The Best Family Holiday Destinations in Africa

Africa Family Holidays

Take your family on the best holiday ever in Africa. See our suggestions for kid friendly adventures and the best family holiday destinations in Africa and our best African family packages for kid friendly safaris and adventures to Africa here.

Africa is a vast and beautiful continent with so much to see and do. With Voyage2Africa you can take your family on the best holiday in Africa. Going on safari with your family is not the only way to see and experience Africa. There are pearly beaches and diving opportunities, untouched forests, mountain hikes, river canoeing, bungee jumping, and wellness retreats. Some families like resorts with restaurants and shops and others like rustic camping in wilderness areas where silence is golden. Read on to discover the best family holiday destinations in Africa, including top wildlife adventures.

Knowing where families can go on holiday in Africa is an art. Firstly, it is important to know which African holiday hotels, safari camps, lodges, and beach resorts have age restrictions and which destinations warmly welcome youngsters and provide a variety of age-appropriate activities. For the best safari holidays for families in East Africa, head to Tanzania and Kenya, and in Southern Africa head to South Africa, Botswana, and Namibia. Try Mozambique for beach and island holidays, Malawi for mountains and lakes, and Victoria Falls for as much adventure as you can handle! The best family holidays in Africa here and the best African family safari packages available!

Children of all ages are welcome on an Africa family holiday and many safari venues are child-friendly, welcoming families with open arms. Family beach resorts, city hotels, and island lodges in Africa cater to children and old family members too. Multigenerational tourism is on the rise and Africa is one of the most popular destinations for family groups. 

Malaria Free African family Vacations

Malaria-free African family vacations offer safe and exciting adventures for all ages.

Explore stunning malaria-free national parks like Pilanesberg and Madikwe in South Africa, home to the Big Five and family-friendly lodges. The Eastern Cape’s Addo Elephant National Park provides unforgettable elephant encounters, while Waterberg’s reserves blend nature and luxury. With engaging activities, kid-friendly safaris, and breathtaking scenery, these destinations ensure a stress and malaria free experience, making them perfect for creating cherished family memories

In Namibia Etosha National Park is located in a relatively low-risk malaria area, especially during the dry season (May to September). Its vast salt pans and abundant wildlife make it a fantastic family safari destination in Namibia. The nearby Waterberg Plateau Park is a malaria-free area that is perfect for families, offering a mix of wildlife viewing and hiking opportunities amidst stunning landscapes. In Botswana only Makgadikgadi Pans National Park and Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park are low malaria risk zones especially in the drier parts of the year. Both parks are suitable for families seeking unique landscapes and wildlife experiences on their Africa family holiday.

Most of Tanzania and Kenya’s renowned parks are in malaria-prone areas, but there are a few safer options for families seeking malaria-free vacations in East Africa. In Kenya, Laikipia Plateau offers stunning landscapes, abundant wildlife, and family-friendly safari lodges in a low-risk malaria zone. The Aberdare National Park, with its lush forests and waterfalls, is also a great choice during dry months.

In Tanzania, Arusha National Park, near Mount Meru, boasts diverse wildlife and low malaria risk, especially during cooler, drier seasons

Our Top Safari Adventures for families and children in Africa

 

• Family holiday to Kwandwe Ecca Lodge Eastern Cape South Africa

A family holiday at Kwandwe Ecca Lodge in South Africa’s Eastern Cape promises unforgettable adventures. Nestled in a malaria-free private reserve, it offers luxurious accommodations and tailored safaris for all ages. Kwandwe Private Game Reserve has a wealth of activities to match every family member’s sense of adventure and your family holiday goals. Guests booking exclusive-use villas or Ecca Lodge family suites can customize their safari schedules, with no minimum age restrictions, enjoying game drives at flexible times. Parents seeking a special date night can arrange complimentary child-minding services in advance, ensuring a seamless and memorable stay for the whole family. Kids enjoy engaging activities like tracking lessons and bushcraft skills, while adults can kick back with wildlife sightings and gourmet dining. The perfect blend of relaxation, exploration, and family bonding awaits!

The family suites accommodate 2 adults and 2 children (under 16 years on day beds in the lounge) with a private vehicle and ranger. Wraparound decks, complete with private plunge pools and outdoor showers, offer sweeping views and complete relaxation for all ages. Ecca Lodge offers an entire play center with various activities including the Blue Crane Conservation Club, a daily ‘Hooves & Stripes’ game drive for kids over five and the ‘Bugs & Bones’ Walk to track animals, look for insects, and bones.

 

• Planet Baobab Makgadikgadi Pan – family holidays Botswana

Planet Baobab in Botswana is a unique family-friendly destination offering an unforgettable blend of adventure and culture. Nestled among ancient baobab trees, it provides charming accommodations in traditional-style huts and quirky, colorful surroundings. Families can enjoy guided walks, cultural experiences with local communities, and safaris to spot iconic wildlife. Seasonal trips to the nearby Makgadikgadi Pans offer surreal landscapes perfect for stargazing, quad biking, or meerkat encounters. A stay here promises fun, learning, and cherished memories for all ages on your family holiday!

Planet Baobab Botswana resembles a giant anteater on the side of the worn road towards Maun. Families love the unique swimming pool, the elephants’ paddling pool, and the awesome food including vegetarian delicacies. Children too will be entranced by the ancient 4000-year-old trees so typical of this part of Botswana. Original family accommodation in this lunar Makgadikgadi landscape reflects the local homes in the region: book one of three family BaKalanga or Baobab huts with beds for four people. At Planet Baobab, visitors can choose guided walks and game drives into the Botswana bush or discover the geological origins of Makgadikgadi Pans. Follow the Palm Trail created by elephant droppings which dried up along with the lake thousands of years ago. Or maybe find ancient spearheads left by the Stone Age hunters who first lived here!  

 

• Chinzombo Luxury Camp South Luangwa – Family Holiday to Zambia

A family holiday to Chinzombo Camp in Zambia offers an extraordinary blend of luxury and adventure. Nestled on the banks of the Luangwa River, this exclusive camp is perfect for families, with spacious villas featuring private pools and stunning views. Enjoy tailor-made safari experiences, including walking safaris and game drives, where children can safely connect with nature. The camp provides kid-friendly activities and a welcoming atmosphere, making it an ideal destination for creating unforgettable family memories in the African wilderness.

Chinzombo Time + Tide promotes walking safaris in the heart of the Zambian bushveld and chic accommodation is all-inclusive of meals, drinks, game viewing activities, transfers, and other extras. In our opinion it is one of the best family holidays in Africa.  Kids are well catered for at Chinzombo Camp in the beautiful Luangwa Valley, on the river, with a family villa offering a lovely cooling swimming pool. Children’s activities include learning to be a game ranger, tracking spoor and droppings, learning the local languages, and visiting the village school. They get to eat like a true Zambian and make traditional clay pots and animals in the village. A genuine and legit family safari in Zambia.

Africa’s Finest Five Star Family Safari Destinations 

An exceptional luxury family adventure in Africa is always awe-inspiring and packed with unusual experiences. Africa is the leading continent for unparalleled wildlife encounters and yet it offers so much more than safaris. Think of dazzling beach and ocean destinations, adventure hikes, and mountain bike trails in remote regions. 

An African family vacation promotes bonding and camaraderie enjoyed through shared adventures. No matter the age or interests of your family members, Africa beckons with a diverse array of safari experiences and a range of family-friendly accommodations, outdoor fun, and age-appropriate activities. For those seeking privacy, luxury, and safety, exclusive-use properties set new standards for family retreats. Africa offers luxurious 5-star family holiday experiences, with world-class safaris, pristine beaches, and rich cultural heritage. Destinations like South Africa’s Kruger National Park and Cape Town, Kenya’s Maasai Mara, and Zanzibar’s idyllic shores provide top-tier accommodations and thrilling activities. Enjoy private game drives, guided tours, water sports, and family-friendly resorts, ensuring unforgettable adventures for all ages.

Africa’s finest family safari destinations

South Africa Sabi Sand Ulusaba Rock Lodge – Kruger Family Adventure

Rock Suite is the ideal family chalet at the famous Ulusaba Rock Lodge in Sabi Sand with fun bunk beds and a children’s shower! Child-friendly staff keep young ones entertained all day while mom and dad try out the spa and the gym. All ages can enjoy game drive activities, bush walks, and excursions to meet community members and see the sights in the Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve. There’s a dedicated Cub’s Club for kids under 12, game drives for kids aged 6 and older, a special children’s menu, stargazing at the lodge’s observatory in the bush, tennis, and gym.

Sabi Sand Ulusaba Rock Lodge, nestled in the heart of Kruger, offers a luxurious African family holiday. With stunning views, spacious rooms, and private game drives, it provides an intimate safari experience. Families can enjoy educational activities, guided bush walks, and thrilling wildlife encounters. This exclusive lodge combines relaxation and adventure for an unforgettable family getaway in South Africa.

 

Botswana Footsteps Across the Delta

The Botswana Footsteps Across the Delta family safari packages offer an immersive, eco-friendly adventure. Families can explore the Okavango Delta’s pristine wilderness, with walking safaris, canoe rides, and boat trips led by expert guides. Stay in comfortable, tented camps, enjoying close encounters with wildlife. This package combines adventure, nature, and culture, providing an unforgettable safari experience tailored for families seeking an authentic African adventure.

The Footsteps Across The Delta walking safari in the Okavango offers a pleasant base camp, a private setup for three couples, or a family unit in 6 tents. Book the entire camp for your sole-use friends’ group or invite another family along. See what the chef is concocting in the bush kitchen when you get peckish.  Walking trails, game drives, mokoro paddling trips, and fishing trips add spice to a family adventure.  Children must be 16 years old but there is a wonderful program for younger kids called Young Explorers Safari that starts at the camp.

 

Family holiday package to Namibia – Sossusvlei Desert Lodge

Climb the highest dunes in the world and come boarding down them again. Go quad biking, e-biking, and hot air ballooning on this once-in-a-lifetime safari in the Namib Desert, your base the luxury andBeyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge. Fed from a natural underground spring, the lodge swimming pool is a natural pool for those hot summer days.

Kids can hang out at the adventure center, have archery lessons, view Bushmen paintings, enjoy a morning Dune Walk, a Living Dunes Experience, a Desert People Experience, a Desert Rock Experience, a Scenic Desert Drive, and self-exploration on E-bikes or hikes. A family safari to Namibia for 2025.

 

Zimbabwe Bumi Hills Kariba

Family action and adventure are central at Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe where unparalleled game drives, jaw-dropping hiking, and scenic horseback riding fill the days. Bumi Hills  Zimbabwe offers a perfect family holiday with stunning views of Lake Kariba. Enjoy game drives, boat safaris, fishing, and birdwatching. The lodge provides spacious, comfortable accommodations and a range of activities for all ages, making it an ideal destination for a relaxing and adventurous family getaway. Bumi Hills is conveniently close to several famous and remote game parks, including Matusadona National Park, revered for its incredible elephants, lions, and leopards. Whether you’re a peace and tranquillity junkie, an adventure addict, or a combination of both, Bumi Hills suits family needs down to the sugar in your tea. Zimbabwe is the perfect place for a family holiday in Africa.

 

Zambia Tongabezi River Lodge

A family safari to Zambia’s Tongabezi River Lodge offers an unforgettable adventure. Located on the Zambezi River, the lodge provides luxury accommodations and thrilling activities like boat safaris, canoeing, and wildlife viewing. Families can also enjoy guided tours of nearby Victoria Falls, making it an ideal destination for nature lovers.

Choose Tongabezi in Zambia for its commitment to the ongoing conservation of the region and ecotourism principles that include communities. Children will have a ball trying the many thrilling activities from lunch on the island to canoeing down the river, guided bush walks, visits to Vic Falls, community village visits, and fishing and game viewing. The Dog House is the larger refuge for families and friends who want to explore Africa in style with a private butler, guide, vehicle, and boat. 

 

Mozambique AndBeyond Benguerra Lodge for families

AndBeyond Benguerra Lodge in Mozambique offers a luxurious family retreat with pristine beaches and crystal-clear waters. Families can enjoy snorkeling, scuba diving, dhow cruises, and island exploration. The spacious villas provide comfort and privacy, while the lodge’s diverse activities cater to all ages, ensuring a memorable beachside adventure.

Children of all ages are embraced in the folds of privileged and delightful island living. Designed for family holidays, Benguerra Lodge is spread along the beach overlooking the turquoise Indian Ocean. The delightful Casa de Familia is ideal for families who treasure their privacy, offering 3 bedrooms and en-suite bathrooms for 4 adults and 4 kids. There are plenty of interactive games and fun activities for the whole family, and children learn about marine life and its preservation, getting to know the dive center, infinity swimming pool, ocean safaris, horse-riding, deep-sea fishing (catch and release), helicopter rides, and beach picnics.

 

Kenya Giraffe Manor Nairobi – family safari to Kenya

Feeding and photographing giraffes, guided walks around the sanctuary, excursions to the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, shopping and market tours in Nairobi, golf at the Karen Country Club, and game viewing in the Nairobi National Park. The Giraffe Manor is a wonderful choice for families, embracing children of all ages who will love the Giraffe Centre where they can get close to these tall animals on the feeding platform and learn about their breeding program. Find a bag of giraffe pellets in your room for those times when these friendly animals peep through your window. A Nairobi boutique hotel where you can feed and photograph the giraffe over your breakfast table!

We hope you like some of these best family holiday destinations in Africa where superior wildlife adventures await. Take your family on the best holiday in Africa and discover joyful safaris to explore wildlife, meet cultures, and play in nature. The best education ever on a Kenya family safari!  

Call us to arrange your family safari to East Africa today!