Luxury African safaris custom made for kids

What makes Mahlatini the UK’s leading African safari specialist?

Mahlatini is one of the few UK African safari specialists with offices in Africa staffed primarily by experts who’re either African or have lived and worked on the continent for years. So not only are you travelling with a company that has over 17 years experience custom-creating unforgettable family safaris, your dedicated Family Specialist is an insider with first-hand knowledge of your destination and personal experience of everything from the best season for particular wildlife to the easiest forms of transport for under eights. UK Christmas is summer in southern and eastern Africa and a great time to safari with kids, but Mahlatini can arrange dates around all UK school holidays and even suggest a range of seven-day safaris to fit neatly into shorter breaks like October half-term or Easter. Give your imagination free rein, this is your family’s adventure and if something’s possible – no matter how specific or demanding – your personal Family Specialist will do their utmost to make it happen. Ideal for families who don’t fit a cookie cutter shape and size – Mahlatini is genius when it comes to planning multi-gen and larger group holidays – and great news if your family happens to include mixed ages and stage of kids, you want teens to have a little more independence or you have your heart set on mixing up safari with some beach time or an island adventure. And on a side – but very good to know – note, the Mahlatini team don’t work on commission, so planning your family safari is a fun, creative experience, absolutely free from sales’ pressure and hidden agendas.

Why over 98% of families rate Mahlatini 5-star-excellent

It’s a given that Mahlatini has all the wow elements covered on safari, so feel free to ramp up kids’ excitement as high as you like with promises of Big 5 game drives, lakes covered in flamingos as far as the eye can see, black maned lions on the Kalahari Desert and mornings with meerkats. What you might not expect are all the captivating moments only a specialist like Mahlatini, with feet on the ground and a true understanding of Africa, knows how to weave into a family safari to make it nothing short of magical for kids. Think stories round the campfire at night; eating out under huge star-filled skies; learning how to track wildlife and make traditional crafts or exploring local customs and meeting local people. Of course, you can tailor activities to suit kids ages or particular interests, add more or less outdoor adventures to any holiday, balance wildlife with culture or even include experiences in the mix for conservation-conscious teens. It’s entirely up to you, but making it all happen effortlessly is just one of advantage of having a dedicated Mahlatini Family Specialist on board with safari planning right from the start.

Practical planning makes dream holidays possible

Mahlatini takes families to some of the loveliest parts of southern and eastern Africa: legendary game reserves, uncrowded Indian Ocean resorts, tranquil islands and barefoot beaches. And all practicalities are handled for you, with safety and comfort as priority. Leaving you to simply breathe and step away from the every day, spend memory-making time together as a family, share astonishing experiences and reconnect with nature and each other; which is probably exactly what you had in mind when you thought of an African safari in the first place. And since Mahlatini is meticulous on the planning front, absolutely nothing gets overlooked, from big stuff like flights and transfers to all-important details such as childcare and kids’ activity programmes with just the right balance of authentic cultural experiences and amazing fun.

All Family safari lodges and camps are handpicked, personally visited and only pass the test if they’re exceptional. Which in Mahlatini terms means beautifully designed, amply luxurious, and complete with dedicated guides to care for younger children during the day; spacious family rooms or the option of interconnecting rooms; exclusive use villas at bigger lodges for large groups or multi-gen families; fresh, creative and tempting menus – even for the tiniest guest; and whisper-light, nothing-is-too-much trouble service, as standard. Plus, it’s always good to know that Mahlatini revisits and reviews all safari lodges regularly.

Plus, it’s always good to know that Mahlatini’s owners, directors and staff regularly safari at the company’s preferred lodges with their own families. So you can be confident that anywhere they recommend for your family safari has been tried, tested first-hand, and found to be fantastic.

Where do you want to go on safari?

When Mahlatini asks you that question, take your time before answering because you have plenty of options. Bush and beach holidays are made for families and come in all shapes and sizes from Kenya with Mauritius in the mix to wildlife adventures blended with downtime on the glorious Garden Route or Tanzanian safaris which include magical islands like Zanzibar. Iconic game reserves such as Masai Mara and Amboseli can be nicely balanced by more intimate private reserves. And you’ll even find safaris matched with cities: Cape Town and the Kalahari desert is perfect for teen urbanites who’re still wide-eyed kids at heart.

But whatever ‘once in a lifetime’ means to you and however much you customise the safari experience, several vital elements are unwavering:

• International flights are included in holiday costs and they’re overnight whenever possible.
• All holiday transfers and transport is included, arranged in advance and tailored to your family’s specific requirements.

• Recommended safari lodges, camps and beach resorts are handpicked and personally assessed by your Family Specialist.
• Mahlatini has trusted and longstanding relationships with leading African suppliers and guides, and only works with the best of the best.
• Every safari holiday is covered by ATTA & ATOL and has 100% financial protection through Travel Trust Association.
• In addition to having an office and full-service team in Cape Town, Mahlatini also has an emergency support line available 24/7, 365 days a year.
• Plus, many Mahlatini family safaris include free accommodation for under-fives, and off-peak savings of up to 50% for under 16s sharing family rooms.