Kenya Family Safaris | Safari Holidays to Kenya

Kenya family safari planning with the experts

From the central highlands of the Laikipia Plateau and Lewa Downs, to the wide open plains of the Masai Mara and the rolling green hills of Chyulu, a Kenya family holiday provides a huge variety of activities and adventures as well as unbelievable wildlife to suit everyone.

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Where to go on a Kenya Family Holiday

Masai Mara

Laikipia

Lewa Downs

Amboseli National Park

Greater Mara

Kenya Safari Itinerary Planning

Most itineraries begin off your international flight in Nairobi, then Kenya is your oyster! Just as for any holiday in Kenya, the best advice for getting the most out of your Kenya family safari is to stay off the beaten track, keeping time in the busiest parks to an absolute minimum. Mombasa is the hive of package holidays and we avoid this area completely, including Tsavo which is its nearest safari park.

Amboseli is the second busiest park after the Masai Mara; the only reason to come here would be for the iconic picture of elephants, if you are lucky it will be one of Africa's great tuskers, in front of Mount Kilimanjaro and if you must get this shot, then the only place to stay is Tortilis. Otherwise, in comparison to the Mara, the wildlife is simply not as good.

The Masai Mara is justifiably renowned for its outstanding game, and this inevitably draws the crowds, but there are some great options for enjoying the Mara in peace. The Greater Mara is the place to go to tick off the big five on fabulous game drives, but without the hordes of day trippers from Nairobi which you can get in the Masai Mara Reserve.

If you do want to catch the Great Wildebeest Migration, then it has to be the Mara. To see this, you should be looking at travelling between July and October when the wildebeest pass into Kenya from the Serengeti and the famous river crossings occur.

The other area of Kenya, which in our view is the place to be for families of all ages, is the Laikipia Plateau. here there are a number of private 'ranches' all making up their own concessions. Because these areas are private land, the activities on offer here are endless. Lewa Downs is particularly good for specialist horse riding lodges, and activities throughout Laikipia vary immensely from walking to quad biking (and everything in between). It is undoubtedly one of the very best places on the continent for an exciting and varies family safari, and the wildlife is also fantastic here.

The most family friendly lodges for a Kenya holiday?

Here are some of our absolute favourite family safari lodges in Kenya, starting with the hugely fun Lewa Wilderness Trails. This lodge in Lewa Downs offers a hige range of activities including walking, horse riding and in the lodge, a tennis court and swimming pool. It is a luxury lodge, but not over the top, it sets a very friendly tone for a perfect Kenya family holiday.

Ol Lentille is our Laikipia pick for the best family lodge in Kenya, with a world-class spa and loads of activities, this is enough to get our vote. Ol Lentille goes even further for families as it is comprised of private houses, fully catered and exclusive - a luxury home that is definitely away from home!

&Beyond's Bateleur Camp is our favourite family friendly hideaway in the Mara. Secluded, luxurious and with the WildChild programme, your kids will be busy from dawn until dusk; tracking, fishing, making bows and arrows, beading, crafting and painting. As well as fun in the lodge, garden or kitchen, all activities are carried out in the care of friendly staff, from rangers and trackers to child minders and cooks. Governor's Camp mirrors this and their own excellent children's club which gives them hands on experience from tracking to crafts.

For a quick an inexpensive big five safari and beach, the best place to go for your safari is undoubtedly Kichwa Tembo. This is an amazing value for money lodge. With the surrounding wildlife being second to none, and the luxury you get for a reasonable price, it is an ideal destination for an exciting and relaxed family safari.

Where to go with young children on your Kenya Family Safari?

A lot of camps and lodges have a minimum age of 6 years old and organising a trip with kids younger than this can bit a bit tricky. With very young children, your best bet is generally some of the larger hotel style safari lodges as they tend to be a more enclosed and permanent structure and so are a little more relaxed on ages. You can also combine this with the beach where there is so much for the youngsters to do.

For teenagers, your call is always the best. Talk to an expert about the best fun lodges and camps which will leave your teenagers with many different activities to enjoy. We generally find that children of all ages are completely in awe of the fantastic Africa wildlife and so tend to be happy anywhere in Kenya.

Kenya Family Safari Activities

Activities on a Kenya Family Holiday

Enjoy action-packed game drives goggling at some of Africa's most iconic wildlife, or view it from above in a hot air balloon. Ride on horseback (or even camels!) through the rolling grassy plains amongst herds of antelope, or your family may prefer to drive quad bikes down dry-river beds before camping out under the stars. With fabulous Indian Ocean Coast options a stone's throw away, whatever your unique family dynamic, a Kenya holiday caters for all.

How do I combine the beach with a Kenya family safari?

It is so easy! There are some great beach options in Kenya which is lucky enough to have a vast Indian Ocean Coastline. The Lamu Archipelago used to be a hotspot for tourists seeking rest and relaxation after an action packed Kenya safari. Although this area unfortunately went through a turbulent couple of years, it is now back on the map and the likes of the popular Zanzibar should watch out.

Off the coast of Tanzania, but very accessible from Kenya is the island of Zanzibar. Catering perfectly for a family beach getaway, Zanzibar has so many activities and fun quirky boutique hotels to be enjoyed. Zanzibar provides something for all ages; from the small boutique lodges with big family villas, to big resorts with kids clubs and baby sitting services. Activities are similarly diverse - scuba diving, snorkelling and dolphin safaris are just a few of the kid-friendly things on offer.

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Why a Kenya Family Safari?

Why go to Kenya on a family holiday?

Whilst most countries over egg the pudding in terms of their diversity, Kenya doesn't come close to giving you the full picture. It offers the most varied safari experiences on the continent.

The Big 5 safaris here are some of the best on the continent. The Masai Mara is full to the brim with wildlife and the open plains make for some great photo opportunities.

From a young age some parents like to give their children a culturally-rich experience, and Kenya has this in abundance with the traditional Masai cultures.

The Great Migration makes its way into the Masai Mara every year during the school holidays from July - October, a sight for any ages to behold.

Kenya has always been a leader in the field of the luxury safari experience and this speaks volumes when children are involved. Camps really know how to cater for every age and ensure that each individual has an equally memorable stay.

How much does a Kenya family safari cost?

It doesn't take long to realise that a Kenya safari (or any safari for that matter) isn't a cheap holiday option, especially if you are bringing the family. If you play it right though, you can create a great value and incredibly memorable family trip.

Lodges can range from around $400 per adult per night for a superb safari in the heart of the action in the comfortable, but more basic accommodation. At the other end of the scale, some lodges reach nearly $2,000 per adult per night and are incredibly opulent and lavish - children do get lower rates!

When looking at the trip as a whole, including logistical costs, a week-long holiday combining a couple of safari areas can range anywhere from USD $10,000 all the way up to $40,000 for a family of four.

Introducing Odyssey Explorer

Welcome to our new itinerary-building app! Odyssey Explorer allows you to browse a range of popular itinerary templates and tailor them to suit your budget and tastes. Once you are happy with your route template, Odyssey Explorer gives you the freedom to select and change your accommodation in each destination. It is an excellent tool for you to get an instant price for your dream trip before you work with a Tanzania expert to fine-tune it and make it into a reality.

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When to go on a Kenya family holiday?

The best time to go to Kenya is typically the dry season months of July - October which also handily falls over the British summer holidays for families with kids in school and university. The wildlife and weather is perfect in these months too! The only months to avoid if you do not want to be rained on is April and May which makes up East Africa's long rainy season.

East Africa's short rains occur in November, however this is normally just a quick afternoon shower so you aren't completely washed out. November is an especially clever month to travel as it lies at the end of the dry season, so the wildlife is still fantastic and you get some brilliant deals as it is classed as the shoulder or low season.

A festive holiday in Kenya is also an exceptional idea. The parks are beautiful, the wildlife easy to spot and the weather is great for a beach extension. Similarly, January and February are great too and like November, the reduced rates make it all the sweeter.

Kenya Family Safaris - Africa Odyssey Tips

Top 5 Kenya Family Safari Tips

Ask us about child rates, some camps charge child rates up to 21 years olf and you can get some great deals

The summer holidays coincide with peak season in Kenya, although the game viewing is great, rates are high and it can be busy. Look at during a safari during half term instead for lower rates and some fantastic game viewing.

Go for camps and lodges with diverse and interesting activities. Keeping the kids entertained is the key to a fun and successful family safari.

Look at booking interconnecting rooms or tents, especailly when you have younger ones. Often camps and lodges won't allow under 12's to be unaccompanies overnight so ask us which lodges offer these.

Ask about private vehicles. Having your own vehicle whilst on game drives can make such a big difference to your experience and is definitely worth having for that extra intimate and personal safari.

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Kenya Family Safaris FAQs

Is it safe to take children on safari?

There is of course an added danger to a safari holiday as you are in close proximity to wild animals. The freedom of the animals is the beauty of a safari. That being said, the camps and lodges have very stringent policies in place and methods for keeping people safe, so long as you always follow the instructions from staff and guides, a safari is as safe as any other family holiday. As a company, we only work with well-established safari camps and lodges, all of which have impeccable safety records.

Kenya Family Safari vs Tanzania Family Safari

Both are superb and both have their own huge plus points when it comes to a family safari. Tanzania has some really beautiful lodges and a bit more choice in terms of safari and beach destinations, Southern Tanzania is particularly good for a hassle free, great value family getaway.

But Kenya has the experience of being a top safari destination for far longer than Tanzania. Kenya's longevity means that the family safari has been perfected. Guides are superbly trained and enjoy teaching the kids about the bush, and many lodges have specific activities for children.

Client Reviews

[100% BASED ON 5 REVIEWS]

Kenya family safari holiday - Reviews

Absolutely fantastic! Every part of the trip went like clockwork and was a pleasure to deal with African Odyssey. We will definitely be using them to plan out next trip!

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- J Moriarty

Fantastic trip! Everything went smoothly to plan, and all accommodation suggestions from Dave were amazing. Highly recommend, will be using again.

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- Ben

We had a great time on safari - from the game and boat safaris to the camp with no electricity which took us right back to nature! Followed by a relaxing time in Zanzibar on the beach. I was a bit nervous about taking my family to Africa but great organisation put my mind at rest - everything was well co-ordinated and ran very smoothly. Thanks to Africa Odyssey

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- G Kibble

We have learned that the best travel agents for our needs, our not even in our city. We like to use the most experienced agents who offer interesting family travel experiences. African Odyssey was absolutely fabulous during the planning of our trip. Edward gave me an excellent on-line tour of Africa from his desk in London, to my kitchen in Toronto. He promptly answered all of my questions I had during the planning of our trip. Finally, the trip he highly recommended, and we took, was amazing. We are a family of 5 and everyone agreed that the camps and the resort that Edward choose were perfect.

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- Diane

We have learned that the best travel agents for our needs, our not even in our city. We like to use the most experienced agents who offer interesting family travel experiences. African Odyssey was absolutely fabulous during the planning of our trip. Edward gave me an excellent on-line tour of Africa from his desk in London, to my kitchen in Toronto. He promptly answered all of my questions I had during the planning of our trip. Finally, the trip he highly recommended, and we took, was amazing. We are a family of 5 and everyone agreed that the camps and the resort that Edward choose were perfect.

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- Kristiane

Kenya Family Holidays