Can the words family and safari really go together?

Choosing the perfect family holiday can be a tall order. It’s usually a balance between providing fun and stimulation for the children while giving the adults as much freedom and relaxation as is realistically possible. Many people would place an African safari firmly in the adult holiday category, but can it also be a viable option for families?

The potential appeal of Africa to children is clearly strong. It offers an amazing chance to give kids all the awe-inspiring experiences which Africa promises – the chance to interact with people from a culture so vastly different from their own; and to be immersed in a place which, for so many reasons, is nothing short of a wonderland. And of course, a safari is one choice which doesn’t require the parents in question to sacrifice their own yearning for a proper adventure holiday.

There are plenty of fun activities for children in the African bush

Many parents, however, understandably have reservations about the idea of taking the more intrepid option for their family holiday. There will be the inevitable concerns about the children’s safety and about whether long, bumpy trips in 4x4s will prove more exhausting than exhilarating. And you might have doubts about whether kids will be welcome at lodges, by the staff or other guests. And whether the activities will be appropriate for the youngsters.

Undoubtedly the best way to allay these worries is to book through a travel operator which provides bespoke safaris, with itineraries that are tailored to your needs. Using the services of local travel experts, like us here at Africa House, means that every aspect of your holiday will be planned with your family requirements in mind. So, for instance, while the kids might not tolerate walking for miles, a camel ride is likely to be greeted with enthusiasm, as it makes the journey less tiring, offers a great viewpoint, and is a lot of fun besides. Bespoke operators also know the best places for you to stay, understanding that comfort and appropriate children’s facilities are high on the agenda.

One shining example of the family-friendly accommodation which we use is that provided by Heritage Hotels. Their Samburu Intrepids and Mara Intrepids camps are thoroughly geared towards welcoming children, with Adventurer’s Clubs which boast masses of activities to keep young hands and minds occupied. Kids get the chance to learn tracking skills, study local wildlife, and have a go at throwing spears, using bow and arrows and starting fires. They also get the very special chance to see first-hand what life is like for Samburu or Maasai people, and a wonderful opportunity to play and exchange ideas with children from these tribes. Lodges like these also allow the grown-ups some welcome time to themselves to relax, knowing their children are safe and happy.

There is also plenty for older children to enjoy. Both the Samburu Intrepids and Mara Intrepids camps run a Young Rangers club for the over-12s. Here they get to engage in local cultural activities at a more advanced level. From bush orienteering and nature studies to dancing, games and local craftwork, there is enough varied and exciting stuff to do to keep even the hardest-to-impress teenager happy. Many parents discover that a safari with children at these older ages is particularly rewarding. With all the distractions present in the frenzy of modern Western life, families find that the quality time they are able to spend together out in the African wilderness can really help to bridge the gap that typifies relationships between parents and their teenage kids.

So a safari planned with the children’s needs considered from the start can be the perfect choice for a family holiday. Of course, as a parent you might feel that taking very young children on safari (or on any other foreign holiday for that matter) might not be worth the trouble. Waiting for them to reach an age at which they can genuinely enjoy and appreciate exploring Africa is a sensible approach. But rest assured that when you and your children are ready for a safari, then Africa is ready for you. When designed in the right way, a safari holiday can be a magical and enriching experience for any child with a keen sense of adventure - and for the parents too.

A Novel Device for Travellers

For many people, the thought of going on holiday evokes the image of lying back in some sunny idyll with a book in hand. So holidaymakers must be among the prime targets for e-book readers like the Amazon Kindle.

Does this mean a new era for the great holiday read? For many people, it certainly will. The advantages of an e-book are pretty irresistible. First and foremost, a Kindle enables you to transport a lot more books than you could possibly squeeze into your suitcase and hand luggage in one slim, lightweight object. In fact, the latest version of the Kindle lets you store up to 3500 books – which should be just about keep you topped up with reading material between game drives.

What’s more, wherever you get a wireless network service, you can access newspapers at a few touches of a screen – and read them while travelling, without your elbows invading the personal space of the person next to you.

Another feature that will please tourists is the Kindle’s claim that its battery can last for a month after charging, so it shouldn’t go blank half way through your flight home. On another technical note, the Kindle has been praised for its screen quality. The Kindle display’s high contrast makes for clear reading, and, unlike an LCD screen, the Kindle’s screen easily readable in bright sunlight – ideal for taking in the latest blockbuster whilst lazing under the African sun.

But despite all its winning qualities, many loyalists of the traditional book will remain unconvinced by the e-book reader. For some, there’s something special about flicking through the pages of a book which makes a holiday complete.

And whether it’s pure and simple nostalgia or trusting a tried-and-tested low-tech solution to a yearning for entertainment, the printed book is by no means a historical artefact yet. Whatever the future holds, we can be pretty sure that a good read will continue to be a treasured element of a good holiday – whether the book consists of ink on paper or light on a screen.

The Amazon Kindle can be bought here. (For fans of the printed story, Amazon also sells books!)

Spectacles and celebrity spots

The Masai Mara reserve is always a safe bet for great African wildlife spotting, but this year’s migration season has been impressive, even by the usual standards.

Over the past few weeks, much of our safari activity has been focused on the awesome spectacle of the great migration in which massive numbers of wildebeest, zebras and gazelle cross the Mara River from the Serengeti onto Kenyan soil. This year’s generous rains have not only brought a lush landscape for our guests to enjoy, but also seem to have attracted more wildebeest to the region than we’ve seen in recent years.


Migrating wildebeest, gathering to make the treacherous river crossing.



The crocodiles which prey on these migrating grazers as they cross the Mara River have been more than adequately supplied with food during this migration. At one stage we witnessed the bizarre sight of wildebeest using the crocodiles beneath them as stepping stones to traverse the river. The indifference of these well-fed predators combined with the vigorous flow of a river which was swelling due to the generous rainfall actually made this the safest option for some of the travelling animals.

It has also been a bumper season for big cat appearances. Our guests have been treated to abundant sightings of lions, some being lucky enough to see large prides with their cubs in tow. A further cause for excitement has been the frequent showing of leopards, which are far less numerous than lions in the Masai Mara.

We’ve been delighted to see Zawadi, one of Kenya’s resident ‘celebrity’ leopards, identifiable by a distinctive line of spots under her right eye. Her photogenic looks and relative ease with human attention have earned her worldwide renown amongst wildlife lovers. She has even been one of the stars of a BBC’s ‘Big Cat Diaries’ documentary series, in which she goes by the name of Shadow. Click here to see a video of her employing her stealth and speed to hunt her prey.

Zawadi, aka Shadow, who has become known around the world.

As if that wasn’t enough animal activity for our guests to witness, the elephants have been getting in on the action too. At Africa House we’re renowned for the excellent service we provide, so if dinner is delayed there must be a good reason for it. When a family of elephants decided to investigate our guests’ eating area at Little Governor’s Camp recently, we got a more intimate wildlife encounter than anyone had bargained for. With an experience like that to take home, it’s no surprise that nobody minded waiting for their meal!   

Tree Climbing Lioness in Lake Nakuru National Park!

Africa House Safaris is based in Africa's Great Rift Valley, on a farm which looks out towards Lake Nakuru, a shallow lake famous for its sprawling flocks of flamingos. 'Nakuru', meaning 'dust' or 'dusty place' in the Maasai language, is currently far from being a dusty place, having seen many inches of glorious rain in the past few months! Wild grasses are lush and long, providing a hunting challenge for predators such as lions.

On a recent day trip to Lake Nakuru National Park we were fortunate to see this very rare sight: a beautiful lioness using a tree as a vantage point from which to keep herds of plains game such as zebra and impala in its sight. Whilst leopards are well known for their tree-climbing behaviour, it is very rare to spot a lion up a tree!

Africa House Safaris offers a truly amazing set of luxurious Safari options for 2010!

 

Beautiful Binti kept us spellbound for hours in the Mara

We have come to the end of a memorable year despite the difficult economic conditions worldwide. We have not been entirely immune from this financial glitch but, thanks to the support of travel agents and friends who continue to holiday with us year after year, we have enjoyed some fantastic safaris in Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Ethiopia.

It has been a year of spectacular journeys, life-enhancing experiences and we have fulfilled a great many dreams along the way. It doesn't get any better! We had some really special moments watching nature in its most wild and raw during the Mara migration. The life and death drama of thousands of wildebeest running the gauntlet of hundreds of crocodiles and lions as they cross the Talek and Mara Rivers was absolutely mesmerising. No matter how many times I watch it, I am awe-struck.

 

Well fed lions chill out on a hill as they survey the ‘menu’ below

We had some very close encounters with gorillas in Rwanda. A mother and baby decided to lie on me as I was filming them. Looking deep into those beautifully intelligent and understanding eyes at very close quarters was a really heart warming moment. It was a spectacularly exciting moment.

Sharing a magical moment with a gentle gorilla

The people who make our safaris so wonderful are our guests, many of whom are now great family friends. We have been privileged to enjoy the company of some wonderful families from Arkansas, California, New York, Seattle and Florida and we look forward to seeing them again in the near future. It has also given us a great thrill to have provided many couples from the UK with the honeymoon of a lifetime.

It’s not just the lions who get to chill out, there’s plenty of down time for our guests too!

To round off our year we commissioned a professional photographer and a filmmaker to record a spectacular family safari in Laikipia, Samburu, Masai Mara and, the stunning Rusinga Island on Lake Victoria. We had fantastic fun making the film and we think it illustrates beyond doubt what makes our bespoke intimate and family-orientated safaris such a life-enhancing experience.

A moving and memorable shot for the family album

Watch out for the DVD, which will be available from the end of February. In the mean time take a look at our gallery of photographs taken throughout the safari on the Africa House Safaris facebook site.

For those of you who thought there was no way we could improve on the safari experiences we offer, we have developed a truly amazing set of luxurious options for 2010. Africa House Safaris has built relationships with a wide selection of the most interesting, enthusiastic and knowledgeable experts from a variety of backgrounds including fine art, photography, natural history, gastronomy, horse riding, conservation and politics.

Throughout the year we will introduce a varied range of special safaris accompanied by experts who will act as tutors or give a series of talks as well as being available for more informal conversations along the way. These safaris also benefit from the services of local professional safari guides to ensure they run smoothly.

Awesome Samburu high jumping in Laikipia

We are also expanding our offering to include expert-led safaris on the First World War battlefields across Kenya and Tanzania; wildlife and landscape painting safaris for those who want to enhance their painting skills; and golfing safaris for bespoke groups who want to experience Kenya’s world-class golf courses and those up-country courses that are steeped in old-world charm.

An African sunrise to lift the spirits

2010 promises to be an action-packed year. We are also exploring new itineraries and extensions in Tanzania, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. We are conducting a ‘recce’ of all these destinations in the Spring with a view to opening up whole new horizons for adventurous families and groups of friends. So watch this space. In May we are making a whistle-stop tour of the States to promote our new offerings and we look forward to catching up with old friends. 

Talk to you in 2010.

Suggy