A selection of stories and tips and tricks from family adventurers and our Epic team.
Whether it’s African savannas or Sumatran jungles, family holidays in wilderness destinations are an entirely different proposition to beach resorts or fancy hotels. The common theme with the parents or grandparents who book these adventures AND the children who join them, is the long term impact it has on the mindset, especially for young people. To plant the idea and the notion of finite resources and delicate eco-systems helps create a new generation of wilderness protectors.
In Africa, safari camps and lodges have different age restrictions for children. In many destinations children under 8 years old aren’t permitted, with other guests in camp, while other operators have 12 years of age as the cut off. Some will allow kids as young as 6 or 7 but these families are required to have private guides and their own vehicles. But there are places, Kenya in particular has some wonderful lodges, which do cater to younger kids. Some of our clients over the years have booked out entire camps in order to bring very young children along, under strict supervision of course. For kids who are keen on nature and animals – and families who want to do something different – there is simply nothing like the African wilderness to fire up young minds.
We have family groups with teenagers who have climbed Kilimanjaro together, family groups that have kayaked with orcas and leopard seals in Antarctica, family groups that have trekked to Everest base camp and a great many family groups who’ve completely re-framed their future holidays by going on safari in Africa. We know we spend too much time as a species on screens these days, here’s a chance to reset the default to nature and reality, out there where you can expose your kids to the wild places in this world.
Down the line your kids will thank you for opening that door to the wilderness. Just ask Sam here!
