African safari

[MissMitzi]

I would like to take my kids on a trip to Africa over Christmas. (They will be 5 and almost 3 then.) I would like to take part in some sort of safari/tour for animals as well as learning about the native culture. The problem is...Africa is BIG! I really have no idea where to begin. Any suggestions on kids friendly tours/ locations? We aren't rich, but can spend a bit of money if need be.
Thanks for any advice!

[jno]

Bear in mind that Christmas is peak period so things are more expensive then. If your kids aren't at school yet you mght do better to avoid the rush and go at some cheaper time.

Also, it's fairly important that kids stay quiet while on safari otherwise it may scare the animals away.

My own preference is for Kenya and Tanzania, where animals are fairly easy to spot because it's mostly rolling grassland. Further south in SAfrica or Zimbabwe (if you want to go to Zimbabwe at the moment) it's bushier and you seem to spend more time being driven around without actually seeing anything. But from your kids' point of view that still may be fun. Generally you go out being driven around early morning and late evening when it's cooler, as the animals sleep during the heat of the day. Some places do walking safaris, which gives you the chance to study elephant dung and dung beetles up close!

[MissMitzi]

Hmm...good point about the need for kids to be quiet. Mine are well behaved, but they are still kids. I imagine the rest of the group wouldn't be too pleased if one of them started shouting and scared off all the animals!

[jno]

we took jno jnr on safari when he was about eight and the driver was very reluctant to take him along. Of course he was quiet as a mouse - but the rest of the car was full of Portuguese adults who yammered their heads off the whole time. If you can afford the sort of safari where you have a van to yourself, I would recommend it.

Here are a few ideas. There will be lots more available, and probably at a wide range of prices (you can stay in luxury tented camps, but you can also find inexpensive hotels within game reserves, so shop around):

http://www.kenyasafaripackages.com/kenyafamily safari2006/family-safariholiday.htm

http://www.adventurecompany.co.uk/trip-details .aspx?productid=48916

http://www.naturalhighsafaris.com/content/fami ly.html?gclid=CJ_Zufe715sCFV8B4wodUlIlAQ