16 Days The Family to Family Safari Tour Package

Duration: 16 Days / 15 Nights
Priced From: $11,975 pp dbl. occ.
Dates: Jul, Aug, Dec, Mar, Jun - Aug, Dec

 

Priceless memories are made when the family goes on vacation. The challenge is finding a trip that appeals to the whole family—one that captures the imagination of adult and child alike. We provide just such a getaway—an extravagant safari experience that will amuse, educate, entertain, and enthrall the entire clan.

The Family Safari is more than just your average foray into the African wilds. Activities abound for every age....Maasai- and Samburu-style traditional beaded necklace making. Swahili mask-making. Nightly star-gazing. Safari Directors teaching the basics of big-game tracking—whether it’s identifying an animal’s footprints or (less desirably) its dung. There are even special gifts and equipment provided for children. Plus, staff is on hand to keep the younger guests engaged—allowing Mom and Dad to get away on their own for a while.

Each lodge is family-friendly, with swimming pools and diversions for tyke and teen alike. We stay at each location for two to three days, truly experiencing each locale and avoiding a rushed feeling. And of course, we offer our family safaris during ideal family travel times, designed to coincide with school vacations. Even the food is customized—simple, fun foods for the kids and gourmet cuisine for discerning adults.

Day 1
United States – Europe
We set off today for Nairobi, pondering the wonders that await us.

Day 2 – Day 3
Nairobi
Seamlessly whisks family members from the airport to the Norfolk Hotel, historic centerpiece of Nairobi and epitome of luxury since 1904. Of interest in Nairobi will be a meeting with a Maasai Elder and lunch at a tea plantation hosted by descendants of the original settlers—vibrant, living history that can’t be found in textbooks. We follow this with a tour of Out of Africa author Karen Blixen’s home and the opportunity to feed rare Rothschild giraffes. After an enriching day, In the warmth of hearth and home, we’ll immediately feel welcome in this foreign land. (And the family’s dogs love visiting youngsters!)

Day 4 – Day 5
Lake Naivasha
We drive through bucolic countryside to Lake Naivasha, a temperate escape from Nairobi’s pulsing streets. Our destination is Chui Lodge, set in the private 20,000 acre Oserian Wildlife Sanctuary. The Mau escarpment provides a dramatic backdrop as we roam this wilderness in complete privacy, seeing an array of wildlife difficult to find elsewhere, including leopard, white rhino, Beisa oryx and greater kudu. Picnics at the lake tempt, while early morning walks around its shore equally appeal. Even amidst all of these possibilities, Mom and Dad may wish to lounge by the pool admiring the view of zebras and waterbuck just outside the fence while the kids explore with their Safari Director. In the evenings, guided stargazing helps youngsters locate the Southern Cross while toasting marshmallows and telling tales around the fire. Later we retire to our delightful rooms with their four-poster beds of local woods and the ever-stoked fireplace. It is indulgent luxury that is thoroughly African.

Day 6 – Day 8
Maasai MaraGame Reserve
We spend three nights here, giving us the luxury of time to appreciate the region’s rich wildlife by game drive or even Hot-Air Balloon. Zebra, wildebeest, topi and hippos are common, as are leopards, lions and cheetahs. We’ll also immerse ourselves in the Maasai culture by visiting villages and schools, witnessing rituals and activities that have survived innumerable generations. Our game drives are colored with bush lore courtesy of our expert guides, who also explain the dynamics of the wild and the importance of conservation. Young travellers can enjoy a Bush Treasure Hunt, while teens check out the Swahili pop music disco. Meanwhile, adults will appreciate Bush Sundowners—a civilised cocktail party staged in the untamed wilds of Africa—and a gourmet dinner. Kids, on the other hand, will feast on their favorites like pasta! Karen Blixen or Mara Intrepid tented camps also delight.

Day 9 - Day 11
Serengeti National Park
The planet’s most amazing wildlife is on display here and the daily drama of this famous savannah will enrapture even the most stoic (translate teenage) observer. Its landscapes evoke storybook Africa—wide and wild, a golden wonderland. This is the safari that you’ve read about, yet it is better than you’ve ever imagined. The Mbalageti Lodge, our home here, is ideal for adventure and relaxation alike—rock-hewn pool, luxurious rooms, a deck with a jaw-dropping 360 degree view of the Serengeti. Children will not only learn how to shoot an arrow, but how to make their own bow. If you aren’t feeling adventurous, bring the clan inside for some board games—the wilderness will be there when you’re ready.

Day 12 - Day 13
Ngorongoro Crater
We make a stop in the Great Rift Valley, the noted “Cradle of Mankind” where the Leakey family discovered human fossils which date back almost two million years, before continuing to Ngorongoro Crater. This massive caldera, at over twelve miles across and 2,000 feet deep, is worthy of its unofficial “Eighth Wonder of the Natural World” mantle. In addition to its jaw-dropping physical beauty, the Crater is also replete with wildlife. We stay at Lemala Tented Camp, a secluded enclave of great charm and luxury, in a prime location on the crater’s rim.

Day 14 – Day 16
Nairobi, AmericaShare Visit – United States
Returning to Nairobi, an amazing day is in store when families travel to the poignant yet joyful Mukuru slum to visit our home for orphaned and vulnerable children. First we’ll stop at the local mega-shop for treats—a fascinating errand in and of itself—select a tree from the nursery to plant at the home, then head to Mukuru bearing gifts. We’ll match our young visitors with African youngsters of
similar ages, tour the home, maybe work on a project together, share a meal and even a game of soccer. This may very well be the most important afternoon that your family spends in Africa. Or anywhere. We depart late evening of Day 15 and arrive home on Day 16…reflecting the entire time on a family vacation that exceeded even our highest expectations in every way.

Contact: Travelwizard.com
Phone: 1-800-330-8820 or 1-415-446-5252

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