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Travelling in Botswana with kids

You know your children and if you think that travelling in Botswana with kids will work for you and your family then don’t hold back, go for it. However, if you’re looking for some expert advice on family activities and what to do when travelling with kids in Botswana read on and treat your mini Ray Mears to the thrill of a lifetime.

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Travelling in Botswana with kids

What does responsible travel recommend?

Botswana is educational, interactive, and its well-equipped lodges offer family tents, activities and safe areas for children. However, check with your operator before travelling in Botswana with kids – and be sure to let them know how old your children are. Eight year olds can sometimes go on standard game drives, but bush walks and many water-based activities are only suitable for those aged 10 or even 12.

Drives are long, hot and uncomfortable, and game viewing requires patience and silence – not skills younger children are likely to possess. Teenagers, however, can have a thrilling time, and you can travel during the school holidays – Apr-Nov are the best months to see wildlife. With any luck they’ll be too distracted to realise there's no mobile phone signal or Internet!

Family activities

WHAT TO DO WHEN TRAVELLING WITH KIDS IN BOTSWANA

Mini Ray Mears will enjoy taking a bushwalk with the San in the Kalahari. They can discover how to get water in the desert, what to eat, how to trap small animals and how to make fire – it’s an absolutely brilliant, real-life survival course.

Louise de Waal, from our supplier Baobab Travel: “Some lodges offer special “bush school” programmes for children. Guides are experienced in working with kids, and will show them how to recognise the spoor – tracks and droppings – as well as plants and small creatures. It’s fun, very hands-on – and totally safe. Plus it gives parents the chance
to enjoy
their own
game
drives.”

Land-based game drives, can be hot, dusty and uncomfortable, especially if wildlife is scarce. River cruises in Chobe National Park are a safe, fun way to see wildlife up close, including hippos, crocodiles and elephants – and the boat is a far more comfortable means of transport for wriggly, impatient explorers.

Hello.
If you'd like to chat about Botswana or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help.
Rosy & team.

01273 823 700

rosy@responsibletravel.com

Botswana travel advice for families

responsible travel asks the experts

Arabella is a Botswana specialist for our supplier, Natural World Safaris. She has been to the country three times - here she shares her tips for those travelling in Botswana with kids: “Make sure you book with an operator that has experience with family tours, as some camps have family facilities but no dedicated programmes. Others have guides who are trained to work with children, and there are safe walks around the camp. In the evening there are books they can colour in, and they can even help cook camp meals with the chef. It’s the best outdoors education they can get.”

Richard Madden, author of The Telegraph’s Bush Telegraph column:“Think carefully before travelling in Botswana with children.You should accurately assess whether your children are old enough to fully appreciate the experience. While some will be enchanted on each and every game drive, others lose interest very quickly. A bored and fractious child is not what you want when you’ve paid so much for the holiday of a lifetime.”

Photo credits: [Girl with Meerkats: Baobab Travel - Unchartered Africa Camp Kalahari] [Girl with binoculars: Explore] [River boat safari: Nessy Rayner - Natural World Safaris] [Children playing cards on boat: Explore]

Written by Vicki Brown

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