Best destinations for family safari tours to Kenya : Many Kenya family safari packages may have been tagged as “best for second timers” when you were searching online. They are meant for people who already have a general idea of what Kenya has to offer, so stay away from them.
Some national parks (designed for visitors) are so large that a full day would be needed to visit them all and still not see them all. The kids will be worn out and bored. They did not come for game drives without any wild animals, after all.
If this is your first family safari vacation, try the Masai Mara. Even though it’s crowded, you can get the greatest possible experience with nature. Numerous wild animals, including the Big 5, will be visible to you. To avoid the crowd, you only need to time your move extremely carefully.
Consider giving one of the smaller, kid-friendly conservancies a try as well. Laikipia Conservancies: Ol Pejeta, Loisaba, and Lewa in northern Kenya. Kids will love visiting Ol Pejeta Conservancy, which is home to over 100 critically endangered rhinos and a chimpanzee sanctuary.
Best time for family safari in Kenya
Between July and October, Kenya is overrun with tourists. Travellers from all over the world come to our nation to see the Masai Mara during the Great Wildebeest Migration. This is when everyone seems to schedule their vacations, so if your kids are small, you might want to steer clear of these months.
Visit Kenya between January and June to avoid the crowds; travel is often quieter during the first quarter, and the rainy season lasts from March to June. Nevertheless, don’t allow a quick shower deter you. By scheduling your safari with children during these “low season” months, you can get the greatest lodging at a competitive price. Many campgrounds and lodges will be accommodating with their schedules and amenities during the off-peak season.
For example, if the hotel is not overly crowded, they will be pleased to make special meals for the kids.
Kids questioning nature
Your kids must have pestering you with questions nonstop while they watched Nat Geo Wild and other fascinating films. Some of which you might not have been able to properly respond to.
When your family takes an all-inclusive vacation to Kenya, you can let the kids learn everything they need to know by watching the magic happen first hand and gaining all the information they require from the game reservists.
Why do the wildebeests cross the river each year without worrying that the crocs will eat them? Why do flamingos have a pink hue? Why does hot water in a lake boil? The always attentive game wardens will assist you in finding the answers to these and other queries.
It’s not just that you can find solutions to difficult problems when you take your kids to game parks and reserves. You may get up close and personal with the wildlife on walks and game drives.
You get to witness secretive creatures that are rarely captured by cameras, as well as animals in their natural habitat.
12 Best Family Holiday Destinations in Kenya
After providing you with some suggestions for things to do in Kenya, it seems appropriate to list some must-see locations. The top ten destinations in Kenya for travellers visiting for family safari are as follows:
David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust
In this unique sanctuary, your kids will be amazed to see young elephants being bottle-fed and cleaned. Due mostly to poaching, the majority of the calves in this area were saved from the wild after becoming separated from their moms.
They will get a close-up look at the calves as they play with toys and go for walks, just like real infants! Your children will adopt (sponsor) a new born elephant for approximately USD 50.
The Giraffe Center
In this unique sanctuary, your kids will be amazed to see young elephants being bottle-fed and cleaned. Due mostly to poaching, the majority of the calves in this area were saved from the wild after becoming separated from their moms.
They will get a close-up look at the calves as they play with toys and go for walks, just like real infants! Your children will adopt (sponsor) a new born elephant for approximately USD 50.
Nairobi Animal Orphanage
Rehabilitated wild animals that have been sick, injured, or left orphaned are housed at this facility. Children can engage with the animals in their cages with ease. In addition, they will be able to see lions, jackals, cheetahs, leopards, baboons, and many more animals up close.
Kids may learn more about animals and the dangers they encounter in this perfect setting.
Maasai Mara National Reserve
One of Kenya’s most popular tourism spots for families is the reserve. In addition, Masai Mara is the most visited game park in the nation. Every year, thousands of travellers flock to the area to observe the distinct array of creatures.
The most famous event is the yearly “Great Migration,” during which millions of zebras and wildebeests travel from Tanzania’s Serengeti across the Mara River. The eighth wonder of the world was named after this migration.
At least a day or two spent in the Maasai Mara should be included in every family vacation to Kenya. While on a family safari in Masai Mara, some enjoyable activities to do are:
Hot air balloon
It’s certainly thrilling to see wild animals in their natural environment from a moving vehicle, but nothing compares to taking in the sights from a hot air balloon a few feet above the ground! Although it may set you back a few hundred dollars per person, your children will enjoy this ride.
It’s a wonderful idea to take your kids on a family vacation to Kenya so they can meet other kids their own age who are happy despite living in very different locations and situations.
Maasai social life
For them, this is a truly enlightening and transformative event. By stepping outside of their comfort zone and familiar surroundings, your kids will develop excellent character traits and become more resilient.
They will come to value and appreciate the small things that they may have previously taken for granted. But if you and your family stay at a luxurious hotel or lodge for your entire Kenyan vacation, you won’t learn these important life skills. You have to go to the people’s homes, villages, schools, or social centres.
A visit to Maasai village
When visitors come to Kenya with their families, the Maasai group is most likely the most well-known tribe. Many foreigners believe that all Kenyans are Maasai people.
Though this is untrue, no Kenyan travel magazine would be complete without images of the Maasai, who are people dressed in brilliantly coloured beads and wrapped in red clothing.
The Maasai people are well-known for their enjoyable activities and distinctive culture. Your children will love interacting, jumping, and dancing with these incredibly amiable individuals who are glad to be from Kenya.
Additionally, there are morans, or young Maasai men, who are willing to teach your children how to throw spears at worried people, start a fire without a lighter, and other skills. These men are brave enough to take down a lion.
Lake Nakuru National Park
Kenya’s fourth-largest city, Nakuru, is dubbed the “home of the flamingos.” Lake Nakuru, which is designated as a national park, is located not far from the town.
Many wild creatures and over 450 different types of birds can be found in this park. Here, you may witness lions, warthogs, waterbucks, white rhinos, and leopards.
Tsavo National Park
Kenya’s largest park is Tsavo. Tsavo East and Tsavo West are the two halves. Encompassing a vast lava-rock plateau, volcanic hills, grasslands, waterfalls, rivers, and an astounding array of species, these two parks make up around 4% of Kenya’s total land area.
Tsavo East is the park to visit if you want to see enormous herds of elephants lounging around and taking baths in red dust. Because of the thick forest, you might not be able to see much animals in Tsavo West.
Amboseli National Reserve
This reserve is one of Kenya’s most well-liked tourist destinations. It is also among the greatest locations on the African continent for up-close views of sizable herds of elephants.
In addition to elephants, large cats like lions and cheetahs can be found in the park. The Amboseli National Reserve is home to a variety of other animals, including giraffes, waterbucks, gazelles, and impala.
With more than 600 species, it’s a perfect tourism destination for avian enthusiasts.
Lamu
Northeast of Mombasa is where this little island is located. The island is home to Lamu Old Town, Kenya’s oldest continuously inhabited settlement having roots in the eleventh century and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Visitors witness the town’s long history of trading, which is largely represented in the structures. During your family vacation in Kenya, you should also visit the Donkey Sanctuary, Lamu Fort, and the Lamu Museum, which are all well-known tourist destinations.
