Wilderness Safaris Botswana has expanded its children’s programme with the introduction of a new ‘Bush Buddies’ service that pairs children with highly trained mentors for the duration of their stay. 
This complimentary new service is available on request prior to arrival. The Bush Buddy will arrive a day before the family to ensure all the necessary arrangements have been made in expectation of the children’s arrival. After meeting the family, they will discuss the wide range of entertaining and educational activities available, tailoring each experience to suit the children’s ages and individual interests.
Daytime activities include nature walks, tracking lessons, bird and animal call identification, treasure hunts and cooking lessons in the bush. There is also a range of arts and craft activities, including making natural sculptures out of collected materials, painting with natural dyes and jewellery making. In the evenings, children can enjoy night drives, dancing and drumming, star gazing and storytelling. All activities will be supervised by the Bush Buddy.
On arrival at all Wilderness Safaris camps, children up to the age of 12 are given a unique Bush Buddy Bag, filled with interesting safari keepsakes, such as a bug viewer, ‘My Safari Guide’ booklet, water bottle, cap and eco-friendly wind-up torch. Teenage Packs include a mini-Maglite torch and branded cap and are given to teenagers between the ages of 13 and 17. 
“Our six Bush Buddies were chosen due to the extensive experience they all have in childcare, and have received additional specialist training on the educational aspects of looking after children in the bush. This ensures that children get the most out of their Wilderness journey, learning about wildlife and the natural environment while still having fun. We are looking forward to taking our family safari offering to another level, creating opportunities for parents and children to reconnect with each other, as well as the wilderness areas in which we operate,” said Grant Woodrow, Wilderness Safaris Botswana MD.