A safari holiday with the family may be considered the holiday of a lifetime for many but is it going to be a safe environment for children? Unfortunately, there are some possible dangers when taking a safari holiday with or without children, but with careful planning and vigilance whilst there, children can be given an incredible experience that they will remember for many years to come.

Before traveling it is important to find out whether vaccinations are necessary for that area and whether there are any foods that should be avoided. An effective insect repellent will need to be used to avoid nasty bites and stings as some areas have a problem with mosquitoes at different times of the year. When you are packing it is important to take plenty of long-sleeved tops and long trousers for journeys into the reserves to protect young skin from bites and sunburn.

On arrival at the accommodation, it is imperative that any children in the party are instructed to stay with an adult at all times especially when on excursions. It is easy for children to get excited about the prospect of seeing the animals when on safari in the bush, but they should be reminded not to take any risks by getting too close to the wild animals.

When booking any sort of holiday, it is important to read plenty of independent reviews. Obviously, the resorts and tour operators will always paint their accommodation and setting in the best possible light, but unfortunately this is not always an accurate representation of what it is like.

These reviews will give you the best overview of what you can expect. This is true for safari holidays but you do need to bear some things in mind when delving into reviews.

Firstly, safari holidays vary drastically depending on where you go, the time or year and the type of safari you go on. Each safari trip is unique and no two trips will be exactly the same, so what someone experiences one day may be very different to what you experience. Part of this is simply due to the wild animals and weather etc which we have no control over. When looking at safari reviews there definitely are some points to look out for. Reviews for the accommodation and food at the accommodation can be very useful as this is likely not to change all too often. Another interesting point to consider is how the tour guides interact with you and how they treat the wildlife and natural surroundings. If they seem to have respect for them then this is a company you want to book with.

A safari is a fantastic eye opening experience and something that many of us may only get to do once in our lifetime (if at all!). It is important when going on a safari that you ensure that the company you book with has animal welfare and conservation at the forefront of their mind. This may mean that they have to charge a little more for the holiday but it is vital that we all do this in order to sustain the animal’s wildlife and habitat.

Be aware that some safari companies still exploit animals as part of the tour. This can include riding elephants or walking with lions. It is highly advised that you do not support any company that does this as these methods do not support animal welfare or conservation.

Try and not book any trips that involve off road quad biking as this can disturb the careful balance of the environment that is needed for the plants and trees to flourish. When booking a safari holiday, it is always important to question where your money is going and specifically who the money will be going to help. Many companies will pump the profits back into the local community or into conservation projects.

The opportunity to take a safari holiday is one that should not be missed and although expensive the choice of activities is varied. Not only can you experience the remarkable wildlife, but you can also enjoy the glorious beaches.

Should you be going as a family group, safety is going to be of paramount importance and so a guided tour may be wise. An itinerary will be provided which will include stops for food and overnight stays if necessary, thereby reducing the apprehension you may feel when taking your family on an such an adventure.

A safari to South Africa with its direct flights from the UK and the well-maintained roads might be an attractive destination for your family safari holiday. Here you will be able to see an abundance of wildlife from elephants to big cats on your trip all from the safety of an airconditioned minibus if you prefer. A popular destination for a first-time safari experience is the Kruger Park and surrounding reserves. It is possible to self-drive in some areas which will save money and give your family a more personal experience.

Undoubtedly a safari is a memorable way to holiday with your family, an adventure that will be recounted for years to come.

At the moment, holiday may be even more important than ever before although you may struggle to get cover for issues arising from the Covid-19 Pandemic unless you have paid to have that included.  Many banks are now offering free travel insurance as part of your bank account privileges, but you need to check what exactly you are covered for and who it covers, you or you and all your family too. It may be that this insurance cover is only valid for certain countries or will be void if you participate in certain extreme sports or activities. Each insurance policy will have its own levels of cover and it is vital that you know what these are.

If you do not have valid insurance you may find yourself liable for thousands of pounds worth of medical bills should you be involved in an accident resulting in hospital treatment needed. Travel insurance often also covers you for loss of luggage, holiday cancellations and emergency accommodation.

When it comes to safari holidays, again you may need to do a fair bit of research to find the right company to insure you without spending a small fortune. It is simply not worth the risk to chance it and go without insurance as it would only make an awful situation worse if you did need medical attention.

For many people going on safari is an exciting prospect but it can also make you feel a bit apprehensive as you try to decide how to spend your time and decide which are the best places to visit.  Another important aspect of preparing for your safari holiday is to select the items you need to pack and make sure that you have the required kit to keep you and your party safe on your trip such as insect repellent and high factor sun cream. The clothes that you pack should above all be comfortable and cool. High quality walking shoes are a must and long trousers and warm clothing will be needed for the evenings.

A good idea when trying to decide on the best places to visit is to think about what your party wants to get out of your safari for instance if you are an enthusiastic photographer, you should probably visit the Masai Mara in Kenya as you will be able to see magnificent wildlife and be blown away by the amazing scenery. If the history and culture of the area is of interest to you it is possible to visit places with ancient rock paintings and get a taste of tribal life with all its customs and traditions.

With many if us dying to book our next holiday abroad, safari holidays are always a popular choice and possibly even more so now where social distancing may be quite easy to adhere to in this sort of setting as much of it is done out side or in an open topped vehicle.

Safari holidays are in general quite safe, despite the number of wild animals you may come in to contact with. Tour guides are often very experienced in what they do and many have been doing the same job for years. They know the safety issues to be aware of and will not take risks that are not safe. They know where to go and where not to go as well as looking out for signs that animals are not happy or feeling vulnerable and therefore more likely to attack.

Often safari holidays are not the main concern when going to places such as South Africa. It is not the animals that are often the biggest risk but more crime committed by people. Over the years there have been a few cases where people have been held hostage by criminals in the area and money / valuables have been taken from them. You always have to be alert and try and book all your travel arrangements in advance.

Safari holidays can be an amazing experience and often it is a type of holiday that is only done as a one off or for a special occasion.

When it comes to Safari holidays obviously safety is often a concern for many holiday goers. Safari holidays in South Africa are actually extremely safe on the whole and there are very few accidents (most of which do not involve animals anyway). Like any holiday, you need to be aware of your surroundings and the limitations that you should abide by. On a Safari holiday you will have a tour guide that will go through with you what you can and cannot do. They will often tell you what to do in a certain situation should you come in to any difficulties. It is vital that you not only listen well to all the instructions and information you are given but ensure that you follow it. The tour operators have often been doing this for years and they get to know the risks very quickly and how to avoid them.

If you are thinking of taking children on a safari holiday then you will need to do more research on the area you go to and find out what special steps you may need to take to protect them.

You may be desperate to go on a safari holiday but not sure if it would be suitable for your children.

People often think that a safari holiday would be awful with kids but often this is far from the truth and will give them an experience of a lifetime. Yes ok, taking a new-born or very young child on a safari may not be the best idea but for children over the age of 5, a safari can be an amazing magical experience.

There are certain places in South Africa that are more suitable for children and while not all resorts welcome children there is still a great selection that do. Many resorts in South Africa will make sure that your kids get to join the family on the adventure of a lifetime and not miss out on all the exciting parts. Some of these resorts also offer childcare facilities that are ran by experienced child minders. Some safari companies run special safaris for children which are local to the park and may only last for an hour or so.

You will need to plan ahead and be sure that you keep your children protected from the sometimes fierce sun and ensure that you stay in a malaria free part of South Africa as it can be a very serious disease that can be fatal.

If you are planning a safari holiday then you will need to start early to give yourself time to do plenty of research. You need to find out what time of year is best to go and what animals you can expect to see at that time of year. You may think that you can go on a safari holiday in Africa any time and see the same sights, but this is quite far from the truth, the season you go in can have a big impact on the experience you will have.

If you are interested in seeing the gorillas then you may want to consider booking a specific gorilla trek safari rather than a jeep safari as this is the only way to get up close to the animals in their natural environment. Gorilla treks can involve a lot of walking and out for long hours but often result in an amazing experience.

When booking a safari trip, you should be given a rough itinerary that will tell you day by day what you will be doing. If there is something missing off the trip that you would like to do, then why not ask your tour operator before you book the holiday if there is a chance that you can add it in.

Read plenty of reviews for the safari company that you are intending booking with before paying your deposit.