Family vacation trends come and go, but an African safari is one of the small and elite group of travel experiences which will always be considered once in a lifetime. Nobody understands that better than Mahlatini Luxury Travel.
What makes Mahlatini the leading African safari specialist?
Mahlatini is one of the few African safari specialists with offices in Africa staffed primarily by experts who are either African or have lived and worked on the continent for years. So not only are you traveling with a company that has over 17 years of 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 best lodges for kids under 8. Winter break is an ideal time for US visitors to book a trip since it’s summer in Southern and Eastern Africa and a great time to safari with kids, but Mahlatini can arrange dates around all US school holidays and even suggest a range of safaris to fit neatly into shorter breaks like fall or spring break. 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. Mahlatini is ideal for families who don’t fit a cookie cutter shape and size – they are pure genius when it comes to planning multi-gen and larger group vacations, and easily accomodate families with mixed ages and stages of kids. Whether you have a teen who needs a little more independence or you have your heart set on mixing up safari with some beach time or an island adventure, they can make it all happen. 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 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 told around 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 trip, balance wildlife with culture or even include experiences to suit 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 vacations possible
Mahlatini takes families to some of the best 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 the top priorities, 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 programs 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. Plus, they all have spacious family rooms or the option of interconnecting rooms and exclusive-use villas at safari lodges for large groups or multi-gen families. Foodies will be glad to hear about the fresh, creative and tempting menus – even for the tiniest guests. To ensure the quality of accommodations is always up to their high standards, 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 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 vacations 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 are still wide-eyed kids at heart.
But whatever “once in a lifetime” means to you and however much you customize the safari experience, several vital elements are unwavering:
- International flights are included in vacation costs and they’re overnight whenever possible.
- All 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 vacation 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 children under 5, and off-peak savings of up to 50% for under 16s sharing family rooms.
Find out more
Even just thinking about a family safari pegs you as one of life’s explorers and Mahlatini Luxury Travel nurtures that spirit of adventure, gives you all the creative freedom you want and never forgets for a second that this is your very own bucket list family vacation. To find out more visit Mahlatini Luxury Travel or call and speak to a specialist on +1 (347) 708-1755 or get in touch by email at experts@mahlatini.com or enquire here.