A family safari in Africa is not only very cool, but in many cases it creates a deeper bond with each other. It is so much more than just a holiday, it is a joint adventure and offers the family undiluted time for each other. Nowadays you can go on a safari with the family in very beautiful locations!
In a not too distant past, safaris were the privilege of adults. At that time, children were actually seen as a kind of jammer for the peace and tranquility. Little to nothing was specifically made for children. Fortunately that is completely different now.
Special family accommodations were built, children’s menus were designed and special children’s activities were set up. As a result, there are more and more experienced guides who consciously focus on families with children. Kids are therefore not just accepted – they are specially taken into account and they are really welcomed!
So go out with your family and experience the beauty of nature and culture together and feel the positive impact this experience has on the (youngest) family members. We have listed a number of accommodations in South Africa where children are 100% taken into account for your family holiday!
Morukuru Farm House
A safari-chic take on the traditional African farm homestead, offering the perfect private setting for larger families and friends travelling together.
Located inside Madikwe Game Reserve in South Africa, the five-suite Farm House is an oasis, surrounded by luscious green lawns, and set within a 100-hectare fenced-in safe area which is home to general game, so kids can play and roam at will, and guests may have the freedom to walk and explore.
Furnished by well-known South African interior designer, Sumari Krige, Morukuru Farm House is unpretentious yet stylish, with bespoke items produced by local artists and craftsmen in a neutral palette. Following the owners’ brief to create spaces where families with children of all ages can completely relax, the overall sense is kick-off-shoes and curl-up-on-the-couch comfort. The five huge en-suite bedrooms – linked to the main area by a covered walkway – are all equally luxurious, because Morukuru Family believes that a family holiday should be special for every family member.
Kwandwe Ecca Lodge
Set in thick vegetation overlooking a dense valley in South Africa, Ecca Lodge offers breath taking views onto an escarpment of steep shale cliffs, featuring six suites of which three are dedicated to families. The double suites can accommodate 2 adults each and the family suites accommodate 2 adults and 2 children.
The family suites also include a private vehicle and ranger. The lodge is intimate, relaxed and trendy with décor inspired by the vibrant colours and textures of our nearby villages. The suites of Ecca Lodge are airy and open with flowing interiors that extend outwards to the wilderness. Wraparound decks, complete with private plunge pools and outdoor showers, offer sweeping views and complete relaxation. All ages are welcome.
Mhondoro Safari Lodge
Mhondoro Safari Lodge & Villa is a luxurious, five-star private Safari Lodge and Villa situated within the malaria-free Welgevonden Game Reserve in Limpopo, South Africa. The Main Lodge and private Villa were extensively rebuilt in 2015. The interior of the suites, also having been refurbished, means the style of the whole Lodge is an elegant mélange of chic African and contemporary European design.
The sophisticated yet child-friendly lodge is rapidly becoming distinguished for its newly added underground waterhole hide, which is connected to the Main Lodge by a tunnel. This unique feature offers an accessible, safe and one-of-a-kind opportunity to get up close to the animals drinking at the waterhole in front of the lodge. Mhondoro Safari Lodge is the first and only five-star Safari Lodge to offer this exciting and special experience.
Mhondoro Safari Lodge is family friendly yet is private and exclusive, enabling guests to relax and explore abundant wildlife on guided game drives. Welgevonden Game Reserve’s strict policy limiting the number of vehicles on the Reserve, enhances the exclusive and peaceful drives and ensures there will be no interruptions from vehicle traffic.
Madikwe Safari Lelapa Lodge
Madikwe’s wooded hills give way to savannah and Kalahari plains, roamed by all of the Big Five and countless other mammals. Look up and you will see hundreds of resident and migrant birds gracing its skies. Coupled with the reserve being malaria-free, this all makes for a special place to explore.
While the luxury of Madikwe Safari Lodge lies in having direct access to some of South Africa’s best Big Five safari experiences, it is also the pleasure of coming back to thoughtful comforts, warm hospitality, and excellent meals after several hours in the bush that defines five-star stays here. The Madikwe brand of luxury comes standard, and what sets each of its retreats apart is its unique feel – appealing to different travelers.
For families, Madikwe Safari Lodges offers the Lelapa lodge. Lelapa (‘family’ in Setswana) is the kind of place that brings people together and welcomes you to settle in. Luxury here is not the fussy kind, it’s freedom – with your every need taken care of – to make the most of each moment. The open-plan main lodge invites meeting up; the Mack & Madi Kids’ Adventure Safari Club is non-stop fun with new friends; and with 12 spacious Suites, including four Family Suites, sociable couples and families alike will find themselves completely at home.
Of course there are many more safe and malaria free lodges where you can bring your entire family. Feel free to send us a message and we will personally ensure that each family member has a vacation never to forget.
