Our Wilro Cape Tours guide was Albert and, after the fact, I honestly couldn’t imagine traveling to Cape Town without a guide like him. He was welcoming upon our arrival in Cape Town, he had interesting knowledge to share, he was unimaginably flexible and he curated two full days of touring that worked for our little family of three. Between the visit to Alpaca Loom where our son Kai got to pet Alpacas and sheep, to the two vineyard visits where he (literally) wrangled our toddler for over an hour so we could have a moment alone. Even some piggy-back rides through a supermarket to grab some items we needed, Albert was the key to a successful trip. Even our son knew it, asking ‘Where’s Albert?’ as soon as he woke up in the morning.

Next, we left for our safari – admittedly without our toddler – but with a keen eye and a focus on what could potentially make a successful or unsuccessful trip with children. Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge was our first stop and it truly had all of the ingredients for a successful family trip.

Beyond having an electric fence to keep out certain animals for safety reasons, each property has guides that are prepared for the needs of a family with younger children. Our guide/tracker teams at each camp – Neo and Themba at Sabi Sabi and Millie and Walter at Walker’s Plains – have experience with families and children specifically.

A huge highlight at Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge would be the Elefun Children’s Center. This imaginative and educational space teaches kids about wildlife, conservation and the African bush through guided age-appropriate activities. It’s rare to find a safari property that embraces children so wholeheartedly. We were able to visit the center for a bit of an inspection – a maze, a jungle gym, arts and crafts, a big outdoor play area… I can see children of many ages having a blast here.

Beyond the Elefun Center, our guide Neo and tracker Themba have guided many families with children of all ages. Neo’s deep knowledge, calm confidence and contagious enthusiasm really brought the bush to life and I would trust her to be able to keep a child excited throughout the safari activities. A great guide is the soul of any safari, and for a family with younger children that really rings true.

Jason can be reached at jason@fisheaglesafaris.com for more information about family-friendly Africa trips options – or call us at 713-467-5222 and leave a message. 

Elefun Centre photo courtesy Sabi Sabi