A family vacation in Africa is still one of the greatest adventures.
The world’s second largest continent is home to 54 countries, thousands of towns and cities and over 1 billion people speaking more than 2000 languages – at a conservative estimate.
It’s the land of the safari where the wildest wildlife roams within reach of a camera lens. But it’s also where you’ll find the immense Sahara Desert and 26,000km of coastline washed by the North and South Atlantic, the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean.
If all that isn’t remarkable enough, Africa lies right at the centre of the earth, sub-divided almost exactly in half by the equator and has sun, somewhere all year round.
Botswana is bordered by South Africa, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe, completely land-locked and one of the most rewarding places in Africa for a family safari holiday. Lions roam free here, there are more elephants than anywhere else on earth and, if you’re lucky, you can even see rhino. The country has a well-deserved reputation for authentic culture and outstanding game reserves with very high safety standards. But Botswana’s not a tame version of Africa so it’s most memorable for over 10s.
Take me to Botswana
A country of two worlds, Egypt is known both for its ancient history of the pyramids and pharaohs and its modern-day crowds who flock to the Red Sea for world-class diving. The city of Cairo and the coast are both worth visiting and many tourists book a dual-stop holiday to make the most of their time in the country. Stand in awe underneath one of the 138 ancient pyramids that were built as tombs for the nation’s pharaohs; some are nearly 5000 years old. Camel rides are also popular for those visiting the pyramids and travellers who prefer their transport with a little more ‘oomph’ can take a quad bike desert safari. The Red Sea is the other jewel in Egypt’s crown, with unique and vivid ocean life including live coral and neon fish. There are plenty of family hotels and upmarket resorts in Hurghada and Sharm-el-Sheikh to keep everyone happy. Flights are around four hours from the UK.
Take me to Egypt
For immense savannah, snow-capped Kilimanjaro and weather you only find right on the equator, consider Kenya. If anywhere in Africa can lay claim to creating the safari tradition it’s here in the homeland of the Masai Mara national reserve. Down on the country’s south east coast, the warm waters of the Indian Ocean trim fantastic beach resorts. And, if you want to see Kenya’s remarkable conservation work, visit the elephants of Amboseli in the far south.
Take me to Kenya
You can fly from London to Morocco in just over three hours, making it one of the most accessible countries in Africa for shorter family holidays. But, being on the same latitude as Aberdeen, doesn’t make for any less exoticism or enchantment. The gorgeous Moroccan coastline is edged with historic towns and cities, legends like Marrakesh are irresistible in the interior and expeditions to the fringes of the Western Sahara are the ultimate in adventure. Beach fun is good for younger kids and teenagers love monumental Roman ruins, colourful Medina and hiking in the Atlas Mountain foothills.
Take me to Morocco
For legendary ‘Big Five’ (buffalo, elephant, leopard, lion and rhino) game reserves, marine life, spectacular beaches, international cities, World Heritage Sites and 21st century infrastructure, South Africa is the country that ticks every box for family holidays. And nowhere else in Africa is more visited or highly awarded for sustainable, responsible and high quality tourism, attractions and accommodation.
Take me to South Africa
Based in the Great Lakes region of east Africa, Tanzania is one of the classic safari destinations. Luxury lodges and more simple self-drive accommodation is widely available for visitors hoping to spot the Big Five. In November and December tourists can see the famous wildebeest migration as the animals travel to the Serengeti. In the northeast Tanzania boasts thick forest and beautiful, cooler mountains, while the eastern shore is hot and humid. Nature lovers can spot elephant, buffalo and giraffe one day and then hike to stunning waterfalls the next. There are over 100 language spoken in Tanzania, so remembering how to say ‘hello’ in the local dialect might be harder than it seems! Those looking into the history of the countries they visit will be interested to know that Tanzania was once colonised by Germany, until rebellion in the Second World War. Tanzanian food is simple and filling, with ugali (maize porridge) plantain and biryani rice featuring as staple fare. It takes around 12 hours to fly from London to Tanzania.
Take me to Tanzania
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