We have two children (will be aged 8 & 12) and are considering a 5 or 6 week trip to southern Africa next July/August. Where would you recommend (countries and/or regions) for us, considering:
<UL></UL> we want to be safe!
<UL></UL> we love animals (but have never been on safari before)
<UL></UL> we will want to drive ourselves in a hire car and move around a fair bit
<UL></UL> middle budget
Any suggestions welcomed! I have some ideas, but want to see if anyone confirms or denies them!
P.S. the children have been on similar length trips before (but only to "developed" countries). The adults have been to Asia several times with backpacks (pre-kids) but never to sub-Saharan Africa.
jackpe
1
fie
Hello, I've been in Namibia/SOuth-Africa/Zimbabwe amd Mosanbique. With kids I would recommend South Africa (which I did with a 7 year old) and Namibia. We always rented a car and drove around. South Africa got great National Parks, food is better then in the UK. You can find easely self catering accommodation at a very low price. When you go for food shopping you can find everything ! It is easy to travel around. Every little city provides an Information house. You have Mountains to go hiking, beaches to go diving, safari, whale watching, pinguins, sharks ... The kid loved it. Namimbia is beautifull as well. Totally different. Very dry, canyons, desert dunes, wild coasts (water is very cold). The scenery is a litlle more monotone and you will have to plan better then in South Africa (we ran out of fuel in the middle of the desert...) .
We didn't give any malaria pills to the kid as the only area would have been Kruger Park and we were only there for 4 days. After consulting the tropical institute they advised against it as he is still very young. Hospitals in SOuth Africa are very good.
Have fun !
2
raskolnikova
I was in nambia and south africa 2001 with my boyfriend for 6 weeks. Now we have a son, 16 months old. I can say, if we had the money we would go back there immediately. Like Fie writes, SA would probably be more interesting for the kids. but namibia so beautiful and great, that even if it takes a bit more planning (for the kids) I wouldn't miss it!!!
There is a camp site, Hohenfels Camping Site "African Dream", outside Otjiwarongo, direction Waterberg, I'm sure the whole family would love it. The owners are great, it's beautifully located, on a small hill with wiews over the savanna, the campsite itself is beautiful and handmade, there's a swimming pool and in the evenings they make a grill-buffet, with home-made food, and Kudu from the own land.
Etosha national park is amazing.
Enjoy the travels!
3
jackpe
Thanks for the above suggestions - I think SA and Namibia sound great too.
My main worry would be malaria - we would want to go to Kruger and/or Etosha and I think both are malarial? Do you know where on the web I can get up to date and accurate info on where/when is high risk malaria? (e.g. would Etosha be very low risk in July/Aug as its the dry/cool season?). Did your children take malaria tablets (remembering how they taste, I don't rate our chances at getting ours to take them!). Can you get the drugs in syrup form in the UK do you know?
How were the children with game drives? Did you drive yourself? Did you hire a guide to take in your car with you?
(Sorry, so many questions . . . !)
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