One of the most prominent trends in the safari industry over the past few years is an increase in multigenerational family safaris.
Lodges adhering to strict no-kids policies, which were still the norm just a few years ago, now seem a distant memory, as even the most luxurious lodges are pulling out all the stops to appeal to families with young children.
Gretchen Healey, of Africa Adventure Consultants, said that family and toddler travel has always been in demand, but families now seek richer cultural and natural experiences that both entertain and educate, which Africa offers in abundance.
Luxury lodge operator AndBeyond picked up on this trend and launched its highly successful Wildchild program last year. The program is aimed at kids under 12 and offers activities at its lodges that attempt to tie in with the environment and heritage of the region.
For example, at AndBeyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge in Namibia, youngsters can experience stargazing as well as Bushman games that teach them the culture of the region, including how to find food and water in the desert.
Whereas most lodges assert their child-friendliness by promoting activities for the youngest of visitors, the teen market is often overlooked in the marketing efforts. That is why Robin Pope Safaris (RPS) recently launched a dedicated family package to engage teenagers. This 10-night package, priced at $3,734 per person based on a family of two adults and two children between ages 12 and 16, includes adventurous activities for teens in Lake Malawi, Victoria Falls and the South Luangwa National Park.
Ton de Rooy, RPS managing director, said that there certainly has been an increased interest in family-focused Africa packages that accommodate both teenagers and younger children with activities that can be tailored to suit all age brackets.
'Life-enhancing experiences'
"We devised this safari to keep teenagers engaged and entertained and to foster family bonding from shared, exceptional life-enhancing experiences," he said.
According to de Rooy, RPS focuses on adventure activities for teens, such as walking with lions, elephant rides, canoeing or whitewater rafting on the Zambezi River and viewing Victoria Falls from a lightweight, one- or two-seat, fixed-wing aircraft.
Walking safaris are also a popular option for teenagers, whereas younger tourists can enjoy nature trails around the lodges with activities such as spoor and dung identification, still a bush experience.
Ecotourism operator Wilderness Safaris has also adapted its programs to offer activities that appeal to all ages.
For teenagers, the operator includes activities such as rhino tracking, elephant rides and quadbiking.
Children between the ages of 6 and 16 can participate in a sleep-out on the outdoor star-deck provided an adult accompanies them.
Tarryn Gibson, Wilderness Safaris communications manager, said that Wilderness Safaris has seen a general increase in family travel and multigenerational safaris, which offer the perfect opportunity for both parents and children, especially teenagers, to reconnect with each other.
"As there is no WiFi connection in most of the remote wilderness regions in which we operate, families are given the perfect opportunity to disconnect with the outside world, put down all their techno gadgets and communicate with each other the good, old-fashioned way, whilst at the same time both experiencing the wonder of these wilderness areas and various wildlife encounters for the first time," she said.
U.S. tour operators welcome the efforts of lodges to engage children of all ages, including teens.
Julia Nesbitt of African Safari Co. said the best family safaris include different activities to break up the pattern of a regular day in a game reserve.
"In parts of Kenya and Tanzania, for example, kids can walk with a local Maasai warrior to learn about their culture and history as well as the animals," she said.
According to Nesbitt, most tour operators are generally bound to the safety-minded age restrictions that are already in place, but she urges them to talk to the parents about the kids' abilities and interests.
"For example, you could have a teen for whom a safari is their first trip abroad and they are wary of boats, and a 10-year-old who has already visited many countries and can be quiet as a mouse out on safari for four hours," she said. "We always recommend starting from scratch with a private custom safari for the best possible safari with kids."
Nesbitt suggests that Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia are great destinations for teens because of the wide variety of activities available in these countries, from canoeing and whitewater rafting to walking safaris, authentic village visits and sleep-outs under the African sky.
South Africa, on the other hand, is ideal for safaris with children, since there are many lodges that cater to families with small children.
"In South Africa, there are also other activities and destinations like Cape Town, the Garden Route and the beach, and there is the option for a fully malaria-free and vaccine-free safari with excellent wildlife," she said.