So you’ve booked your dream family safari holiday. Yay!
You’ve given so much consideration to picking the perfect family-friendly safari destination but have you considered what to take on safari with kids?
Of course, there are the usual things that you take on any holiday with kids. We haven’t covered those. But if this is your first time on safari, there may be items that you haven’t considered and you’re wondering what to pack for an African safari with kids.
We’ve pulled together a list of our recommendations of what to take on safari with kids so that you can concentrate on enjoying your dream holiday without the worry of forgetting an essential item.
Our recommendations are based on numerous trips to Africa on safari. As you can maybe tell, we are huge fans of going on safari with kids. So much so that Ed now works in the African safari industry.
Going on safari with the kids is our passion so we know (from trial and error) what needs to go on our safari with kids packing list.
This post is divided into two sections. What you need to take on a safari holiday and what you need to take on the game drive itself.
Not booked your safari yet? Find out the cost of a safari with kids and tips for doing a safari on a budget.
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What to take on safari with kids
As we mentioned, we have split this post into two sections: what to pack for a safari with kids and what to take on your game drives.
Essentials for a family safari holiday
We haven’t covered the usual family holiday essentials such as passport, pajamas, toothpaste etc. These are just the essentials that you need to take on safari holidays with kids.
- Malaria tablets – only applicable if travelling to a malaria area (see all malaria free safaris for families). Check with your GP what is appropriate and note that some medication needs to be started before you travel.
- Mosquito repellent – you need to consider what strength repellent you need according to the level of malaria threat. Note you should still take repellant even if there is no malaria in the area.
- Power banks – you do not want to run out of battery in the middle of a game drive at a crucial photo opportunity.
- Head torch – comes in very handy in and around your camp. Some eco lodges may not have electricity through the night.
- Cash for tips – if you are staying in a lodge and / or taking a guided safari, you need to consider tips. USD is the generally accepted currency in most countries.
- Luggage – if you are taking a small charter flight to your safari lodge, check your luggage restrictions carefully. Consider a duffel style holdall rather than a hard shell suitcase.
- Safari clothing – we have a guide on what to wear on safari for more details but in general, stay neutral and layer up. Take a look at safari wear with mosquito repellent washed into it for extra protection.
- Swim suits – most lodges will have a pool. You may even be lucky enough to have a private plunge pool. You will want to make the most of this between game drives.
- Travel first aid kit – high end lodges will have medical supplies but your room may be a little way from the main area so you should still consider taking your own essentials like plasters, bite cream, mosquito repellent, sun screen, rehydration tablets, antiseptic cream.
What to take on a game drive with kids
These are the main things we take on game drives.
1. Snacks & water
Even if you are staying in the most luxurious lodge possible and everything is catered for, you will want to have snacks and water in your bag.
A game drive will usually last for a few hours and during that time there will be a stop where guests can get out and have a drink and a snack.
The rest of the time you will be driving and the guide will not be stopping to get water or snacks for your child.
Having a reusable bottle (we use Chilly’s water bottles) topped up with water and a snack that is easily accessible will help any kind of hanger issues that may disturb the wildlife!
You can either grab something from the lodge before you leave for the drive or pick up some snacks from the supermarket before you check in at the lodge.
2. Binoculars
A decent pair of binoculars like these are something every guide will bring on a game drive but often they are shared around and you might not get a go for a while.
Having your own pair means better sightings. We would go as far as saying it is worth bringing a pair of binoculars for the kids.
You can either get some kids’ binoculars or a decent small pair if they are older.
Letting the kids have their own binoculars will help them get more involved.
If you are on a self-drive safari, bringing your own binoculars is definitely recommended. Try to buy them before you travel as buying safari gear whilst on holiday will be much more expensive. This is one of our tips for doing a family safari on a budget.
See here for more self-drive safari tips.
3. Mosquito repellent
You have brought your mosquito repellent on holiday with you but you must make sure you wear it, particularly on your game drive.
Whilst you don’t need to actually take it on the drive with you, we’re putting this here to remind you to put it on before you head out.
Mosquitoes are most active at dawn and dusk which is exactly when you will be out on safari as those are the best times to spot wildlife. See our tips on spotting wildlife for more advice!
Just a note on mosquito repellent. If you are visiting a malarial area, you really need to consider repellent with a high level of DEET. Concentrations up to 30% DEET are considered safe for kids over 2 months. DEET is not recommended for babies under 2 months.
If you are not visiting a malarial area, there are some effective child friendly repellents that we have used such as Vie which has a natural, deet free formula.
We have also used these DEET free mosquito repellent bands which are widely available on Amazon.
Make sure you read up on the risks of Malaria before you go.
4. A decent camera
You might not want to spend much on a decent camera when your phone does a good enough job most of the time but having a decent camera on safari will make all the difference.
We have a Canon 250D with a Tamron 70-300mm lens which only ever gets used on safari now. It is entry level and was quite affordable and lightweight. You don’t need to get carried away spending thousands.
Our tip here from previous experience, however, is not to get too distracted with taking photos. Sometimes it’s worth putting the camera down after you have taken a few shots and enjoying the moment.
5. Wildlife spotting books
See if you can pick up one of these kids wildlife spotting books (see our guide to wildlife spotting on safari). Our kids love ticking off the animals as they go. Sometimes your family-friendly safari lodge will provide a tick list but they may not.
You can buy guides to the larger parks online before you travel. You may also be able to pick up guide books in the visitor centre or rest camp shops.
These are particularly useful if you are doing a self-drive safari.
6. Sun cream
The sun can get very fierce on safari in Africa and if you’re in an open top jeep, there is no hiding from it.
You may think that you won’t see much sun if you head out before sunrise but you’d be mistaken. The sun is already quite strong by 8 or 9am.
It is really important to put sun scream on before you go out and take some with you to top up.
The sun is even more intense during afternoon safaris.
7. Sunglasses & hat
As above, the African sun is extremely intense you should bring sunglasses and a hat in addition to wearing sunscreen.
Wrap-around sunglasses with good UV protection and maybe even polarized lenses will offer the best protection for your eyes and make animal spotting easier.
Even if it is overcast, you should consider sunglasses to protect your eyes from the dust flying around.
8. Waterproof jacket & long sleeve top
You may be going somewhere hot and dry for your safari but there is always a chance of some early morning or evening rain and with most jeeps being open sided or open topped, there is not much protection from getting wet.
Waterproofs can be very lightweight and easy to pack, especially the packable waterproof jacket type.
It is also a good idea to have a longer sleeve lightweight top for extra protection from mosquitoes and the sun.
It can also get chilly on safari on the early mornings or once the sun goes down.
9. Sturdy shoes
Even if you’re not planning on doing much walking during your safari, there will more than likely be some stops for lunch or visiting hides.
At these times you’ll be out of the vehicle and walking around some potentially tricky terrain, so a solid pair of shoes is well advised.
Simple trainers will suffice for this, although if you’re planning on doing some walking it’s worth considering a pair of waterproof shoes. You don’t want to be getting a camel thorn tree spike in your foot!
Whether it is entirely necessary or not is debatable but we tuck trouser legs into socks to avoid the possibility of insects crawling up them! We once made the mistake of stepping on a red ants nest at a coffee break and they got everywhere!
10. A day bag
Finally a decent day bag to put everything in. We find it’s a good idea to take a smallish bag with you to keep all these bits in.
There are usually pockets in the seats in the jeep, but sometimes you may get out of your vehicle for a wander in the bush.
We find it better to keep stuff in our day bag anyway because we have managed to leave things in the pocket of the jeep never to be seen again.
We use the Osprey Ultralight pack.
What NOT to take on safari with kids
So we’ve covered what to take on safari with kids but we should briefly highlight what NOT to take with you.
- Several countries in East Africa have banned single-use plastic bags this including duty-free plastic bags. You can be fined if caught with one. Consider a reusable shopping bag like this one.
- Camouflage clothing is not recommended for travel in southern African countries and it is actually prohibited when travelling in Zimbabwe.
- Drones are not allowed in most camps.
- Many camps cannot support electricity for hair dryers so leave them at home.
We hope you find this list of what to take on safari with kids helpful.
