The safari experience offers a fantastic opportunity for both parents and children to enjoy an educational holiday experience. The family holiday market is ever-increasing in Kenya and the destination is now leading the way for other African nations. Several hotel groups are developing imaginative strategies making the family holiday experience as comfortable as possible for every member. Below are examples on the current initiatives taking place across the country…
Sarova Hotels – Submerge yourself in nature at the Sarova Mara Game Camp; a sophisticated cluster of 75 luxury tents in the Maasai Mara National Reserve. Boasting a number of family tents with a common deck area, ensuring the whole family enjoys the beautiful views of the Mara together. The atmosphere here has a unique combination of excitement and serenity with a traditional communal eating area, plus the comfortable Oloip Bar, with its roaring fireplace and lush furnishings. www.sarovahotels.com
Heritage Hotels – Mara Intrepids, along with sister-property Samburu Intrepids, now has three Family Tents available at each property. These new Family Tents are two traditional permanent tented safari tents joined by a common sitting area in between and are perfect for accommodating all the members of a family under one roof while maintaining the unique ‘outdoor tent’ experience that make safaris so memorable.
Similar to hotel suites, the unique family tents provide two separate sleeping areas and a full lounge and three individual verandas – the perfect setup for a holiday that provides convenience, comfort and the opportunity for parents to enjoy precious time alone while knowing their children are safely close-by. En-suite facilities are also provided for each sleeping area. The family tents are the latest family-friendly innovation following the development of Heritage Management’s wildly successful ‘Adventurer’s Club’ and ‘Young Rangers’ programmes designed to bring a new level of enjoyment to younger travellers. www.heritage-eastafrica.com
Safari Collection – Feed a giraffe, ride a camel, track a rhino and meet the locals with the Safari Collection who offer four very different properties showcasing Kenya’s animal magic to adventurous families. A popular property with children is Giraffe Manor in Nairobi (see image attached) – home to a breeding and education programme for the rare Rothschild Giraffe. This exclusive boutique hotel where rooms are named after the giraffes and children of all ages are wowed by the resident giraffes who poke their heads through the front door, dining room windows and even bedrooms!
Other properties in the portfolio include Solio Lodge with exceptional game viewing in the valley of Mount Kenya and the chance to explore East Africa’s most successful Rhinoceros breeding reserve, Sasaab in the Samburu where guests have fun spotting the Samburu Special Five (Grevy’s Zebra, Reticulated Giraffe, Somali Ostrich, Gerenuk and Beisa Oryx) and interacting with the Samburu people and Sala Camp in the southern area of the Maasai Mara, the perfect spot to watch the Great Wildebeest Migration unfold. www.thesafaricollection.com
Working Mum
April 6, 2012Hubby and I had a fantastic safari holiday in Kenya before daughter was born and we would love to go back with her. When we visited there was civil unrest and we were kept on “hotel arrest” in Naorobi due to riots and our hotel in Mombasa had tourists who should have been in the Seychelles, but couldn’t fly out of Kenya due to a General Strike. None of this really bothered us and we were willing to go back until recently. I may be overcautious, but I would not risk taking my daughter to Kenya until all threat of kidnap from Somalia has been dealt with. Unfortunately, I think the Kenyan tourist industry is in for a very rough ride until it has been sorted.
Family Affairs
April 6, 2012Actually you raise a very good point – I guess that possibly – given the recent kidnaps from safari lodges it’s not the safest option – perhaps somebody with some experience on what’s happening could let us know? Lx