Have a wild time with kids on safari
TAKING your kids on an African safari is incredibly rewarding – and not as overwhelming as it might sound. It’s educational, challenging and unforgettable.
The only thing it isn’t is cheap – but it can be affordable if you’re happy to accept that five-star all-inclusive luxury lodges probably aren’t going to be on the itinerary. And let’s face it, when you travel as a family it’s practical, comfortable and kid-friendly that usually tops the accommodation wishlist.
South Africa’s Kruger National Park is an ideal place to start. It’s well run, has every animal you could want to see and is easily accessible for overseas visitors.
The Kruger is huge. As in bigger than some countries (it’s 19,485sq km). It’s got mountains, plains, more than 500 bird species, 35 amphibian species, 118 reptile species and 148 types of mammals. Among the most common animals are impala, kudu, zebra, elephant, giraffe and wildebeest.
You’d be unlucky not to see at least a few of the Big Five if you’re there for more than a day or two (lions, buffalo, rhino, elephant and the more elusive leopard).
Time it right
Winter is the ideal time to go with children. The grass is lower so it’s easier to spot the animals. And there’s little water about so there’s generally a crowd at the remaining rivers and waterholes, making it easy to decide where to head for the day.
Seasons are the same as in Australia, but winter weather in the Kruger is warm during the day (mid-20s to low 30s) and can be cold at night. In summer, the rainy season, it is hot, damn hot.
Best ways to spot animals
You can drive yourself (the most fun and flexible option with kids), take guided game drives which set off from each of the rest camps, or stay at one of the private guesthouses and hotels that border the park.
There are gates for entry to the park, which generally open at 6am and close at 6pm. You have to pay for each day’s visit inside the park, whether as a day visitor or guest at one of the camps.
It’s easy enough to self-drive – there are decent tarred roads between main camps and park gates, and many dirt roads. South Africans drive on the same side as we do.
You can get out of the car at the rest camps, designated picnic spots, and hides (covered structures usually set near waterholes and rivers where you can sit and watch the animals come and go).
Game drives
The upside of taking a guided drive from one of the Kruger rest camps is you can leave the rest camps outside normal hours and see nocturnal creatures such as spotted hyena and civets on sunset, night and early morning drives.
If you’re staying at a camp it’s worth taking the children on at least one guided drive – fair warning though that it can be cold, and the three-hour duration can test some children. Children under 6 can’t join the drives. Those over 13 can join the guided walks, which are highly recommended.
Keeping them happy
A great way to keep the kids engaged is an animal spotto – print up a list of the animals they might see, award points for rarity and see who is crowned Supreme Animal Spotter at the end.
The fantastic map books available at the main camps are not only vital for getting around, but provide a handy field guide for the kids.
Skukuza, the main rest camp, has a swimming pool and playground and is only about 30 minutes drive from an entry gate (Paul Kruger gate), making it a good choice for first-time stays with children. Warthogs regularly snuffle past the huts, and monkeys make a pest of themselves in your kitchen if you don’t lock your door. They’ll love it. Oh and don’t forget binoculars.
How to get there
You can fly direct to Kruger Mpumalanga airport from Johannesburg with SA Airlink – there are several flights a day. This is an easy option with kids as it’s only 40 minutes in the air and not far to several gates.
You can drive from Johannesburg too, but it’s a long haul (4–6 hours to the closest gate, depending on route and traffic) especially if you’ve just flown all the way from Australia. You can also fly direct to Hoedspruit from Johannesburg if you are staying closer to the park’s north.
That said, there are some spectacular things to see if you do take your time and drive to or from Johannesburg via the stunning Panorama Route, which takes you through South Africa’s highest mountain range.