Embarking on an Unforgettable Kenyan Safari Adventure with My Kids: A How-To Guide!

As a travel expert who has lived and worked in Africa for several years and experienced an innumerable amount of safaris, I see myself as a safari connoisseur. Additionally, as a mother who recently organized a vacation in Kenya with my children, I understand how to craft an expedition that accommodates the desires of all family members. Here are my personal insights and recommendations for organizing an African safari for the entire family.

Collaborate with a Guide

A skilled guide can add a personal element to a safari adventure that allows you to genuinely connect with the surrounding nature. On our journey, the friendly and knowledgeable guidance from Kennedy Omwenga, our Micato Safari director, significantly enriched every facet of the expedition. He was a Maasai elder from his native village, and as our well-qualified guide, ensured that our safari logistics — from check-in at our lodges and camps to daily activity itineraries and luggage transfers — were effortless. Omwenga also infused his extensive knowledge of Kenyan wildlife and culture into our experience. He formed such a special camaraderie with my sons that by the trip’s end, they were referring to him as rafiki, which means friend in Swahili.

Determine Where to Stay — and for How Long

Knowing that my three tween and teen boys would favor longer stays at fewer places, we chose to reserve only three accommodations. The extended stays helped us feel more settled in each location.

At our initial stop, Hemingways Nairobi, we relished the stunning grounds and swimming pool before heading to the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, a remarkable sanctuary where orphaned baby elephants are nurtured and subsequently reintroduced into their natural habitats.

Our subsequent destination between Tsavo and Amboseli national parks, ol Donyo Lodge offered numerous opportunities for wildlife encounters, not just during our daily game drives. While on the property, my family and I observed cheetahs and elephants, which diverted my sons’ attention from their iPads. Instead, they engaged in guided mountain-bike excursions and honed their skills with traditional African slingshots provided by their best rafiki.

We all set aside our devices at Mara Plains, a low-impact camp that’s part of the Great Plains Conservation Foundation, nestled within the expansive Masaai Mara National Preserve. Here, our spacious platform tent was surrounded by lush vegetation that truly felt like wilderness (even though we also indulged in gourmet cuisine and had copper bathtubs). During game drives, we spotted every species on our family checklist; we also enjoyed a sunrise hot-air balloon journey over grasslands sprinkled with zebras and giraffes.

By the time we arrived at Segera Retreat, an artistically designed estate on the Laikipia Plateau, we felt completely immersed in the safari adventure. An interactive demonstration with the camp’s anti-poaching trackers and dogs offered us a deeper insight into wildlife preservation efforts as well.

Contribute to the Local Community

As enchanting as the remainder of our safari was, my family’s most impactful experience was our visit to Mukuru in Nairobi, a conglomerate of 30 villages housing over 700,000 individuals. Here, the nonprofit organization AmericaShare manages the Harambee Centre. The libraries, computer labs, and extensive educational initiatives made possible through this program assist thousands of local children in learning and prospering. These efforts, which benefit the entire community, are primarily funded by travelers of Micato.

We also visited the headquarters of Huru International, which assists women by providing them with reusable sanitary pads. Learning about their work, engaging with the young women, children, and families who have benefitted — and knowing our journey contributed to making a difference — was the pinnacle of our trip.

Emily Baldwin is a member of Travel + Leisure’s A-List and specializes in safaris in East and Southern Africa. You can create a customized itinerary with Baldwin by reaching out to her at ebaldwin@micato.com.