From painted dogs to surfing lessons, families have a diversity of experiential encounters to sample in Africa. View some of the ones submitted by local lodges, tour and specialist operators.

Rocktail Camp in iSimangaliso

From mid-October to March each year, turtle season at Wilderness Safaris’ Rocktail Camp in KwaZulu Natal’s iSimangaliso Wetland Park, gives guests front-row seats to one of the world’s most fascinating spectacles – the nesting and hatching of leatherback and loggerhead turtles. Snorkelling and scuba diving in the park takes place in some of the world’s most pristine and protected coral reefs. Scuba diving courses are also offered for kids.

At most of Wilderness Safaris’ camps, children are accommodated and there are many activities on offer for families. However, the availability of family rooms and minimum age limits must be taken into account. 

At most camps, guided walks enable guests of all ages to get close to large and small creatures, birds, insects and plant species. Further, sleep-out options or star beds are on offer at camps in Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe for adventurous family groups.

The Hide, Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe

Within camp at The Hide, family adventure safaris are offered where children, accompanied by guides, learn about insects, make moulds of animal spoor and help out in the tree nursery. 

Another family experience of educational value is a visit to the painted dog rehabilitation centre. Here visitors are taken on a guided tour and see wild dogs in rehabilitation.

Kabokweni Cultural Tour, Mpumalanga

This township is located behind Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (KMIA) and Mfafa Safaris’ tour reveals how it was formed during apartheid, and its progress since then. It includes a visit to a sangoma healing and initiation school with demonstrations of healing and prediction skills, traditional attire and dancing.

Next door is the Zwelisha Primary School where, during school term, clients learn about the school’s background and tour its facilities, such as a library, classrooms and electronic resources centre. The computer room presently has just 11 functional computers serving 1 136 learners; a portion of the tour cost is allocated to fund the school’s wish list. The tour is suitable for the family, but if taken during school holidays requires a change in itinerary.

Says Anne Briggs, Owner of Mfafa Safaris: “After the visit, we stop at Gordon’s, a good place for an African lunch of roasted meat and beverages.”

Bateleur Main & Mobile Camps, Timbavati Reserve

During their stay at Bateleur Main and Mobile Camps, guests are given practical information and instruction relating to bush craft, says Andrew Iles, CEO of Ashtons Tours, Safaris & Shuttles, which handles marketing and reservations for the Timbavati camps.

This includes various bush survival skills, such as tracking and navigation, lighting fires, making ropes and water containers, even pottery. “This is not widely offered by other game lodges and it never fails to exceed guests’ expectations,” comments Andrew.

In clear-sky conditions, guests are also treated to basic astronomy talks, learning about stars visible with the naked eye, and presentations on other points of interest in the bush. “For the strong at heart, the spider and scorpion module provides guests with the opportunity to handle and learn about these beautifully scary creatures in a safe and informative environment. And it’s all included in the rates,” says Andrew.

All of the above experiential activities are offered as standard to every Bateleur client or group, regardless of group size.

Family wilderness courses

On an Ecotraining wilderness course, families could find themselves making toothbrushes from a stick, or fire from wood and stones.

Depending on the age of the children, activities can range from animal tracking, to vehicle maintenance for teenagers.  Situational awareness is a skill good for all ages, says Marketing Manager, Katherine Greathead. Family groups can learn about navigation and orientation; medicinal uses of trees and plants, astronomy and star-gazing.  “In camp we conduct sports in the riverbed too for leisure time,” she says.

Baobab Hill Bush House, Kruger

ReturnAfrica’s Baobab Hill Bush House is a four-bedroomed homestead on a small hill near the Luvuvhu River in Pafuri in the Northern Kruger National Park, perfect for families. The property is fenced, offering a child-friendly environment.

Activities on offer for families include game drives and short, informative bush walks under the guidance of a field guide. There is an informal kids’ programme that gives little ones insight into birds and smaller creatures. Experiences that suit families include excursions to the Fever Tree Forest and specific lookout points.

Family activities

Sales & Marketing Director for Welcome Tourism Safaris, Alessandra Allemann, cites the following experiences as suitable for families: pony trekking in the mountains of Lesotho; surfing lessons at the Stoked School of Surf in Camps Bay and bread baking at the Môreson Wine Estate at Franschhoek. 

One can meet giraffes and ostriches at Johannesburg’s Lion Park, explore the fossils of early man at Maropeng, and interact with meerkats at Oudtshoorn (children must be over 10 years old).