The idea of heading to Africa and embarking on a safari with children may not appeal, but the new luxurious adventures being organised by Luxury experiential travel company, andBeyond, offer families exciting, safe and extremely well-curated safaris across Africa. With its new WILDchild programme and, in particular, a new bush and beach itinerary ‘Black Spots and Beach Balls’, a luxury safari holiday that keeps kids well and truly in mind is now an absolute reality.
After landing in South Africa, you’ll enjoy a four-night safari at the family-friendly andBeyond Phinda Mountain Lodge, which is nestled in the renowned Phinda Game Reserve. Boasting the Big Five, over 400 species of bird and even the elusive Cheetah, this is a wonderful way to introduce little ones to the spectacular delights of a safari in a world-renound area of the world. And while you may be in the middle of the African wilderness, this is as luxurious and family-friendly as it gets, thanks to the spacious and comfortable family suites and expertly trained staff. From here you’ll head on to a four-night beach break on the Umhlanga coastline.
And if your children are too young for a full-on game drive, or you fancy a morning to yourself on a drive of your own, a nature walk or a river cruise, kids are kept captivated and very well entertained with a variety of age-appropriate adventures. From fishing trips and scavenger hunts to shorter (and absolutely safe) game-drives, this is the ideal way to introduce your little ones to the great outdoors. Once at the Umhlanga coast for the second part of your African adventure, you’ll stay at the charming and colonial Oyster Box Hotel for four nights of beachside activity, or relaxation, depending on what you’re after. This scenic stretch of coastline is on KwaZulu-Natal’s spectacular Golden Mile, just 20 kilometres from the bustling port city of Durban. With gentle and balmy ocean waters, this will give you your fix of sun bathing and water sports. There is a very well organised Kids’ Holiday Club at The Oyster Box, which offers the requisite board games and a playstation, but also boasts face painting, and special events around the holidays such as carol singing at Christmas and Easter egg hunts in the springtime. As well as caring for your children by day, there are professional child-minding services if you want an evening out to yourselves.
And for that extra personal touch, children aged six and up will be made very welcome with andBeyond’s bush-focused WILDchild programme. Available in all of the company’s African lodges, each young guest receives a backpack on arrival filled with goodies designed to prove useful during their African safari adventure, from a special scrapbook to record each day’s sightings, a solar torch, a magnifying glass and a compass. You may think safari holidays are out the question, but there really is no better time to introduce young children to the delights of Big Game without sacrificing your own personal sense of adventure, relaxation and luxury.
