This is the most common question that parents who are used to travelling with children ask me. Kenya and Tanzania are the two most popular countries for a safari. These places have magnificent national parks and great beaches. One can come here without any worries.
Americans come here even with infants, but I think that’s a bit much.
There are many difficulties, for instance, long journeys across the countries. It’s much more suitable for children over 6 to come and have such an experience. Just imagine their emotions when they see, with their own eyes, a real tiger walking near the car!
If you want to combine something interesting with something pleasant — to visit national parks and later relax on a beach with soft white sand — Tanzania is the best choice. If you take domestic flights with the only decent (and, by the way, European)airline, PrecisionAir, you can avoid long, exhausting car journeys. Spend about four days getting to know the wildlife, and then move on to Zanzibar Island.
Kenya also has decent seaside resorts, but in my opinion, Mombasa is better to visit without children. Mombasa somewhat resembles Thailand’s Pattaya — bars, prostitutes, drugs… Zanzibar, on the other hand, is quite different: after all, it’s anIslamic island.
I like the national parks in Kenya better. Actually, that’s not quite right. The best parkI’ve ever been to is the Maasai Mara. Essentially, Tanzania’s Serengeti and Kenya’sMaasai Mara are one park divided by a border. Kenya has the smaller part, but that’s precisely what makes the park more convenient for tourists. The Serengeti is very large and far away — you can only get there by plane! You can reach the Maasai Mara by car in five hours from Nairobi International Airport. This is a good option for those who don’t want to take domestic flights on small planes.
By the way, if you prefer the Maasai Mara or another Kenyan reserve, you can still combine it with a trip to Zanzibar. There are plenty of flights from Nairobi to Zanzibar, including services on modern jet aircraft.
What you need to know and do before travelling to Kenya or Tanzania:- You must get a yellow fever vaccination. There’s no epidemic at the moment, but better safe than sorry. The vaccine is simple and not painful.
- You may take a course of anti‑malaria medication. Again, there’s no epidemic, but it’s better to be cautious. By the way, there are very few mosquitoes. Even if you don’t use repellent, they rarely bite. The best approach is to wear anti‑mosquito bracelets and apply anti‑bite creams. I don’t take anti‑malaria drugs, but I always use repellent cream — I can’t even remember the last time I was bitten by a mosquito.
- Your child must have all the routine vaccinations recommended by a doctor. If you don’t vaccinate your child, it’s not a good idea to travel to Africa!
Rules to follow in Africa:- Drink only bottled water (it's main problem here)
- Avoid eating at street cafes.
- Stay with your child only in decent 4/5 star hotels. They prepare food using good ingredients and filtered water!
- In the parks, you must strictly follow the rules of conduct and safety. You can read about them here.
- Make sure to apply sunscreen. You can get sunburnt in just 15 minutes!
- At hotels with pools, make sure children don’t swallow the pool water. Monkeys come to drink from the pools at night. They say chlorine makes it safe, but it’sbetter not to take the risk.
- It can get quite chilly at night — around 10–15 °C. During the day, temperaturesrise to 35–37 °C. Heavy rains are common, so pack clothes suitable for all kinds of weather.
In Kenya, cities are quite safe. The local residents are friendly. In Tanzania, I wouldn’t recommend walking around without a local guide. In national parks, you’re generally not in any danger — just make sure not to break the basic rules of conduct. After all, it’s wild nature — and it stays wild.
