Secrets for Planning the Perfect Family Safari

By Maureen Jones (Star Patcher)

Taking the family on an African safari is on many bucket lists. It is indeed the experience of a lifetime. It is a long journey, and I was delighted to find a new way to make it easier.

We went non-stop San Francisco to Dubai on Emirates new 380 aircraft, stayed there two nights to experience a desert tour, then flew non stop to Africa to join up with our Safari This is so much better than going through London, or another large airport in Europe.

The service on Emirates both in economy and business way, is by far the most luxurious we have ever been on. I would recommend the grandparents and parents perhaps going in business class with full flat beds, and they will enjoy chauffeur drive service to and from the airport. The rest of the family can go in economy if you are looking at the budget.

This is the best economy class in the entire world. 33” seat pitch, with a recline of 6”. You have an amazing 1800 channels of non stop entertainment, 100 music tracks, 350 movies, and 40 video games.

As one client told me, her children were having such a good time they didn’t want to get off the plane. It made a long journey seem much shorter.

Multi course gourmet meals which I thought outstanding. What amazed me was the auto adjusting lighting designed to reduce jet lag. It worked. By stopping for a night or two in Dubai it broke the journey up into manageable sections, good value, and we saw another interesting part of the world. The cabin crew are experts in keeping children amused and happy.

I saw one flight attendant with a young baby in her arms, walking up and down to give the mother a break. I have never seen that done before. That is service.

Giraffe, Topi, Hyena, Zebra, Baobab trees, the exotic milieu of your African safari creates a sense of wonder which serves as a common denominator for family members of every age. Yet, certain considerations can make the difference between a memorable family holiday and an unforgettable one.

1. Plan age appropriate activities
It is important to choose a safari that takes into consideration various ages and interests of your group. To relax, grandparents may choose to luxuriate in the spa, while you seek out a chaise by the pool with a book. Younger children can learn African crafts, such as Samburu traditional beaded necklaces, and learn to make an arrow and shoot it with a Maasai tribe member. Meanwhile, the teens might join a safari director on a big game tracking expedition via ATV. At day’s end, the whole clan can reconvene to share adventure tales over a chef prepared meal catering to individual palates.

2. Mix It up.
One way to ensure everyone in the group remains engaged and interested in to choose a safari that imparts variety from the start. I recommend three legendary East African game parks, the Maasai Mara, the Serengeti, and Samburu where you experience two distinct luxury tented camps and unique surrounds. Further customize your adventure by pedaling a bike through the bush in Kenya’s Chyulu Hills, meander by camel through the Laikipia Plains, or lumber through the Sabi Sabi Reserve in South Africa on elephant back.

3. Mark the Occasion
Whether a celebration is intimate or elaborate, a safari adds poignancy to life’s most important
Milestones. Marriage proposals floating above the Serengeti in a hot balloon, a chorus of Happy Birthday sung beside a waterfall at sunset . We can coordinate surprise celebrations for you.

4. Foster Learning
Travel takes you beyond books . During your outings, trained guides share fascinating details which keep even little ones engaged. This might entail arranging a private lunch with a young anthropologist and a member of the Leakey family, or even an African dance lesson.

5. Give Back
One company we work with is Micato, who donates funds from each safari towards sponsoring a child’s education. You will sit down with a community leader to learn about daily life in East Africa and even pen an inspiring forward in the front of a book you donate to their library. You can join children on a soccer field, and visit a youth center.

We have lots of important tips to give you when planning a safari, such as no suitcases, and give a power point presentation so the family can see what they will experience and where they are going.
Come see us to plan your family adventure in Africa.

Maureen Jones

Maureen Jones is president of All Horizons Travel at 160 Main Street, Los Altos. Members of her staff are experts in business travel, cruises, and all types of leisure.

Previous columns by Maureen:

• Your Travel Specialist On: London, England
•  Alberta- A Wonderful Province in Canada
• Abu Dhabi- A destination apart
• Mougins, Cote De A’zur, France
• Lima, Peru’s Crossroads of Past and Present
• The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
• Scotland, The British Open 2015.
• Delectable Dining - Hawaii’s Farm Fresh Table Temptation.
• Themed River Cruises.

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