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Memories made on family vacations are ones to treasure forever. Family holidays are special occasions for every brood; it’s a time to come together, strengthen bonds and enjoy new experiences with one another.

Since 1998, we’ve been taking our own families on safari vacations and understand how to plan family friendly holidays in Africa that are unforgettable for all the right reasons. Africa offers a fantastic array of family accommodation with plenty of outdoor fun and age-appropriate activities for families travelling with kids, teens or even grandparents. Furthermore, if you’re looking for the utmost in privacy, luxury as well as health and safety ‘bubbles’ for you and your loved ones, Africa has some of the best exclusive-use luxury properties.

Based on our extensive experience in planning family friendly holidays, here are our best places for a vacation in Africa with your family:

Africa with Kids

Africa with Kids

Families travelling with small children will battle to beat Mauritius for family-friendly holidays. Easy to reach, safe, friendly and usually bathed in sunshine, this Indian Ocean island has hosted happy families for decades.

Since it’s free of both malaria and big animals, it’s the perfect place for families with little ones to visit. Not only do the resorts on this slice of paradise have picturesque surroundings and safe swimming beaches, but they also offer extensive entertainment and activity programmes for kids as young as two years old.

Mauritius

Paradis Beachcomber Golf Resort & Spa, Le Morne Peninsula

paradis_beachcomber_golf_resort

Why we love it for family-friendly holidays:

  • 5-star beachfront resort located on a protected peninsula
  • Variety of room categories and private villas suited for family-friendly holidays
  • Fantastic kids’ food menu
  • Complimentary baby food, products and facilities available
  • Paradis Kids Club offers a wide range of fun activities to keep kids (three to 11 years) entertained

Shanti Maurice Resort & Spa, Saint Felix

shanti-maurice-resort-spa

Why we love it for family-friendly holidays:

  • Explorers Kids Club caters to kids aged four months to 11 years old
  • Activities like golf, archery, tennis, water sports and yoga are tailor-made to suit each age group
  • Les Petits Dodos offers a games room, film room, computers, game consoles and a dedicated toddler’s swimming pool
  • Fully trained nannies ensure each child is properly cared for
  • Air-conditioned sleep rooms make nap time a dream
  • The resort’s baby service team is fully equipped to meet all your baby’s needs
  • Special kids’ menu to delight any taste buds

Belle Mare, Plage

Why we love it for family-friendly holidays:

  • Friendly, fully qualified staff at Constance Kids Club ensure that all kids aged four to 11 have an amazing family vacation in Africa
  • Amenities include a kids’ swimming pool, open play areas, computer stations, age-appropriate washrooms, outdoor spaces and a playground
  • Four- to six-year-olds enjoy an imagination space that features playhouses, kitchenettes, tool workshops and age-appropriate four-wheeler rides
  • Activities include tag games, running relays, gaming, themed programmes, arts and crafts, and pizza-making
  • Private babysitting service
  • Dedicated à la carte children’s menu
Africa with Teens

Africa with Teenagers

Most teenagers love family-friendly holidays that feature unusual or off-the-wall experiences. Victoria Falls is Africa’s Adventure Capital and offers thrilling activities like white-water rafting, bridge swings and bungee jumping. Namibia’s Sossusvlei and Swakopmund offer the desert equivalent with sand boarding down monstrous dunes, quad biking (ATV) excursions, hiking and hot-air ballooning.

A little more off the beaten track, Lake Malawi is an enormous freshwater adventure paradise and one of the best places for a family vacation in Africa with active teenagers. Settle back in a hammock while your teens go kayaking, sailing and snorkelling in the crystal-clear waters, or gather together for unforgettable Big 5 encounters in Malawi’s Liwonde National Park.

Victoria Falls

Chundukwa River Lodge, Livingstone

ChundukwaRiverLodge-SwimmingPool-DeckPatio

Why we love it for family-friendly holidays:

  • Located 25 kilometres (15 miles) from Victoria Falls, Africa’s Adventure Capital
  • Families with older kids stay in the Jacana Chalet that overlooks the Zambezi River
  • Sunrise and sunset cruises on the river
  • Heated rock plunge pool for swimming year-round
  • Walking and cycling tracks through the riverine forest surrounding the lodge
  • Horse rides and fun polo matches
  • Scenic helicopter flights over Vic Falls
  • Interactions with rescued elephants
  • Swimming in Devil’s Pool during low-water season (September to December)
  • Adventure activities including canoeing, white-water rafting, bungee jumping, bridge swinging and ziplining (age restrictions apply)

Namibia

Shipwreck Lodge, Skeleton Coast National Park

shipwreck-lodge

Why we love it for family-friendly holidays:

  • Stay in a unique family cabin built to look like a shipwreck
  • Exploring and learning about the hauntingly beautiful Skeleton Coast
  • Visiting a massive seal colony at Möwe Bay
  • Excursions along the otherworldly Huarusib River
  • Tracking brown hyena, and desert-adapted elephant and lion
  • Fishing from the beach
  • Quad biking (ATV) excursions into the Namib Desert
  • Scenic flights over the coastline to spot whale bones and shipwreck remnants

Sossusvlei Desert Lodge, Namib-Naukluft Park

sossusvlei-desert-lodge

Why we love it for family-friendly holidays:

  • The luxury Star Dune Suite keeps the entire family close together while still giving everyone their privacy
  • Perfect scenery and design to capture Instagram-worthy pictures
  • Near a Dark Sky Reserve for excellent stargazing, with a resident astronomer and state-of-the-art telescope on hand
  • Star-viewing skylights above every bed
  • Wellness centre offering spa treatments and gym facilities
  • Scenic helicopter and hot-air balloon flights over the dunes and mountains
  • Hiking, e-biking and quad biking (ATV) adventures through the desert
  • Excursions to the one-of-a-kind Deadvlei
  • Great sightings of oryx, Hartmann’s mountain zebra, springbok and ostrich

Malawi

Pumulani Lake Lodge, Lake Malawi

pumulani

Why we love it for family-friendly holidays:

  • The only lodge in Lake Malawi National Park
  • Located on the lake’s edge with a private beach, infinity pool, pool bar and shady trees
  • The family villa is closest to the beach, perfect for family-friendly holidays in Africa
  • Families to go off the grid and savour their time together in this WiFi-free zone
  • Wide range of water-based activities like water skiing, wakeboarding, tubing, kayaking, snorkelling and diving
  • Sunrise and sunset cruises on hand-built dhows (traditional sailboats)
  • Walking, hiking and cycling in the surrounding hills

Kaya Mawa Lodge, Lake Malawi

kaya-mawa-lodge

Why we love it for family-friendly holidays:

  • Located on the private and secluded Likoma Island
  • The Yofu, Ulissa and Ndomo Houses are situated close to the lake and designed to accommodate families of varying sizes
  • Ndomo House comes fully staffed with a house manager, nanny, chefs, housekeepers and watchmen – perfect for a vacation in Africa with family
  • Scuba diving and snorkelling in the lake’s pristine waters
  • In-house PADI-certified diving instructors cater for all skill levels
  • Sailing on the lodge’s Lasers, either solo or with an instructor
  • Wide variety of water-based activities like kayaking, paddle boarding, kite surfing, water skiing and wakeboarding
  • Exploring the area on a mountain bikes or quad bikes (ATVs)
Africa with Older Kids

Africa with Older Kids

Chances are that once they’re ‘out of the house’, there are only a few occasions when you and your children can spend extended leisure time together. What better way to reconnect than with a life-changing experience?

Family-friendly safari holidays in Tanzania or Kenya during the Wildebeest Migration will provide plenty of memories and anecdotes to share for years to come. For a more ‘hands-on’ adventure, gorilla trekking in Africa’s pristine rainforests is an encounter that is both humbling and exhilarating. Getting close to these great apes in their natural environment is a window into our deepest past, and Uganda and Rwanda are the best places for a gorilla trekking vacation in Africa with family.

Tanzania

Singita Sasakwa Lodge, Serengeti

sasakwa-lodge

Why we love it for family-friendly holidays:

  • Panoramic views of the Serengeti plains
  • Front-row seats to the Great Migration (May to July)
  • Two-, three- and four-bedroom cottages available to accommodate families of all sizes
  • Each cottage has a private plunge pool
  • State-of-the-art gym and world-class spa treatments
  • Halal food available on request
  • Tennis court for parents vs children matches
  • Game drives through the wildlife-rich Serengeti
  • Guided nature walks and local village visits
  • Savouring Singita’s premier wine collection

Kenya

Private Bush Villa at Cottar’s, Masai Mara

cottars-1920s-camp

Why we love it for family-friendly holidays:

  • The only exclusive-use luxury private villa in the Masai Mara
  • Up to 12 guests can be accommodated – which means enough room for the entire family
  • Private, 25-meter (82-foot) swimming pool
  • Dedicated staff of eight that caters to your every need
  • Private game vehicle and dedicated guide throughout your stay
  • Front-row seats to the Great Migration (July to October)
  • Day and night game drives and guided bush walks in the Masai Mara
  • Bush meals and sundowners
  • Revitalising massages and spa treatments
  • The Mara is one of the best family holiday destinations in Africa for hot-air balloon safaris

Rwanda

Kataza House, Volcanoes National Park

kataza-house

Why we love it for family-friendly holidays:

  • Exclusive-use luxury villa set on the edge of Volcanoes National Park
  • Easy access to gorilla trekking routes
  • Two private heated plunge pools
  • Villa facilities include a wine cellar, fitness centre, cinema, massage treatment room, interactive kitchen and fire pit
  • Farm-to-table meals with ingredients sourced from the on-site garden
  • Tracking gorillas and golden monkeys
  • Hikes and walks up Mount Bisoke Crater Lake and to Musanze Caves
  • Tours of Kigali and local villages – a great place for a vacation in Africa with a family of cultural tourists

Uganda

Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

sanctuary-gorilla-forest-camp

Why we love it for family-friendly holidays:

  • Located on a private concession in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
  • Each luxury tent comes with two queen-sized beds
  • Seeing rare forest elephants, giant forest hogs and duiker antelope
  • Interactions with the local Batwa tribe
  • Guided forest walks to the Munyaga waterfall
  • Game drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park
  • World-class spa treatments
Africa with Grandparents

Africa with Grandparents

Older family members can explore Africa in absolute comfort and safety. Rovos Rail is the world’s most luxurious train, allowing families to take in the gorgeous scenery from elegant and spacious carriages.

In combination with Rovos Rail or as a stand-alone safari, the lodges of Botswana and South Africa offer unrivalled game viewing, luxurious accommodation, fine dining and world-class service. Tranquil and exclusive, these top lodges deliver equally memorable encounters to those offered in more adventurous destinations but wrapped in a level of comfort better suited to older or more sensitive travellers. Not only will you find some of the best family holiday destinations in South Africa, but you’ll also enjoy the very best in Big 5 game viewing.

Rovos Rail

Rovos-Interior-Lounge

Why we love it for family-friendly holidays:

  • Experiencing the old-world charm of a long-distance train journey
  • Admiring the scenery from the Observation Car
  • Gourmet meals complemented by a selection of the finest South African wines
  • Boasting your best formal attire for dinner
  • Extensive book collection and board games for good old-fashioned family fun
  • Spacious, luxury suites ensure that you travel in style and comfort
  • Variety of different journeys that span from South Africa to Tanzania
  • Golf safaris for guests travelling around South Africa, playing on the country’s best courses

Botswana

Sanctuary Chobe Chilwero, Chobe National Park

chobe-chilwero

Why we love it for family-friendly holidays:

  • Luxury riverside retreat bordering Chobe National Park
  • The lodge is fenced, making it safe for a safari in Africa with kids
  • Split-level swimming pool for refreshing dips
  • Gourmet fine dining and world-class spa treatments
  • Sunset cruises on the Chobe River
  • Game drives in the national park
  • Guaranteed elephant sightings – Chobe is home to the biggest herds on the planet
  • Game viewing by boat – the best angles for wildlife photography
  • Fishing excursions and community tours
  • Day trip to the iconic Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe

South Africa

The Farmhouse at Royal Malewane, Thornybush Private Game Reserve

the-farmhouse-royal-malewane

Why we love it for family-friendly holidays:

  • Luxury, exclusive-use private villa in one of the Kruger’s private concessions
  • The Farmhouse comes with a private chef, housekeeper and butler
  • Get a private safari vehicle with a dedicated ranger and tracker throughout your stay
  • Lounging on the private viewing deck, poolside – perfect for catchups with grandma
  • Seeing the Big 5 in one of the best family holiday destinations in South Africa
  • Gourmet fine dining and world-class spa treatments

Babylonstoren, Cape Winelands

babylonstoren

Why we love it for family-friendly holidays:

  • A luxury haven – one of the best family holiday destinations in South Africa’s famous Cape Winelands
  • Charming Cape Dutch-style cottages
  • Farm-to-table meals prepared by three on-site restaurants
  • Strolls through Babylonstoren’s immaculate gardens
  • Interactive workshops – ferment your own kombucha or learn how to combat garden pests naturally
  • Tours of the working farm
  • Tasting award-winning wines, olive oil and tea
  • World-class spa treatments

The Oyster Box, Durban

oyster-box

Why we love it for family-friendly holidays:

  • Extravagant, old-world hotel set right on the beach
  • Within arm’s reach of Durban’s top attractions
  • Uninterrupted views of the Indian Ocean
  • Private cooking masterclasses – ideal for fun, family-friendly holidays
  • Private cinema, spa and gourmet fine dining
  • Walking trails in several nearby nature reserves
Africa with Multi-Generational Families

Africa with Multi-Generational Families

When the pace of a holiday must be adjusted to include children, parents and grandparents, South Africa is the best place for a vacation in Africa with family. Modern infrastructure and a diverse range of attractions and accommodation make it easy to tailor family-friendly holidays to the varying activity levels of three generations. South Africa is also one of the best family holiday destinations in Africa to combine a wilderness safari with a glorious beach holiday.

South Africa

Morukuru Farm House, Madikwe Game Reserve

morukuru-farm-house

Why we love it for family-friendly holidays:

  • Luxury, farmhouse-style homestead in the heart of Madikwe Game Reserve
  • Located in a malaria-free region – ideal for a safari in Africa with kids
  • The exclusive-use house accommodates up to 10 family members
  • Situated within a 100-hectare (247-acre), fenced-in area – perfect for a safe vacation in Africa with kids
  • Warm, welcoming atmosphere will make you feel right at home
  • Babysitting services
  • Private swimming pool, butler, chef, guide and game drive vehicle
  • Fun mini adventures for kids like baking, swimming and fishing
  • Unforgettable sleepouts under the stars in a private hide
  • Braais (barbecues) on a picturesque mountaintop or riverside
  • Guided bush walks for adults and older kids – kids under 16 can enjoy nature walks in a safe and enclosed area
  • Fun and interactive African drumming lessons
  • Incredible Big 5 game viewing

Singita Castleton, Sabi Sands Game Reserve

singita-castleton

Why we love it for family-friendly holidays:

  • Luxury, exclusive-use villa in the famous Sabi Sands
  • The villa overlooks a very busy watering hole
  • Expansive swimming pool with gorgeous views
  • Outdoor boma for unforgettable dining under the stars
  • Private field guide, chef and host
  • Expansive wine cellar boasting the finest South African wines
  • Fun games like boules, tennis, cricket or trampolining – ideal for a vacation in Africa with kids
  • State-of-the-art fitness centre, yoga pavilion and massage treatment rooms
  • Babysitting services and kids’ club (Mini Rangers Course)
  • Kosher and Halal cuisine available on request
  • Informal cooking lessons in a country-style kitchen
  • One of the best family holiday destinations in South Africa for a Big 5 safari
  • Guided bush walks through the area (ages 16+)

Villa One at Ellerman House, Cape Town

ellerman-house-2

Why we love it for family-friendly holidays:

  • Uber-luxury, exclusive-use villa in Cape Town
  • Accommodates up to 10 family members and boasts sublime views of the Twelve Apostles mountains and Atlantic Ocean
  • Complete privacy and personalised service, an unbeatable family-friendly holiday
  • Private infinity pool, chef and dedicated hospitality team throughout your stay
  • World-class spa located right below the villa
  • Wine tasting with Ellerman’s sommelier in the villa’s private cellar
  • Exploring Cape Town’s pristine beaches, Table Mountain, the Winelands, internationally acclaimed restaurants and vibrant city centre

Ready to Start Planning Your Vacation in Africa With Family?

Get in touch with one of our Africa Safari Experts to help tailor-make a trip to some of the best family holiday destinations in Africa:

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