A family safari is an unforgettable vacation for people of all ages. There is no better way to step away from the stresses and pressures of daily life than embarking on an African safari. It’s a chance for kids and adults to enjoy new and exciting experiences, immerse in nature and make lifelong memories.
Choosing the right accommodation for a family safari is the most important part of planning – while many camps accept children, not all of them welcome children of all ages and not all cater to kids equally. That’s where the experts at Africa Adventure Consultants come in. We know what works best for families and we are happy to share our earned knowledge with you.
Kenya is a favorite choice for family safaris because of its incredible wildlife and landscapes; a wide range of accommodations from camps and lodges to luxury private villas; city activities in Nairobi that include visiting the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust to see orphaned elephants and staying at Giraffe Manor for close-up giraffe encounters; and the simplicity and ease of getting there from North America with direct flights to Nairobi from New York. Here we dive into a few of our favorite Kenya safari accommodations for families. Be sure to talk with your Journey Specialist to find the right fit for your customized family safari.
Giraffe Manor is our top choice for families spending a night or two in Nairobi. Nestled on 12 private acres within 140 acres of indigenous forest, the historic manor house is one of Nairobi’s most iconic buildings. With a stately facade, beautiful gardens, sunny terraces and delightful courtyards, it harkens back to the Africa of old. The two-bedroomed Karen Blixen suite at Giraffe Manor is its largest and is located on the top floor of the Historic Manor. Its spacious balcony gives guests the opportunity to feed the giraffes in the early morning hours. Each bedroom has its own en-suite facilities with bathtub, shower and twin sinks. The master bedroom has a king-sized four poster bed, whilst the second bedroom has two single four poster beds and a small daybed which can accommodate a young child. It’s the perfect place to kick off an East African family safari.
What makes Giraffe Manor extra special is its extraordinary wildlife encounters and commitment to giraffe conservation. Delighting guests of every age, its resident herd of Nubian/Rothschild’s giraffes often visits for breakfast and for tea, poking their long necks into the windows in the hope of a treat.
The Mara Houses offer luxury safari accommodation in a self-contained safari house sleeping up to six for your own exclusive Masai Mara getaway, with access to the wildlife-rich Mara North Conservancy along with the Masai Mara itself. Both Mara House and Acacia House have their own dedicated service team, including a private guide and safari vehicle for each house. This means that each day can unfold exactly as your family wants, and can be designed around your preferences regarding activity plans and mealtimes.
Each of the Mara Houses has access to a shared pool and a grassy area to play. It’s wonderful to have the space for kids to burn off extra energy (while parents can relax)! The houses also offer a log fire to cozy up to in the evenings, reliving safari highlights from the day’s activities.
Saruni Mara is hidden away under thatched roofs on a lush peninsula along the Talek River on the border of the Masai Mara. The family tents have two separate wings, each featuring a double bed with a shared bathroom area. The balconies on the family tents are extra-large, giving families a private place to socialize while enjoying views of the Mara landscape and its animals.
Saruni Mara offers the unique Warriors Academy – an interactive experience designed for families with children. It is a fun, educational adventure that explores the wilderness, wildlife and authentic lifestyles of one of Africa’s last remaining, fascinating tribes – the Maasai. Guided by the ‘moran,‘ (warriors), families get to know, enjoy and understand their culture and see the Kenyan wilderness from an extraordinary perspective – through the eyes of people who call this wilderness home.
Saruni Mara also offers the Young Explorers Club to ensure safaris in Maasai Mara are more exciting for both parents and their children. From learning bush survival skills, shooting bows and arrows, beading lessons with local Maasai women and learning to track with expert guides, to playing board games and helping in the kitchen baking cakes and bread, the Young Explorers Club will keep them entertained throughout their stay.
Guests at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy are privy to spectacular wildlife that includes lion, leopard, jackal, black and white rhino, and the largest concentration of Grevy’s zebra in the world, among others. Lewa Safari Camp’s family suites offer an en-suite master bedroom and an en-suite twin room, which are joined together by a private veranda/sitting area with stunning views over the Lewa plains. An extra bed for a third child under 16 years can be accommodated in one of the Family Tents to accommodate a family of five.
There are a variety of kids’ activities available at Lewa Safari Camp. There is a canopy walk in the forest, along with a river to play in. For a slightly less adventurous experience, there is also a pool, board games and table tennis. The conservancy borders Sumburu community conservancies where many of Lewa Safari Camp’s staff members live. If your family would enjoy a cultural experience, the families will show you around their home (additional cost). Guests donating to the Lewa Education Program also have the chance to visit local schools when in session. Finally, families can visit and/or participate in conservation work during their visit.
Kicheche Valley Naboisho is located in a private conservancy bordering the Masai Mara. They are experienced in catering to families – from the activities available to the accommodations setup. The family suite has two separate bedrooms, each with en-suite bathroom. The bedrooms are connected by a comfortable lounge area, complete with a sofa and a small table enabling private dining. The suite can take a maximum of five guests and comes with exclusive use of vehicle for game drives. For families with younger children, they offer triple or quad tents, which offer a sleeping area for three or four people with a shared bathroom. Kicheche also offers kids’ menus and earlier meal times as needed.
Kicheche offers child friendly activities and keeps even the youngest guests well entertained on their Kenya safari adventure. Under supervision, the kids club’s activities for 6 to 14 years include beading traditional Maasai bracelets and necklaces; exploratory walks around the camp and identification of animal footprints, bones, plants and leaves; learning to start a fire without matches and learning to make bows and arrows and spear launching. There are village visits for every age, while canoeing and an anti-poaching dogs display is on offer for kids 12 and over.
The Jahazi Suite at Mara Plains is part of Mara Plains Camp, but is hidden away from the main area, making for a totally private family retreat. With two-bedrooms, it’s perfect for a small family. Leading off the private decking, a private swimming pool is available to enjoy during the warm afternoons. The Jahazi Suite at Mara Plains comes with the services of a private butler, safari drive vehicle and wildlife guide. For the grownups, each suite has a professional camera and selection of lenses, along with a pair of high-quality binoculars for your use during your stay.
At Mara Plains, kids on safari are known as ‘Young Explorers,’ and activities are personalized to suit each child’s desires and blends fun with conservation learning. Kids on safari are not only offered the excitement of spotting new animals and learning about them, they can build knowledge of animal tracking and bush survival skills with expert guides. Each child receives a Young Explorers pack full of everything fun needed to become a Conservation Ambassador. This includes items such as a safari journal and an activity book with word games, animal track identification, information on the stars and more.
Sarara Camp is nestled on the slopes of the Mathews Mountain Range in a breathtaking setting. Its 85,000-acre wilderness offers the chance for many family adventures. They offer a family suite connected by an outdoor path, or the exclusive use two-bedroomed Sarara House, which includes a spectacular plunge pool, private dining and a lounge area with panoramic views.
The main camp offers an infinity pool for kids to play in and for adults to relax around enjoying the stunning landscape. Other activities that kids can enjoy include hiking and bush walks, a visit to a local Montessori school, learn to bead with Samburu women, visit a homestead, learn from a blacksmith, enjoy a horseback safari (for experienced riders) and visit the milk-to-market program. But perhaps most special of all is a visit to the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary. This community-owned elephant sanctuary rescues orphaned elephants and rehabilitates them to release them back to the wild. Visitors have a chance to meet the herd and learn about the work the Sanctuary performs. Kids and adults alike delight in the chance to spend time with the elephants!
Perched on the cliffs of the Laikipia Plateau and overlooking a panoramic skyline of untouched valley, family-run Ol Malo is a working ranch and wildlife sanctuary. One of Kenya’s original luxury bush homes, Ol Malo Lodge has ideal accommodations for families with kids of all ages. You can also arrange an exclusive buyout of the Ol Malo House for your multigenerational safari. Every booking has a private vehicle and dedicated guide.
A highlight for families is being on a working ranch. You’ll enjoy farm-fresh produce while protecting the land through tourism. Ranch-raised meats, freshly laid eggs, milk, organic honey and vegetables selected from the garden will make up your meals, and guests are welcome to get involved in the ranch activities. An early morning visit to the dairy herd to fill the milk jug for breakfast is a highlight for many children.
From swimming pools and ping pong competitions to beginner horseback riding and spear throwing with a Samburu warrior, kids have no shortage of adventures to choose from. You can even enjoy an overnight family adventure in their Leopard Hide, enjoying dinner, watching wildlife at the waterhole and sleeping in cozy bunkbeds in the safety of the hide. There are no pre-timed activities, allowing your family complete freedom to set your own schedule. There are helicopters, safari vehicles, mountain bikes, horses and camels just waiting to take you on an adventure.
Contact one of our Journey Specialists to start planning and subscribe to our newsletter below for more safari inspiration and information.
Photos courtesy Giraffe Manor, Mara Houses, Saruni Mara, Lewa Safari Camp, Kicheche Valley Naboisho, Mara Plains, Sarara Camp and Ol Malo