Kenya Family Safaris

Kenya was one of the first African countries to fully embrace family safaris, and it remains one of the most rewarding. Wildlife is only the beginning. Many of the private reserves and conservancies understand that younger travellers want to move, not just sit in a game vehicle. So your days may include camel or horse rides across open plains, gentle tracking walks with a Maasai warrior, fishing for tilapia in a quiet river bend, or even canoeing and seasonal tubing. Bottom line: Kenya makes it very hard for children to be bored!

Why We Love It

• Plenty of family-friendly activities beyond the game vehicle
• Easy bush-to-beach combinations that keep the holiday fresh and varied
• Excellent exclusive-use Safari Houses — ideal for families or multi-gen groups
• Very strong guiding culture, with patient naturalists who genuinely enjoy engaging younger travellers

Kenya’s private conservancies often limit vehicle numbers, making sightings calmer and more child-friendly.

Plus many family-oriented camps can tailor shorter game drives or “bug-hunts” around camp for energetic younger explorers.

Tailored around your family

Every one of our family safari holidays in Kenya is designed around your family’s interests. Most trips weave together at least two contrasting wildlife areas before slowing the pace with a few days on Kenya’s warm Indian Ocean coastline. They’ll really appreciate the ease with which you can skip from the bush to beach after your fix of safari excitement…

Because Kenya is a malarial region – mainly along the coast - we usually recommend it for families with children aged six and up. But several regions, especially Laikipia, offer malaria-free highlands that work well for slightly younger children.

We don’t publish set family itineraries. Instead, after a conversation about what excites you, (and what keeps your children smiling), we craft something personal. However many of our sample safaris work beautifully for families, and they’re a good starting point.

Kenya with Kids - Exclusive-Use Safari Houses in Kenya

Kenya also excels at ‘’Safari Houses’’. These are exclusive-use villas almost designed with families and multi-generational groups in mind. You take over the entire house, not just a couple of inter-leading rooms. A private guide and vehicle give you complete freedom in planning the day: early game drive, long lazy brunch, afternoon by the pool, or a spontaneous walk to look for giraffe tracks.

Your private chef and staff team look after the house, while some villas sit beside a larger lodge so you can dip into selected lodge activities or social areas whenever you’d like. It’s a wonderfully relaxed, seamless way to safari with children.

As you can imagine, this leads to a much more relaxed and flexible family safari in Kenya. No constant worrying about noise levels, no self-consciousness about an impromptu game of 'Marco Polo' in the pool. You are free to choose your own game-viewing rhythm, heading out early one morning and taking it more relaxed another day. Your kids can eat what they want, when they want it.

Laikipia has some great Safari Houses perfect for families are  Sabuk, Saruni Mara, Saruni Samburu and Loisaba.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best time of year for a family safari in Kenya?
Kenya works year-round, but the northern hemisphere summer holidays ( July to September) offers cooler temperatures and excellent wildlife concentrations. If you prefer quieter periods or have fixed school-holiday dates, we’ll guide you to the best regions for your timing.

Which areas are best for families with active children?
Laikipia and some Maasai Mara conservancies excel, thanks to their wide range of activities: horse riding, camel treks, mountain biking, river activities and hands-on bushcraft.

How long should a Kenya family safari be?
Most families enjoy 6 to 9 nights split between two wildlife areas, followed by a few relaxing days on the coast. This keeps travel gentle and the sense of adventure high.

Tell us what your family loves, and we’ll design a Kenya safari that brings those interests to life