With family travel on the rise it is becoming increasingly important for children to be incorporated in the African travel experience.

Tourism Update will shine a weekly spotlight on potential products to include when creating a child-friendly Southern or East African itinerary.

1. Acacia Africa has opened its complete small group safari collection to parents with children eight years or older. This year it launched its 12-day Delta and Chobe Waterways accommodated small group tour. A highlight for families is participating in walking safaris in the 3 200-hectare Polokwane Game Reserve. Arno Delport, Sales and Marketing Manager of Acacia Africa comments: “The park’s main attraction is the amount of ground a family can cover on foot in a single afternoon. White rhino, and some rare game, like the sable and tsessebe antelope are often encountered.” Additional walking safaris in Zimbabwe’s Matobo National Park and Botswana’s Okavango Delta are also listed on the itinerary. 

1. Footsteps in Africa welcomes children of all ages to its camps and lodges. The Okavango Delta Camp allows children of 16 and under to stay free if they are sharing a chalet with two paying adults. All activities are private, allowing families to take their time without worrying about impacting other travellers. Children’s activities include learning how to pole a mokoro, climb a termite mound, play soccer with elephant poo, join Bushmen trackers on walks, learning to make their own bows and arrows, joining safaris and engaging with the supplied children’s activity booklet.

1. Mhondoro Game Reserve has introduced a range of children’s activities aimed at families booking Mhondoro Villa on an exclusive-use basis. Located in the malaria-free Welgevonden Game Reserve in the Waterberg, the villa sleeps six people and welcomes children of all ages. Children’s programmes are tailor-made to accommodate all ages and include insect bush walks; making of animal track moulds; baking with the chef; archery; herb gardening; and hair braiding. Families booking the Villa are provided with their own ranger and game viewing vehicle and children are welcome on game drives. Babysitting services are available if required; younger children can run free in a dedicated open-air play area (which is protected by an elephant fence) while older children may participate in stargazing evenings using the telescope on the Stardeck.

1. Morukuru Family is a small family-owned collection. All properties are in malaria-free areas in South Africa and welcome children of all ages. Each of the exclusive-use houses comes with its own chef, personal butler, babysitting services for the children (if required), private guide, and tracker. Children are welcome to join game drives. Morukuru Family offers tailor-made activities for children on request, put together based on age and specific interests. Morukuru Beach Lodge is set to open July 7, 2018, and will join the collection’s five existing properties.

This article is one of a series by Tourism Update on child-friendly offers in Southern and East Africa. To be considered for inclusion, please comment below, or email Savannah (savannahf@nowmedia.co.za) with your child-friendly offers and we will be in contact.