Travelling with your youngest in tow can often mean a lot more consideration and planning to ensure the vacation can suit all. From grandparents to toddlers, a trip that suits the whole family is guaranteed to be unforgettable! So, how about a family safari? Keep the youngest immersed in the sights of the most unworldly animals ambling in their natural habitat and enjoy adrenaline-fuelled ways to transport across the diverse safari landscapes. From Africa to Asia, there is a wide array to take on unique safaris on almost every corner of the planet.
Here are some of the best destinations for safaris that even the youngest children can enjoy.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, an Indian Ocean island located off the South Asian peninsula, is a wildlife haven with various landscapes. Home to coastal plains, mountainous central regions, and distinct monsoon seasons, the country’s climate and lands make for the perfect backdrops for safari trips.
Visit one of the most popular national parks in the country, Yala National Park. Offering Jeep safaris so the little ones can rest their legs, sit back, and enjoy the spectacular sights all together. Infamous for its high leopard population, elephants, sloth bears, and an array of bird species, the likelihood of seeing at least one species is high. If elephants are the kids’ favourite, head to Udawalawe National Park, known for its very extensive elephant population. As the landscape here is vastly open, you’re equally as likely to see either these elephant or deer species. This park is home to extensive restoration too to keep the elephants protected. For a way to educate both the oldest and youngest in the family, head to the Elephant Transit Home – which is a program in the park that keeps the baby elephants fed and cared for.
For a quieter way to safari, Wilpattu National Park is the largest in the country, known for its extensive leopard populations and natural lakes. The wealth of landscapes here and the lower volume of species make this the perfect place for embarking on more of a tranquil atmosphere for just you and yours to venture through. Pack days with shorter safari endeavours through the array of park landscapes and keep the kids entertained all holiday long.
Borneo
The third-largest island on planet Earth, Borneo, is shared between three countries and sits within Southeast Asia. Combine enchanting wildlife encounters with cultural hunting and outdoor adventures on one of the planet’s most biodiverse landscapes. Take on spectacular family safari holidays in the Malaysian-owned Seplioj Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre. This sanctuary for orphaned and injured orangutans lets visitors see the incredible impact of these rehab programs. Children will love seeing the feeding times of the monkey species and their incredible characteristics displayed. Head deeper into the rainforest and spot more primates, pygmy elephants and proboscis monkeys in the wild. Getting up close by boat on the Kinbatangan River gives the perfect opportunity for everyone to rest their legs and still see the beauty of the landscape and its inhabitants.
Tanzania
The East African gem of Tanzania is home to a plethora of landscapes for family safaris to unfold. Stay in a family lodge in the heart of the wildlife-abundant lands and opt for a wealth of ways to safari that will suit you all. Plan well to hopefully see the infamous Great Migration in Serengeti National Park, where millions of Wildebeest, Zebra, and Gazelle species are migrating across the landscapes in search of greener pastures and water sources.
There are many lodges perfect for a cosy family retreat across this park, so let your only neighbours be the array of elephant, lion, leopard, and buffalo species. Take guided game drives to keep the youngest immersed in the landscape and rest their feet before restful evenings together guaranteed to be key memory-making time. Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Ngorongoro Crater, which is a huge volcanic caldera that has a dense population of wildlife, including Flamingos. Naturally being a smaller land makes the wildlife environment here far more likely to keep the youngest engaged all game drive long.
Kenya
Bordering Tanzania in the East of Africa, Kenya family safari holidays are guaranteed to keep everyone smiling from ear to ear all trip long! Head to the Masai Mara incredible safari region, known for some of the world’s best safari escapades! The park is predominantly grassland, standing at an altitude of around five thousand five hundred feet above sea level. Stay in a luxury villa or ornate campsite on the park grounds itself. Spend days exploring the wealth of big-cat species living here. From Lions and Leopards to Cheetahs, let children in particular marvel at their energy. The mannerisms of wild feline life differ from pets at home. Spend evenings cosy by fires, playing cards, or just relishing in the once-in-a-lifetime environment you’re calling home for the duration of the trip.
Malaysia
In Southeast Asia, Malaysia encompasses both the beauty of Borneo and its own landscapes for beautiful family safaris to unfold. See one of the oldest rainforests in the world, Tamam Negara National Park, on the Peninsula. Trek through the jungle lands, go on canopy walks for adrenaline-fuelled days. Night safaris are another exciting way to see the landscapes beneath constellation-full skies. See nocturnal creatures find their own livelihood while the world sleeps. Embrace the wealth of magic and energy in the variety of Tiger and Elephant species.
Summary
Spend days seeing wildlife in their natural habitat. Combine with beach time and unworldly landscapes of these safari-rich destinations. Give the youngest a truly unforgettable start to travel life. Embrace connecting with your loved ones in some of the most incredible places on earth.
You might also be interested in these articles from Bébé Voyage:
4 unforgettable activities to do in Sri Lanka with kids
