African Family Vacations: Where to Go and What to Expect

Africa is a continent rich in diverse landscapes, incredible wildlife, and vibrant cultures, making it a perfect destination for family vacations. The best places to visit in Africa with family ranges from stunning beaches and majestic mountains to thrilling safaris and cultural experiences.

This vast land has something for every member of the family. Here’s an introduction to some of the top destinations and what you can expect when planning African family vacations.

South Africa’s diverse landscapes and rich cultural heritage provide endless opportunities for exploration and fun. Expect family-friendly lodges and hotels with plenty of activities, from wildlife safaris and beach outings to cultural experiences and thrilling watersports.

Cape Town is a family-friendly destination known for its natural beauty and array of activities. Families can take the cable car up Table Mountain for breathtaking views, visit the famous V&A Waterfront for shopping and dining, and relax on the beautiful beaches of Clifton and Camp’s Bay. The city also offers cultural experiences such as exploring the vibrant Bo-Kaap neighbourhood and visiting Robben Island, to learn more about the country’s political history,

Kruger National Park is an incredible safari destination, where your family can see the iconic Big Five (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, and buffalo) and immerse yourselves in the beautiful, vast wilderness of the savannah. The park offers many family-friendly lodges and camps that provide guided game drives, insightful bush walks, and interesting educational programmes about wildlife conservation.

The Garden Route is a scenic drive along South Africa’s southern coast, offering stops in charming towns like Knysna and Plettenberg Bay, as well as opportunities to support rewilding in South Africa. The route features beautiful beaches, wildlife sanctuaries, and some of the best land-based whale watching opportunities on the planet. There are many experiences on offer along the route: kayaking with dolphins, bungee jumping, surfing and at Robberg Nature Reserve, you can go snorkelling with seals.

Kenya offers a blend of exciting safari experiences and upbeat adventure activities. Families can expect guided safaris that are educational and suitable for children, along with cultural experiences like visiting Maasai villages.

Nairobi offers family-friendly attractions like the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust's elephant orphanage or the Giraffe Centre, where kids can feed giraffes. Stop by Nairobi National Park, where you can see big cats and towering ostriches against a backdrop of city skyscrapers. Kenya’s capital is also home to excellent museums, gardens, and markets to explore.

Travel down to the Maasai Mara to witness one of the world’s most spectacular wildlife events in the form of the Great Migration. Families can enjoy guided safaris suitable for children, with opportunities to see lions, elephants, and other fascinating animals up close. You can also embark on special night excursions to spot the lesser-seen nocturnal species in the conservancies outside of the main reserve.

If you decide on staying at an eco-lodge or tented camp on sustainable conservancies like Cottars 1920s Camp or Kicheche Mara Camp, you will be directly supporting local communities and conservation through your stay. You will also be able to meet the Maasai who are sharing their land with you.

Home to the safari, Kenya offers many different types of safari experiences for families. Visit the rolling hills of Laikipia, which was once prime ranch land that has been restored to its original wild state. Together Lewa Wilderness and Borana Lodge have created a beautiful sanctuary in this area. The game drives here showcase the best place in all of Africa to encounter white and black rhinos, which thrive there in numbers seen nowhere else.

Venture out on mountain bike rides and horseback rides suitable for all abilities, nature walks tailored for younger children or join exclusive hands-on conservation experiences and village tours. A unique highlight of this area is the option of taking a spellbinding flight around the snow-capped peaks of Mount Kenya.

Tanzania provides a mix of adventurous safaris and relaxing beach vacations. Families can stay in lodges and beach resorts that cater to children, offering activities like snorkelling, diving into iridescent coral reefs, and enthralling cultural tours. The varied landscapes, from savannas to beaches, ensure there’s something for everyone.

The Serengeti National Park offers another prime location for witnessing the Great Migration, as well as playing host to an immense array of African wildlife. Family-friendly lodges provide guided game drives, walking safaris, and educational activities about the local wildlife and ecosystem.

The Ngorongoro Crater is a wildlife haven packed with a dense population of animals, including the Big Five. The crater’s diverse landscapes make it an excellent destination for safaris, with opportunities to see elephants, lions, and flamingos in a stunning setting.

Known for glorious beaches, the Zanzibar Archipelago is perfect for a family beach holiday. Families can enjoy kayaking in search of dolphins, windsurfing or cruising the pristine waters on a traditional dhow sailing boat. The island’s resorts offer a plethora of activities for children and adults, ensuring a relaxing and enjoyable stay. Tours of the historic Stone Town are more slow-paced and allow you to spend time together exploring the rich cultural heritage of the island that blends African, Arab and Indian influences.

Botswana is a paradise for wildlife, nature, and adventure-loving families. The remote and intimate safari experiences that Botswana plays host to ensure a unique and memorable family vacation.

The Okavango Delta is teeming with wildlife and offers an intimate safari experience. Families can enjoy safaris on the water, on mokoro canoes and boating excursions, providing a different perspective on the wildlife and scenery.

A short and scenic light aircraft flight brings you to the Moremi Game Reserve, an unfenced reserve, made up of a patchwork of floodplains. Explore the reserve on foot, by game drive or by boat, as you search for elephants, buffaloes, lions, leopards, cheetahs, hippos, and rare wild dogs along with exceptional populations of birdlife.

Botswana also houses the Kalahari Desert, a vast open expanse of sands, shrubs and grass tussocks that stretches further than any eye can see. During the day, wander giant fossil riverbeds, pans and savannah on the lookout for oryx, cheetah, giraffe and more.

Discover this sprawling wilderness on dawn and dusk drives, the best time to see the Kalahari’s black-maned lions, leopard, bat eared foxes and other desert rarities. The remote nature of the desert makes the Kalahari one of the greatest places in the world for stargazing as the night sky offers glistening open skies with an unmatched clarity.

African family vacations offer a wealth of experiences, from thrilling safaris and adventure activities to relaxing beach holidays and cultural explorations.

Whether you choose to explore the diverse landscapes of South Africa or the stunning beauty of Tanzania, our expert travel team can create a bespoke African family vacations for you today, get in touch on +44 (0) 20 3821 5994 (UK), +1 (833) 215 9353 (US) or at explore@niarratravel.com to start an unforgettable journey filled with fun, learning, and adventure for the whole family.