Need Info - ever taken your kids on an African safari?

[SCWDP911]

My kids are all big outdoor freaks and animal lovers. I have 4 boys and 2 girls. We have been looking at a major family vacation for next year sometime and have come down to Austrailia and Africa.

This thread is for info on Africa. If you have ever taken younger children on such an adventure, I would love to hear about it, good and bad. I have been talking with a company in Kenya called Natural Tracks. Anway, looking for any info at this point as I am trying to decide how good an idea it would be to take the kids there. We really want to got to Austrailia,a nd it would be a little easier with the kids perhaps, butfor all of Austrailia's good stuff, they just don;t have lions and cheetahs. At least not in the wild.

Thanks in advance...

[tcar]

Australia is cool, but African safari is something they will remember the REST of their lives.
Seriously.

We did it. Will never, ever forget it. Ten years later, they still talk about it all the time.

Incredible, incredible experience.

We did Kenya.

[SCWDP911]

Thanks tcar,

How old were your kids at the time?

[imcarthur]

I looked into safaris in Africa. You can get various forms of guided safaris in Kenya, Tanzania & Botswana. The simplest are bus & jeep versions in tents or tourist hotels. The more expensive are fly in with deluxe lodges etc.

For something really different you can go to Kruger in South Africa. Rent a car or van in Joburg & you self drive through the massive Kruger park, staying at various campgrounds. It can take days. See http://www.sanparks.org/ for info. Especially the forums.

We decided not to go for now but are reserving it for the future. The political situation in SA is so-so. As someone told me on the SanPark forum, you are safer in Kruger with all of the animals than you are in Joburg.

Ian

[URY914]

[HardDrive]

We looked at going to South Africa and Tanzania last year. Decided against it. Perhaps we did not do enough research. I'm sure it would be amazing once you got into the bush, but we got put off by the poor reviews of supposedly 'luxury' lodges, and the travel and security issues.

I'm certainly willing to wrong about this though. Subscribed.

[imcarthur]

Here are some African operators that were recommended by posters on Foders Africa forum which is a good general resource.

http://www.essafari.co.ke/

http://www.authentictanzania.com/

http://www.ccafrica.com/

http://www.africatravelresource.com/index.asp

Ian

[HardDrive]

BTW, do not write off Australia. We LOVE Australia. There are some absolutely fantastic out door/animal activities.

Loved this place: http://www.currumbin-sanctuary.org.au/content/home.asp?

Make sure you stick around for feeding the Lorikeets at the end of the day!

[MRM]

African safari? I can barely get my wife to let me send the boys to boy scout camp. She'll only let me do that if I go along as a parent helper. As if that makes them any safer.

I'd say if you have the means, do it. I once knew a stunningly beautiful and extremely rich woman who used to kill time as the head of a travel agency and got to lead any tour she wanted. I asked her once what her favorite trip was and where she would return if she could go back to anywhere she had been before. Without hesitation she said she wanted to go back to Kenya for another safari. She said it was the most beautiful place she'd ever been.

[nostatic]

only as bait...

[RoninLB]

I did Kenya through the Kenyian gov't tour group in NYC.

The most exotic place I've ever been.

there are a few ways to do Kenya. High end at all the old British outposts and traveling throughout the whole country, camping and traveling in those off-road military style huge tire trucks, or by self.

We did high end. The high end tour was cheap. Best places to stay, safe food, a bodyguard driver who takes 4 people in one of those VW vans that have the open tops. You can stand and see out the top when parked right next to lions banging, etc,etc.

go there when there are the wildebeest sic migrations

get every vaccination shot available. It cost me over $500 in 2000 and I have expensive health insurance.

bring cheap things to trade.. many locals can't even afford socks.

[tcar]

Kids were 12 and 14.

I still think about it. Ab-sol-ute-ly incredible.

We stayed in tents (3 room w/ porch) part of the time and a lodge on the equator a couple nights.

There were guards at night. We drove around in Land Rovers w/ holes in the roof.

You will NEVER forget it.

Not taking anything away from OZ, but...

You will never forget it.

Bait? When you're in a vehicle, animals ignore you.

The animals in Kenya are more approchable in Kenya - no hunting. In Tanzania, for instance, elephants are sometimes aggressive and spooky as hunting is allowed there.

[RPKESQ]

This is a most excellent idea. This will be one of the most important things in their lives if done right. Native culture, flora and fauna are more rapidly disappearing in Africa compared to Australia. Most of Africa is pretty third world. Do not expect lap of luxury accommodations unless you pay a large fortune. All bush supplies are hauled in over trackless bush or impassable dirt roads or is flown in. Get shots, be careful of what you eat and drink. Pay close attention to how the guides are reacting to the animals, (they are better than you at "reading" their actions), and take 1000's of pictures.

Buy a very good digital SLR with a lens of at least 300mm (in 35mm format) also at least 35mm wide-angle. Bring a spare lens. Bring spare batteries, bring a soft brush to clean dust off camera and lenses, no compressed air! Get your children their own digital cameras (simple ones, but dust proof and impact resistant). Money saved in acquiring cheap camera equipment is money wasted. The pictures really cost as much as the trip (TCO).

Study up on the culture and environment of the area you are going to see. You as much as any professional guide are your children’s guide. They will be looking to you for answers to their questions. Bring an animal guidebook and at least two sets of small lightweight binoculars to share. Better if everybody has their own pair.

I have been involved in many safaris. Let me know if I can provide any help.

[m21sniper]

'Safari gone wrong' videos are the greatest!

The one where the Tiger leaps 10 feet into the air(from 30 feet away out of nowhere!) and attacks an Elephant rider has to be my favorite.

LOL, as the Tiger is springing from the tall grass the dude throws a stick at the Tiger. It's classic.

Gotta love an animal that will attack someone ON an elephant.