to really remember, I don't think we would take any kids with us until they were at least 13. I think at our resort that was even the minimum age.

PAGAS · February 2012

Thanks so much! DH talked with our travel agent and she is looking into age appropriate options for 2013. I am fairly certain this won't be our only safari over the course of her lifetime, I just wanted to make sure it would be allowed.

Publius · February 2012

If you do it by yourself (ie rent a car and drive yourself around) there isn't a minimum age. Individual rest camp/lodge sites might have a minimum age, but others nearby won't. There is definitely no minimum age at the rest camps operated by the park in Kruger. Like, I said, there were kids all over the place.

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