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Plan the Perfect Family Safari in Kenya: Follow Our Tips for First-time Safari Planners

Plan the Perfect Family Safar in Keyna: Follow Our Tips for First-time Safari Planners

Are you ready to experience the adventure of a lifetime? Then a Kenyan safari is perfect for you and your family! A safari in Kenya is known for its spectacular wildlife, stunning landscapes, and unique cultures. With our tips, you’ll be able to plan the perfect family safari! 

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From choosing the right destinations to packing the right luggage and more – we have everything you need to ensure that your first African safari is unforgettable. Read on to find out more about how to plan the perfect family safari in Kenya.

Planning a Safari Trip

When you are planning a holiday with your loved ones you want to optimize every moment you spend together. Hence, you need to focus on how you want to spend quality time together. If you are planning to spend more time outdoors going for a safari trip sounds like a great idea. 

Many families today head for safari trips which would provide them with the perfect break that they need to unwind and relax and spend more time together. Kenya is certainly one of the top destinations for safaris and therefore you need to look for how you can make the most of your time in Kenya. 

elephant in front of jeep on safari

Planning is the key to having a good safari trip along with your family and loved ones. Hence, you need to be clear about how you can make the most of your choices. However, if you are unsure about how you can plan your upcoming safari trip to Kenya you can look for tour operators that can help you with your Kenya family holiday itinerary. This would allow you to save time and focus more on how you want to spend time in Kenya on your safari trip.

If you are planning a Kenya trip with your family you would want to know how you can plan it the right way. 

Know The Type of Vacation You Want & What Your Budget Is

Even before you decide what Kenya plans and itineraries you want to choose you need to be clear about what you want. Top safari destinations like Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, and others provide you with a wide variety of tours and travel options. This means that you need to pick the right plan that meets your requirements and preferences and budget. 

If you are going with your family you would want to sit down with your family members and discuss how you want to spend time on your upcoming safari trip, and what activities you want to cover and that would help you make the right choices. 

For instance, if you want to spend more time in the parks then you can opt for a higher budget plan which would enable you to stay longer in the parks. Most tour operators offer luxury safari lodges and camps that provide you with all the luxuries a hotel might have. On the other hand, if you are on a budget plan, there are many camps and lodges that provide basic accommodation with minimal facilities.

It is important to note that luxury family vacations have the best wildlife viewing opportunities since they take you to the remotest places in Africa where wildlife sightings are guaranteed and you can experience amazing safari activities such as night game drives, hot air balloon rides, bush dinners, and sundowners. 

However, if you are on a budget plan then you should focus on wildlife viewing opportunities that are closer to popular tourist sites such as the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya or the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania.

In addition to this, there are certain seasonal considerations when planning a safari trip

Choose The Right Accommodation For Your Family

Kenya is one of the top safari destinations in the world. Hence, finding accommodation here isn’t a challenge, the challenge is to find the right one. With plenty of accommodation choices, you need to be clear about what accommodations are right for you and your family. 

If you are in an adventurous mood, you would want to book a treehouse or a tent. However, if you are seeking the best comfort and luxury you can opt for boutique hotels, family-styled lodges and even opulent resorts.

luxury bedroom in safari tent

Get Your Documents Ready

When you are planning a safari trip to Kenya you also want to focus on your travel documents. This is important to ensure that there are no last-moment issues especially when you are traveling with your kids. However, if you are traveling with a kid below 16 years of age there is no requirement for a kid’s visa. However, you still need to have all the necessary documents when you arrive in Kenya. 

Documents you’ll need include:

  • Valid passport
  • Evidence of travel arrangements (e.g. tickets, itinerary)
  • Travel insurance documents
  • Visa paperwork and payment receipts

It is important to note that you will need to ensure that your passport has at least 6 months’ validity from the date you enter Kenya as well as two blank pages for immigration stamps.

You should also make sure that you have sufficient funds to cover your stay in the country and any extra costs you may incur during your trip. To help with this, keep an eye on currency conversion rates before you leave so that you are prepared when exchanging money at airports or other locations. You will also need to take into consideration any local customs and safety standards before traveling to Kenya.

Finally, you should make sure to have all relevant contact information for emergency services in case of a medical or other emergencies while visiting the country. It is important to be prepared for anything when traveling abroad.

Note: If you are traveling with your children without their other parent, you may also need a notarized parental consent form for travel.

woman and children looking at elephant herd

Don’t Overschedule – Start Slow

When you are headed for a wildlife safari tour in Kenya you need to start slow. Often families are excited about going for the best game drives and locations. However, this would only slow you down and make you feel tired. 

Often when families head to Kenya they are jetlagged and if you have kids you can feel the burden of the long trip. Hence, you must relax and unwind on your first day probably in Nairobi before being transferred to any of the national parks. You may also want to look for direct flights to Nairobi to help you save time and eliminate travel stress.

What to Pack for a Safari

When you are going on a safari trip with your family you want everyone to be safe and healthy. Hence, you need to be particular about the clothes, accessories, and equipment you pack. You need to pack clothes that are light and have earthy tone colors. 

Focus on layering because you want to add and remove your clothing based on the temperature. Here’s a great list of pack essentials for the safari trip from NY Magazine. You also want to pack sunglasses, sunscreen, and water bottles that would help you stay hydrated throughout the trip. You may also want to pack some wildlife books to keep your kids occupied.

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Planning help for a Kenyan Safari

Focus on Family-Friendly Activities 

Safari trips aren’t just about watching the animals in the wild but a lot more. Kenya safari tours involve a lot of activities and therefore you need to be clear about what activities you want to cover. 

You can always go for some excellent game drives where you can see action in the wild. Also, you can explore national parks and go bird watching and watch flamingos at Lake Nakuru. 

You can also choose other activities like horse riding and quad biking/ATVing that allows you to head out in the wild and explore the terrain along with your family. You can also go hot air ballooning and fly over Masai Mara and have a great time with your loved ones.

Keep Your Children Involved

There are many things that you should know when you are planning a safari with kids. A safari trip is a great way for the kids to learn more about the geography, wildlife, local flora and fauna and even the history and culture of that place.

 When you are in Kenya keep your kids involved in what’s happening and that way you will have more time with your partner to make the most of your trip. There are many safari itineraries where you can have engaging activities for the kids at the safari camp. 

Kids can learn more about the Maasai culture and their lifestyle and interact with them as well. Also, once kids are done watching the Big Five, allow them to explore local flora and fauna as well. 

family on safari

Choose a Local Guide

Having a local guide that can help you tour Kenya can save you a lot of time and effort. Hence, you want to ensure that you hire a local guide who has relevant experience and expertise to take you through various game drives and national parks. This would ensure that you don’t have to worry about how you would go about spending your day. The guide will provide you with all the details to ensure that you can make the most of your trip to Kenya.

Know What You Want to Skip

If you are visiting Kenya with your family for a limited number of days you would want to know what to cover and what to skip. Rushing through multiple locations in a day will make you feel tired and uneasy especially when you are with kids. 

You need to sort out the locations and national parks you want to include in this trip. This way you can organize your safari trip the right way and make the most of the time you have.

In Conclusion

A trip to Kenya is a unique vacation experience that you and your family will never forget. With its diverse wildlife, breathtaking landscapes, and friendly locals, Kenya has something for everyone. 

By organizing your safari trip with the help of a guide, you can make sure that you don’t miss the must-see locations and national parks. You can also take your time to explore each location fully, giving you plenty of memories to keep for years to come!

Kenyan safari with family
How to plan safari trip in Kenyan_

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