Kosher Family Safari: Africa with Children

A safari is the trip children remember for the rest of their lives, and it's easier to do with kids than most parents think. We plan private glatt-kosher family safaris around your children: their ages, their food, their sleep and their attention span, with Shabbat that works for everyone.

Ages, and what works

• Under 6: a malaria-free reserve in South Africa, such as Madikwe or Pilanesberg, with short drives and a pool at the lodge. Many lodges set a minimum age for game drives, so we choose family-friendly lodges and book a private vehicle.
• 6–12: almost anywhere works. A private vehicle lets you stop for snacks, toilets or a long look at an elephant. Kruger's private reserves, Botswana and Victoria Falls are all great at this age.
• Teens: the Great Migration in Kenya or Tanzania, walking safaris, Victoria Falls and a few nights in Cape Town. See teen safari.

Food kids will actually eat

Your chef cooks for your family, not from a set menu: schnitzel and chips after a morning drive, pasta, pizza and plenty of snacks for the vehicle, all glatt kosher under your mashgiach. Tell us about allergies and picky eaters before you travel and we'll plan around them.

Shabbat and davening with children

We plan a full Shabbat in one place, with meals prepared beforehand and the lodge's pool and lawns for the kids. For boys of bar mitzvah age we coordinate a minyan where the group allows, and we plan dawn drives so fathers and sons can daven first. Some families celebrate a bar or bat mitzvah on safari.

The best months for families

• June–August: the dry season, school holidays and the best game viewing. See our summer 2027 page.
• December: southern Africa's green summer and the winter break. See our December page.
• Before or after Pesach: short, good-value trips in April and May. See before and after Pesach.

Sample family plans

• South Africa: Pilanesberg or Madikwe, then Cape Town. See Cape Town family safari and Kruger family safari.
• Kenya: a short flight to the Masai Mara, then Amboseli. See Kenya family safari.
• Tanzania: Tarangire, the crater and the Serengeti. See Tanzania family safari and Serengeti family safari.
• Three generations: see multi-generational safari.

Safety and health

We choose lodges with fenced family suites or exclusive-use villas, use experienced private guides, and plan malaria-free routes for younger children. Read safari health and vaccines, health and safety for Jewish families and the family packing list.

What it costs

As a guide, our Classic safaris (5–7 nights) run about $5,000–$8,000 per person and Premium (8–12 nights) about $8,000–$14,000, all-inclusive except international flights. Larger families and groups share the cost of the mashgiach, vehicles and exclusive-use lodges. See full pricing.