10 Family-Friendly Destinations for 2023

At many lodges and camps, multi-generational families can participate in safari activities together, like game drives!

The AAC team has compiled a list of our 10 favorite family-friendly destinations. We considered several factors: age restrictions, private vehicle and guide accessibility, availability of family-specific rooms (minimum 8 years old), kid-specific activities, etc. We also made sure that the accommodations are just as appealing for the parents!

Regularly recognized by both Travel + Leisure and Conde Nast Traveler as a top family safari outfitter, AAC knows that a family safari is more than a vacation. A safari is a chance to disconnect from the routines and stresses of modern life, and consequently, presents an opportunity to meaningfully connect with your family. It’s also a chance to provide your children with memories that they will cherish for a lifetime.

#1 MalaMala Lion’s Den – MalaMala Reserve, South Africa

MalaMala’s ochre colored buildings are clustered beneath shady trees and overlook the Sand River in the MalaMala Game Reserve. The camp consists of ten suites and nine luxury rooms, each under traditional thatch with en suite bathroom, mini-bar, air conditioning and a private deck to enjoy views of the waterhole or Sand River. Despite these modern comforts, MalaMala retains an authentic ‘bush camp’ atmosphere. A tradition for over 60 years, dinner is served in the reed enclosed boma, and features African specialties and haute bush cuisine. The Buffalo Lounge, displaying bronzes, works of art and animal trophies, leads onto an expansive wooden deck. This elevated deck provides views of the Sand River and visiting game. The camp also features an infinity pool, boutique and small workout room. Activities include morning and afternoon/night game drives with a maximum of six people per safari vehicle and guided walks.

As someone who has traveled with her own family and planned safaris for many of our family groups – MalaMala is a winner!  Excellent game viewing, in the words of a recently returned safarier ‘we saw the big five in the first day’ which is really the tip of the iceberg when it comes to wildlife.  Lion’s Den offers space … space for everyone to enjoy down time and also to gather together to chat about the days excitement.  With beautiful views of the Sand River you cannot ask for more!

Elena Theodosiou (Senior Safari Consultant)

#2 Ol Jogi – Laikipia, Kenya

From the exquisite setting, service and style to the leading Wildlife Rescue Centre, conservation projects and community programs, Ol Jogi can cater to every whim. Located in a 58,000 acre private conservancy in Laikipia, this property can only be booked on an exclusive basis. Superb for families, groups of friends and celebratory occasions, it accepts up to 8 guests at a time. Activities include guided walks, game drives, visits to local village and primary school, helicopter excursions and horse-riding.

Old Jogi is a one- of-a-kind private luxury lodge located in the heart of Laikipia in northern Kenya. Located on a 58,000 acre private conservancy in Laikipia, this property can only be booked on an exclusive basis. Superb for families, groups of friends and celebratory occasions, it accepts up to 14 guests at a time. Facilities include a large swimming pool, magnificent spa, game viewing hide and wine cellar – perfect for families. The food is superb!

Activities include guided walks and day and night game drives. The game viewing is excellent, with a heathy population of lion, leopard, cheetah and rhino. And as off-road driving is allowed, guests can have close-up views of the wildlife that interests them most! Also included – the unique interaction with habituated African Elephants, visits to local village and primary school, helicopter excursions and horse-riding.

Mark Nolting (Owner and President)

#3 Private Entamanu Ngorongoro Camp – Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania

Private Entamanu Ngorongoro Camp’s location provide views of both Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti Plains. The permanent tented camp features seven en suite tents, including two family tents, each with indoor heating, hot and cold running water, flush toilets and views into the crater. The camp is a mere 20 minutes from the Seneto Descent road, allowing quick access to game viewing. Game drives in the Crater, short nature walks, sundowners and cultural activities are offered.

From the camp you enjoy daybreak and sunrise and a gentle blanket of cloud floating over the Crater. In addition to the drives on the crater floor, from Entamanu you are able to also take a few other activities which include a lovely afternoon walk in the Acacia Forest with a professional Masai guide and an authentic cultural experience seeing the Masai herders in the community.

Alison Nolting (Director of Tours and Marketing)

#4 Camp Zebra – Serengeti Park, Tanzania

Camp Zebra is a migration camp that follows the Great Migration. The camp features six tents, including a 2-bedroom family unit, each consisting of a verandah, bedroom area, charging station, dressing area and en suite shower and flush toilet. The main lounge includes a dining area with a well-stocked bar and comfortable seating. This is an ideal place to take a break between exciting game drives. During the evenings, guests can share the day’s events around the campfire. From June through November, the camp is located in the northern Serengeti. The camp then moves to the southern Serengeti from December to March.

Camp Zebra’s attraction is location, location, location, as it is situated in the heart of the migration. The family tent if great for families, and the camp is small enough to be taken over on a private basis for large families and groups of friends. It provides what I call “The Out of Africa” experience!

Mark Nolting (Owner and President)

#5 Sossusvlei Desert Lodge – Sossusvlei, Namibia

Sossusvlei Desert Lodge is surrounded by the mountains and sand dunes of the Namib Desert. The lodge features ten individual villas that blend seamlessly with its surroundings. Each air-conditioned unit has a split-level bedroom and sitting area with a fireplace, large en suite bathrooms and floor-to-ceiling glass doors, star-viewing skylights and an expansive private patio. The main lodge has a refreshing swimming pool, gym, extensive wine cellar and open dining room with fire places to warm up on a cool desert night. The lodge has an observatory with a professional astronomer available to answer any questions. Scenic drives in open vehicles, star gazing and guided nature walks are offered. Optional trips to Sesrien Canyon, scenic flights over the desert, quad biking, and ballooning are available at an additional fee.

I am fascinated by the night sky and in Florida we don’t see to many stars – but in Namibia they are incredible. A state of the art Celestron telescope can be used to see the milky way and get expert interpretation from the guides. The rooms even have a star gazing window right above your bed! The lodge is sleek and modern and blends with the desert beautifully.

Kyle Witten (Sales Manager & Senior Safari Consultant)

#6 Splash Enclave Camp – Okavango Delta, Botswana

Splash Camp is located in the Kwara Reserve within Botswana’s world-famous Okavango Delta. The camp features twelve rooms, including two family units, each with en suite bathroom, flush toilet, double vanity and indoor-outdoor shower. Enjoy relaxing on the private verandah as you take in the spectacular views from the comfortable lounge chairs. The main lodge area includes a plunge pool, lounge, bar and open-air dining room. The fire pit is where guests gather for a light breakfast before heading out on game drives or in the evenings after dinner. The camp is located in a private concession, which allows for off-road driving during the morning and night game drives. Experience mokoro rides, boating and fishing (available March to December).

For a family group of 6-8 persons you have your own personal camp at Splash Enclave overlooking the waters of the Delta. My favorite experience were the productive game drives on the Kwara concession finding leopard, cheetah, wild dog dens, and the territories of the areas prides of lion.

Alison Nolting (Director of Tours and Marketing)

#7 Khulu Bush Camp – Hwange, Zimbabwe

Khulu Bush Camp is located on a private 6,000-acre game concession bordering Hwange National Park. There are six thatched, safari-style suites built onto platforms. The tents are contemporary with minimal impact on the surroundings and environment. Each unit has an indoor and outdoor shower and balcony for game viewing as well as an individual tea and coffee service. There is a plunge pool located on the deck of the main area as well as a fire pit for stargazing and storytelling. Activities include open-vehicle game drives, night game drives, walking safaris and spending time in the hide which is located right next to the waterhole.

Khulu Bush Camp delivers all the comforts you need in a simple canvas and thatch lodge. An authentic safari experience in Hwange. Elephants drinking the cool clear water right of the pool is something to see! This is your chance to get of the vehicle and encounter wildlife on foot with some of the best guides in the business. Don’t miss a visit rural school and clinic in the nearby Dete village.

Kyle Witten (Sales Manager & Senior Safari Consultant)

#8 Chongwe House – Lower Zambezi, Zambia

Chongwe River House is a private, exclusive-use house in Zambia’s Lower Zambezi National Park. The house accommodates up to eight guests in four bedrooms. The activities offered are exclusive to guests and include game drives, boat cruises walking and canoeing safaris and fishing. There is a swimming pool and private chef for guests’ enjoyment.

This private four bedroom House sits on a peaceful stretch of the Chongwe River, a tributary of the mighty Zambezi. Listen to fish eagle calls and the faint sound of a resident family of warthogs ‘mowing’ the grass outside. Watch elephants wade across the river right in front of the house. Authentic Africa where the wildlife comes to you!

Alison Nolting (Director of Tours and Marketing)

#9 Great Plains Mara Nyika, Maasai Mara, Kenya

Mara Nyika is a luxury camp located in the exclusive 50,000 acre Naboisho Conservancy, a private game concession bordering the Maasai Mara. The tented suites are tucked under a canopy of trees with suspended walkways that link the tents to the main lounge area. Activities include morning, late afternoon and night game drives in open-vehicles. Optional visits to the local Maasai community and balloon safaris can be arranged (additional costs apply).

Spend quality family time together in a tranquil part of the Maasai Mara. Whether going into the reserve to witness the Great Migration’s river crossings or to enjoy exceptional wildlife sightings in the camp’s private conservancy, you’ll have some very eventful game drives. With only 3 tents and 1 two-bed family tent, this is a great camp for large, multi-generational families to book exclusively.

Miles Nolting (Product Development & Safari Consultant)

#10 Chitabe Lediba, Okavango Delta, Botswana

Chitabe Lediba is located in a concession bordering the Okavango Delta’s Moremi Reserve. The camp consists of five spacious Meru-style tents with en-suite facilities. Each tent has a flush toilet, indoor and outdoor showers, and basin with hot and cold running water. The rooms are built on raised decks and connect to the main area via a raised walkway. The camp’s main area, scenically overlooking the surrounding flood plains, features a lounge, dining area, pub, and a small pool. To take advantage of the concession’s incredible game viewing, guests can go on day and night game drives in open 4×4 vehicles and walks accompanied by an experienced guide.

Some places really require multiple visits and Chitabe Lediba is one of those. With a keen appreciation of how popular family travel is the family tent is gorgeous – two separate rooms with an inter-leading door way. Both with bathrooms en-suite and a lovely deck. Chitabe is magical, it combines the best of location, accommodation and mind blowing wildlife! For me no visit to Botswana is complete without a visit to Chitabe and many of our families feel the same way!

Elena Theodosiou (Senior Safari Consultant)