by Wendy Buckley, Travel With Kidz
Australians love to travel both locally and overseas so when your family decides to take a well earned holiday, knowledge is the key to success. Having travelled with our two children Tim and Jessica, and more recently our granddaughter Emily, I appreciate how different the needs are when travelling with children especially to some of the more remote and adventurous areas of the world like Africa.
Today’s parents juggle their time between children, work, family, and friends and if lucky you fit in some ‘me’ time. Holidays are an essential part of reconnecting with your kids and removing them from today’s daily influences like Facebook, mobile phones, school work and friends. Kenya offers a fun filled holiday for the whole family, though more importantly allows children of all ages firsthand experience to view the most amazing game, history, geography and culture - all in one country.
Families often have a perception that Africa is not a child friendly destination though, due to an increase globally in demand safari camps and lodges, guides and tour operators are now taking into account the needs of children of all ages from babies through to teenagers. Families are looking more for experiential and unique holidays and Kenya delivers the ‘family trip of a lifetime’. Experience afternoon tea on the deck of your tent overlooking a watering hole with over 100 elephants drinking at Satao Camp Tsvo East, view giraffe and hyenas with Mt Kilimanjaro in the background at Amboseli National Park, walk the shore of Lake Manyara to where thousands of pink flamingos migrate and view the highly endangered white and black rhino from your private 4x4 Land Cruiser. Even have a Rothschild giraffe lick your face at the Giraffe Centre Nairobi, (don’t panic giraffe’s saliva is antiseptic) and watch lion cubs play with their parents in Maasai Mara National Park.
Kenya is home to 42 different local tribes located around the country : the most famous being the Maasai. The Maasai continue to respect and honour their culture and live a traditional Massai lifestyle. Women are the workers caring for the children, preparing the meals, building the family’s manyetta (house) which is made from cow’s dung and sticks, fetching the water daily and making traditional jewellery. The male Maasai are tall and strong. They continue to wear the red traditional wrap (blanket), care for their herds of cows and goats, hunt and generally walk around with other males. The Maasai dance includes jumping, singing and showing their very white teeth while laughing. Families are able to visit, learn and interact personally with many of the Maasai villages and we assure you from first hand experiences it is not ‘put on’ for the tourist. They welcome you into their village where they will teach you to make fire as you sit inside their manyetta, teach you to dance like a Maasai and showcase their beaded jewellery.
There are various types of safaris available to families depending on your budget and the ages of the children. Transport comes in two types: 4x4 Land Cruiser with your own private guide for the duration of the seven night safari or Toyota minivan catering for up to eight people. There are dedicated family departures or private departures allowing far more flexibility while on safari. The family wanting the ultimate Kenya experience, now has the opportunity to fly from camp to camp on a brand new 14-seater private or scheduled air safari. Made to order in 2010 by Southern Cross Safaris, this Kenyan ground operator has taken into consideration the needs of children with the back seat comfortably sitting three kids across. Travelling by aircraft eliminates road drives, saves time and gives you amazing scenery of Kenya from the air.
The camps and lodges offer various accommodation and even the fussiest of eaters will be catered for while on safari. Karen Blixen Camp located in the North Conservancy of the Maasai Mara National Park opened in October 2009. On a recent visit in July 2010, I personally met up with several family groups during the two-night stay. Kids started at six months and many groups included grandparents. The children were relaxed and very happy interacting with the Maasai, downloading their photos from the day’s game drives to their laptop and exploring the camp with staff.
Finally after your safari around Kenya what better way to end than on the beach at Diani, one hour’s drive south of Mombasa? There are many family-friendly hotels here - from the big hotel styles to the small and intimate ‘bure’ on the beach. There are endless water sports and Mombasa nearby steeped in history.
Children learn from firsthand experience and nothing beats sharing the real thing with your children.
Tips on travelling to Kenya
Avoid the rainy months:
April, May and November
Visas cost Australian passport holders US25pp upon arrival or US$50pp at the Kenyan Consul in Canberra
The great migration of wilder beast commences May in Tanzania and crosses the Mara River into Kenya during June and July. Up to 2.5 million gather in the Maasai Mara National park. Be warned, it is carnage at the river with vultures eating dead carcasses. The upside is the ‘big cats’ are plentiful including lions, cheetah and leopards
A yellow fever immunisation certificate is required to re-enter Australia
Malaria protection is recommended. Malaron is suitable for children 11kgs and over
Book early - camps are small
Don’t miss the Elephant Orphanage and Giraffe Centre in Nairobi
Access from Australia is via Johannesburg, Dubai and Asia
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