The Best Family Safari Destinations for October Half-Term
October half-term presents the perfect opportunity for UK families to experience the magic of an African family safari. As the dry season winds down across many of the best safari destinations, vegetation is sparce and wildlife congregates around dwindling water sources, making for exceptional game viewing in October without the peak-season crowds or prices. Here are my ideas for an unforgettable family safari holiday this half term.
📸: A pile of Wild Dog Puppies in Zambia’s South Luangwa, October 2024.
Southern Africa: Perfect for First-Time Family Safari Adventures
Botswana: Wild Luxury
October in Botswana offers spectacular wildlife viewing as the landscape remains parched before November rains. The Okavango Delta floods are receding but the area is still a wildlife haven with predators and prey gathering around more permanent water channels.
Why it works for families: Staying on private concessions mean more flexible safari schedules for children, while mokoro and boating excursions offer gentle adventure perfect for youngsters. Older children are able to take part in walking safaris.
Family-friendly safari lodges: Ker & Downey have a 'Young Explorers' programme and specialist family guides, or there is Great Plains’ Duba Explorers Camp with its 2 bedroomed family safari tent and personalised activities.
My Top tip: Use camps in the upper part of the Delta or those with permanent water to maximise your range of activities. Also think about combining with Victoria Falls (just a short flight away) for a splash of adventure and adrenaline activities that teens will love on your multi-destination family safari.
Zambia: Africa's Best-Kept Safari Secret
October in Zambia represents the peak of the dry season, making it an exceptional time for a family safari in Zambia. The Luangwa Valley and Lower Zambezi National Park offer incredible concentrations of wildlife around the remaining water sources.
Why it works for families: Zambia pioneered the walking safari, and some lodges offer specially tailored bush walks for children where they can learn tracking skills and examine the smaller details of the ecosystem. The South Luangwa family safari experience is renowned for its exceptional guiding standards – crucial for keeping children engaged and educated.
Family-friendly options: Flatdogs Camp in South Luangwa has a relaxed atmosphere perfect for children and has a Luxury family safari tent and the fabulous 3 bed Crocodile’s Nest private ‘villa’. Luangwa Safari House, also in the South Luangwa has a very lovely ‘hobbity’ feel that families will love and four bedrooms so has plenty of space for larger families.
📸: Boating with Hippos on Zambia’s Lower Zambezi
In the Lower Zambezi another personal favourite, Chongwe Camp has two bedroom family tents and welcomes children over 6, and Chongwe River House, an exclusive-use four bedroom property ideal for private family safaris with children of all ages.
My Top tip: Combine South Luangwa with Lower Zambezi for a two-centre Zambia family safari offering both land and water-based activities – the canoeing safaris along the Zambezi (suitable for older children) provide a thrilling perspective on wildlife. If you want some beach time after your safari you can stop off in the Gulf on the way home as most flights to Zambia route through Doha or Dubai.
South Africa: Malaria-Free Marvels
For families concerned about malaria medication, South Africa's malaria-free safari reserves in the Eastern Cape, Marakele and Madikwe Game Reserve offer the Big Five family safari experience without the pills.
Why it works for families: Besides being malaria-free safari destinations, South Africa offers excellent infrastructure, shorter flights from the UK, minimal time difference (reducing jet lag), and superb value with the favourable exchange rate for your family safari holiday.
Family-friendly options: Kwandwe in the Eastern Cape has private villas and, at their Ecca Lodge, suites with private vehicle, so guests can design their own safari timetables, with no minimum age restrictions, including game drives at flexible times of the day. For parents looking for a special date night, child-minders are available at no additional cost. Similarly Madikwe's Morukuru Family lodges offer exclusive-use houses where families can set their own schedules. In Marakele Marataba Safari Lodge has family luxury tents and a special programme just for kids.
My Top tip: Combine with Cape Town and the Garden Route for a diverse South Africa family holiday mixing wildlife, beaches, and cultural experiences.
East Africa: For the Classic Family Safari Experience
Tanzania: ‘Northern Circuit’ or Southern Wilderness
October in Tanzania is pleasantly warm and dry, making it ideal for a classic East Africa family safari. The northern circuit (comprising of Arusha – Tarangire or Lake Manyara – Ngorogoro – Serengeti) remains exceptional with resident wildlife in the Serengeti and large elephant herds in Tarangire National Park.
Why it works for families: The diversity of landscapes – from the Ngorongoro Crater's natural amphitheatre of wildlife to the open plains of the Serengeti– keeps safari drives varied and exciting for children with shorter attention spans.
Northern family-friendly lodges: Lake Manyara is a great stop for families with my favourite camp in the area being Wayo Manyara Green Camp with no minimum age. Nomad’s Lamai and Entamanu Camps have Family Rooms and Mkombe’s House is the perfect (and only!) private house for a family in the Serengeti. Asilia offer a private vehicle for families of 5 or more at their camps in Tanzania and welcome children aged 5 and above.
Southern Tanzania safari gems: For families seeking a more off-the-beaten-track experience, October in southern Tanzania offers remarkable wildlife viewing without the crowds. The Selous Game Reserve (now officially Nyerere National Park) and Ruaha National Park provide an authentic wilderness experience that older children and teenagers particularly appreciate.
Why southern parks work for families: These vast wilderness areas offer diverse activities beyond traditional game drives – boat safaris on the Rufiji River in Selous are perfect for spotting hippos and crocodiles, while walking safaris in Ruaha give older children a deeper connection to the ecosystem. The southern Tanzania experience delivers a sense of true exploration that's increasingly rare in more popular destinations.
Southern family-friendly options: Nomad’s Sand Rivers Selous offers family cottages with plunge pools overlooking the river, perfect for between-safari cooling off, while Ikuka Safari Camp in Ruaha has a spacious family suite with stunning views across the Mwagusi River.
My Top tip: Add on Zanzibar for some beach time after your Tanzania safari – the perfect way to decompress before heading back to school. For a less crowded beach option, consider Mafia Island for world-class snorkelling and a more authentic island experience.
Kenya: Community-Based Conservation
The Masai Mara Conservancies
While the Masai Mara National Reserve offers excellent wildlife viewing it can get overcrowded in holiday periods. The surrounding Mara conservancies are a much better alternative, especially for families. These private conservancies – including Ol Kinyei, Naboisho, Mara North, Olare Motorogi and Ol Derkesi – offer exclusive wildlife experiences with far fewer vehicles and more flexible safari activities.
Why Mara conservancies work for families: Unlike the national reserve, conservancies allow night drives (perfect for spotting nocturnal animals), walking safaris tailored for children, and off-road driving to get closer to wildlife. The exclusive nature means your family won't be jostling with dozens of other vehicles around a lion sighting. Many conservancies also offer sensitive cultural visits with Maasai families, where children can learn about the traditional way of life and understand how communities and wildlife coexist.
Family-friendly lodges: Cottar's 1920s Safari Camp in Olderkesi Conservancy runs an outstanding 'Young Adventurers' programme with activities like bow-making and animal tracking. Asilia’s Naboisho Camp and Encounter Mara Camp have 2 family tents and children are very well catered for - I have client testimonials to prove it!
Conservation connection: The conservancies operate on a unique model where local Maasai communities lease their land for tourism, creating direct benefits for wildlife protection. This gives children a powerful understanding of how tourism can support both communities and conservation – a lesson that resonates long after the holiday ends.
Top tip: Combine Laikipia with the Mara for a two-centre Kenya family safari that offers both classic Big Five viewing and unique conservation experiences that children will remember long after the holiday ends. Read on…
Laikipia: Kenya's Hidden Family Gem
Don't overlook the Laikipia Plateau’s private conservancies as an addition to or alternative to the Mara. Laikipia is a vast plateau region in central Kenya, situated between Mount Kenya and the Great Rift Valley, about three hours' drive north of Nairobi.
The plateau is home to a number of private conservancies offering a huge range of activities impossible in traditional national parks – camel safaris, horse riding, night drives, fly camping and walking safaris are all on the menu for your luxury family safari.
Why Laikipia works for families: The conservancies here work directly with local communities, offering authentic cultural experiences where children can visit schools, learn traditional crafts, and understand conservation in action. The variety of activities means different family members can pursue different interests, while the exclusive nature of the conservancies ensures a more intimate wildlife experience.
Family-friendly Laikipia lodges: El Karama is fun by a family with young children and has a justifiably excellent reputation for it’s family freindiness. Asilia’s Ol Pejeta Bush Camp offers spacious family tents and is home to the last two northern white rhinos on earth – a powerful conservation story for children. For families looking for a luxury option, Segera offers villa-style accommodation perfect for multi-generational family safaris with activities ranging from camel walks to helicopter flights over Mount Kenya.
Top tip: The Laikipia region has such a range of activities, with opportunities for camel safaris, horse riding and walking that aren't always possible in national parks, so try to incorporate at least one into your Safari plans!
📸:Slightly out of focus Leopard in the Masai Mara October 2020
Making Your Family Safari Holiday Work
Age Considerations
Most safari lodges for families welcome children aged 6 and above, with more exclusive participation in activities from age 12. For younger children, consider properties offering babysitting services and dedicated children's safari programmes.
Safari Style
Private safari vehicles are usually included with private houses and are worth the splurge for families if not, allowing you to set your own pace and depart and return when it suits your family's rhythm, rather than adhering to fixed schedules.
Downtime Essentials
Choose family-friendly safari lodges with swimming pools, spacious grounds and communal areas where children can burn off energy between game drives. Some properties even offer bush TV (campfire storytelling) and star-gazing sessions perfect for those pre-bedtime hours on your safari with kids.
Pack Smart
Bring neutral-coloured clothing, binoculars sized for smaller hands, wildlife identification guides geared towards children, and plenty of memory cards – young photographers tend to be trigger-happy on a family wildlife safari! Don’t overdo it with clothes, all camps offer laundry, you’ll need less than you think.
Health Preparations
Visit your GP or travel clinic at least six weeks before departure to discuss vaccinations and malaria prevention if traveling to risk areas. Consider comprehensive travel insurance that covers medical evacuation for your family safari adventure.
When to Book
October half-term safari holidays are popular for families, so booking 9-12 months ahead is advisable, especially for smaller, exclusive camps with limited family safari accommodation.
Safari during October half-term offers a perfect blend of exceptional wildlife viewing and comfortable conditions. Children return from a family-friendly safari with far more than photos – they gain a deeper understanding of conservation, different cultures, and ecosystems that classroom learning simply cannot match.