For years Africa has been held close to the heart of explorers and travellers alike, captivating figures such as Livingstone and Hemingway with its raw energy, wealth of culture, awe-inspiring landscapes and unique wildlife. Family holidays in Africa have so much to offer adults and children of all ages, from once-in-a-lifetime safari experiences to quad biking across the sand dunes of Swakopmund in Namibia.
Etosha National Park is one of the continent’s wildest and most beautiful parks, home to magnificent animals such as wildebeest, lions, elephants and giraffes. A game drive through the park takes you among their natural habitats where you can watch the animals gathering around waterholes. This is an unforgettable experience not only for the kids but also the adults. And to add even more excitement to your trip, you’ll stay overnight in a campsite surrounded by the mesmerising sights and sounds of the African wilderness.
While the main attraction on Africa Family Holidays is the wildlife, you’ll also have to opportunity to learn about the local people and their cultural heritage. Witness the famous rock paintings at Brandberg, believed to date back to around 2,000 years, and see the Himba and Herero people selling their wares along the side of the road.
South Africa trips take you to the beating heart of the country and our wildlife safari itineraries are packed with activities that let you make the most of Africa family adventure holidays. Check out our thrilling tours and start planning the holiday of a lifetime.
Join one of our Africa family tours for an adventure you’ll never forget.
Africa Family Holidays
13 Daysfrom2 758 €
2 640 €
Experience Namibian desert wilderness, wildlife and culture
Family
8 Daysfrom1 138 €
975 €
Guided Group (Excl. Flights)
Exciting family adventure in Marrakech, the High Atlas Mountains and the Sahara.
Family
9 Daysfrom2 218 €
2 100 €
Explore the vibrant culture and ancient history of Egypt
Game Safari at Etosha National Park: Centred around a large salt pan, Etosha National Park is one of the largest savannah conservation regions in Africa. The park is home to some of the world’s greatest wildlife, including lions, wildebeest, zebra, giraffes, rhinos and elephants, to name a few. On a game drive through the park, there are plenty of opportunities to spot the wide variety of animals, especially around the waterholes where they often gather to drink. There are also many species of birds that can be seen around the water.
Quad Biking or Sandboarding at Swakopmund: Boasting some of the tallest sand dunes in the world, Swakopmund lies inside the Namib Desert. A quad biking or sandboarding adventure will get your adrenaline pumping as you zip across the dunes with the warm desert breeze in your hair. The activities are designed for children as well as adults and full safety instructions will be given by experienced guides before you embark on a fabulous desert adventure.
Tour of Namib-Naukluft Park: Framed by the majestic Naukluft Mountains, Namib-Naukluft Park is one of the largest in the world and plays host to one of the oldest and driest deserts. The park is famous for its lunar-like landscape and unusual rock formations that have attracted artists, photographers and geologists for centuries. As you explore the park you’ll be in awe of its sheer vastness and stirring atmosphere. Along the way you might spot zebra, leopards or wildcats among other species of wildlife.
Sunrise at Sossusvlei: Set off early in the morning to watch the sun rise over Sossusvlei in the Namib Desert. Here the world’s tallest sand dunes undulate on the horizon and catch the morning light as it bathes the sand in hues of gold and red. As you walk to the top of the dunes, endless views that stretch on for miles open up before you. You might even see antelope and other wild animals prowling across the white salt pan in the distance.
Explore Brandberg: Brandberg has certainly earned its bragging rights as it’s home to the tallest mountain in Namibia, the famous White Lady rock painting and herds of wild elephants. Go on foot in search of the beautiful rock formations and head though the valley to find the fascinating White Lady rock painting and other rock art, believed to have been created by bushmen from 2,000 years ago. During your walk, there’s a chance you could see elephants roaming the land, making this experience even more special.
We had not done an adventure family holiday before and were unsure as to what to expect. Any anxieties were very quickly dispelled and we had a memorable 14 days discovering Vietnam from north to south. The schedule was paced so that we had time to recover from flights and travelling. The heat took some getting used to. Our tour guide said that Vietnam has two types of weather, hot and hotter, so don’t pack a jumper! There were five other families on the tour and we all got along really well. Our tour guide Huyen Nguyen made sure everything went smoothly and imparted her in depth knowledge of Vietnam giving us context and descriptions of her beautiful country. The tour was a mix of activities from rickshaws in Hanoi, Cooking classes in Hoi An and relaxing at Whale island. We didn’t really get into the history of the “American War” until late into the tour which was good, because Vietnam is so much more than its history! The Vietnamese people were warm, welcoming and generous. It is also helpful that English is spoken widely and quite well, which is useful as the Vietnamese language is very difficult to understand. The food was really tasty and we enjoyed the Ban-mi in particular. One final note, the Hotels were really good, particularly the Sincerity Hotel in Hoi An which has a very good swimming pool.
This was such a brilliant holiday – amazing scenery, fabulous food, fun activities, culture and history. We shared it with 5 other families, who all got on fabulously (adults and children) – there was always someone to chat to and share the experiences with. Having a tour guide really helps you get the most from the holiday – especially reserving tables for us all at some of the best eateries – and also takes the stress out of any aspect of the holiday.
We saw so much of this beautiful country in such a short space of time, but still had time to relax and chill out!
This review is based on being specifically ‘Designed for children aged 9-12’.
In summary, in our opinion, it is not.
It is simply the (excellent) adult trip with a few omissions and permitting children.
To give my review some context:
Our children are in the age bracket for whom this trip is designed.
I’ve been travelling with Exodus since 2006 and this was my seventh trip with one of those being the adult version of this trip.
Last year we travelled all over Vietnam on a family holiday with Intrepid.
All of these trips I’ve mentioned were outstanding experiences and no matter the price, excellent value for money. I continue to recommend those trips and Exodus at every opportunity to both the uninitiated and the many repeat trippers looking for something they haven’t yet tried.
But unfortunately this was the first where I felt my expectations weren’t met and I felt rather disappointed.
I would endorse the views expressed by previous reviewers Jon Browning and Stephen Dossett and encourage you to read them.