| >Family holidays don’t have to be dreary | | | | Sabi Sabi Game Lodges are located in the Sabi |
| – it’s possible to find a destination | | | | Sand Game Reserve, which is adjacent to the |
| with educational adventures and exciting activities | | | | Kruger Park: they cater for children and provide |
| to keep kids stimulated until bedtime. A fantastic | | | | just the right amount of pampering deserved of |
| holiday for kids and parents is going on a Safari, | | | | parents who’ve been out in the bush with |
| because it caters for the entire family. | | | | the kids all day. |
| Try to involve your children in the planning of | | | | Luxurious game lodges with a wellness centre for |
| your holiday as much as possible. Show them | | | | those perfectly relaxing African massages; a |
| pre-holiday pictures in a book or brochure of the | | | | meditation retreat to take the stress off and |
| lodge or camp you are visiting and the animals | | | | world renowned cuisine all add up to personalised |
| that inhabit the area. | | | | safari luxury. |
| Perhaps, they are already learning about | | | | 5 Things to Remember When Taking Your Kids |
| conservation at school and will be more interested | | | | on Safari |
| in the surrounding flora and fauna, and the | | | | Children love Africa! It’s a veritable |
| mechanisms in place to protect wildlife and nature. | | | | playground for any kid from the city. To see |
| Whatever their interest; the more you involve | | | | animals they’ve only seen in books; to |
| your child in the preparation of the holiday, the | | | | experience a terrain so vast, so different from |
| more comfortable they will be, once they get | | | | the urban space they reside in; to be told |
| there. | | | | adventure stories about Rangers’ |
| Children can be wary about new surroundings so | | | | experiences with wildlife and all the details of |
| try to avoid accommodation that is at the very | | | | different plant life that flourishes in the bushveld |
| bottom of the price range. In Africa, | | | | – it’s all fascinating to them! They |
| ‘cheap’ can be another word for | | | | return to urban life refreshed with a thousand |
| ‘unsafe’. Make sure you choose a | | | | new things to think about. |
| reputable establishment and avoid putting your | | | | An important point to consider when taking your |
| child at risk. | | | | children on a wildlife adventure is that Game |
| Kruger National Park, South Africa | | | | Reserves are places of peace and serenity for |
| Kruger National Park, Big 5 is a children-friendly | | | | other guests, and you need to respect their need |
| family safari, with fire-side stories, game drives, | | | | for silence. If your kids have moments of |
| game viewing, photography and walking | | | | over-excitement - Rein them in! |
| safari’s. Kruger Park safaris take place | | | | On a Game Drive, there might be occasions |
| each morning and evening in open Land Rovers, | | | | where the Ranger/Guide demands absolute silence |
| which drive through a wide variety of habitats, | | | | for safety reasons. You need to prepare your |
| allowing you to view the vast interactions of the | | | | children for this eventuality and for the length of |
| wild. | | | | time they will be cooped up in the Land Rover. |
| All the tour guides used by the Kruger Park are | | | | Some Game Reserves insist that you book your |
| properly qualified and registered by Theta (the | | | | own vehicles for game drives. The upside is that |
| training authority for the hospitality and tourism | | | | you get to have your own private family |
| industry) and DEAT (Department of | | | | experience, without having to worry about the |
| Environmental Affairs and Tourism). All the guides | | | | children getting too exuberant and upsetting fellow |
| are excellent, knowledgeable, and informative. One | | | | travellers. |
| of the guides, David, is quite famous as he has | | | | When deciding on a safari, look carefully at the |
| proved rather popular with the children. He is also | | | | children’s policy for each lodge. Your |
| a father and knows how important it is to treat | | | | dream destination might not be suitable for |
| kids with respect. Many children return home with | | | | children. Some places only allow children over 12 |
| David as their ‘new best friend’. | | | | – but that is the exception, rather than the |
| The regular guides all give you varied information | | | | rule. |
| about the habits of the animals and their habitat. | | | | Protect your child on Safari: make your child's |
| There are also great folk stories to tell, explaining | | | | Safari as comfortable as possible - pack the right |
| the different behaviours of particular animals. | | | | clothes, use sun protection creams and sprays |
| The variety of animal and plant life is vast in the | | | | and ointments to repel insects. |
| bushveld. Your kids will get to see the ‘big | | | | Bear in mind that children suffer from jetlag in the |
| five’ and many other animals, including | | | | same way as adults do, so don't plan anything too |
| hyena, crocodile, hippo and a variety of bird | | | | energetic on the first day of your holiday. |
| species. | | | | |