Ask a seven-year-old what they want to see in Africa and you will get a very precise list. Lion, elephant, giraffe, and possibly “a cheetah running really fast”. The good news is that South Africa can deliver most of that list in a long weekend, and a tent with bunk beds and a deck over the bush turns it into the holiday they will brag about at school.

Family glamping in South Africa has come a long way. There are family tents with separate children’s rooms, kids’ programmes that teach tracking and dung identification (always a hit), malaria-free Big Five reserves a few hours from the airport, and private villas where nobody minds the noise at breakfast. Here are the best family glamping safaris in the country, and what to check before you book.

Best family glamping safaris at a glance

Five things to check before you book with children

1. Game drive age limits. Many lodges only take children aged six and over on shared game drives. Younger children usually need a private vehicle, so ask whether one is included or what it costs.
2. Walking safari ages. Bush walks typically have a minimum age of 12 to 16. Some camps offer gentle “bumbles” near camp for younger children instead.
3. Malaria. Many families with young children, especially under-fives, choose malaria-free reserves. Speak to a travel clinic and see our guide to malaria-free glamping.
4. Room set-up. Look for family tents, interleading rooms or a separate children’s room. Some camps do not allow children to sleep in a separate tent on their own.
5. What the kids will do between drives. A pool, a kids’ club or a programme of activities makes the middle of the day much easier for everyone.

Malaria-free family glamping

Thakadu River Camp, Madikwe

Thakadu is a community-owned tented camp on the Marico River in malaria-free Madikwe, about four hours from Johannesburg. Four of its twelve tents are family units with a sleeper couch, every tent has a deck over the river and a Victorian bath, and babysitting is available for a small extra charge. Madikwe is one of the best reserves in the country for wild dog, which tends to impress even the most screen-loving teenager.

Travelling with another family? Little Thakadu is a group of four tents with its own pool, lounge and dining area that you can book for yourselves.

Madikwe Safari Lodge, Madikwe

Madikwe Safari Lodge has solid suites rather than tents, and it takes families so seriously that it earns a place here. Lelapa, one of its three camps, is set aside for families with children under 16, while Kopano and Dithaba are adults-only. Children get a dedicated late-morning game drive, bush orientation, bug “CSI”, spoor and dung tracking, stargazing and pizza making. Babysitting is available, and the communal pool keeps the afternoons calm.

See rates and availability for Madikwe Safari Lodge

Marataba Safari Lodge, Waterberg

In a private concession of Marakele National Park, Marataba has luxury tented suites below the Waterberg mountains. The family suite has an attached children’s room with bunk beds, and babysitting is offered. River cruises are a real bonus with children who struggle to sit still on long drives, and the stone tower library is a good spot for a quiet afternoon.

See rates and availability for Marataba Safari Lodge

The Motse, Tswalu Kalahari

Tswalu is South Africa’s largest private reserve, and it is very good with children. Under-12s are welcome at The Motse, with a children’s club, bush walks, stargazing trips and sleep-outs. The Malori Sleepout can add camp beds for children, so the whole family can spend a night together under the Kalahari sky. Meerkats are a regular highlight.

See rates and availability for The Motse at Tswalu

Botlierskop Tented Lodge, Garden Route

Botlierskop near Mossel Bay pairs luxury tented suites with the Big Five and a lot for children to do. Pony rides are offered for children aged six and under, walking safaris start at six, and horseback safaris start at seven. There is a children’s menu, a kids’ programme and pools, and it fits neatly into a Garden Route holiday. See our Garden Route and Eastern Cape road trip for a full itinerary.

Gondwana Lodge, Sanbona

About three hours from Cape Town in the malaria-free Little Karoo, Sanbona’s family lodge runs a Kids on Safari programme for all ages, a kids’ club for children too young for drives, babysitting, children’s menus and earlier dinners. The pool has a shallow end for little ones. It is a lodge rather than a tented camp, but for families in Cape Town it is one of the easiest Big Five escapes there is.

See Gondwana Lodge

Family stays in Greater Kruger

Kapama Buffalo Camp, Kapama

Buffalo Camp has ten tented suites raised above the plains and linked by wooden walkways, which gives children a treehouse feel. There is a children’s club, a lap pool and a full list of extras, including star bed nights and hot-air balloon flights over the reserve for older children.

See rates and availability for Kapama Buffalo Camp

Ngala Safari Lodge, Timbavati

Ngala’s tented camp only takes children from 12, but its sister Safari Lodge on the same reserve is built for families. The family cottages come with a private swimming pool and the use of a private safari vehicle, which solves the game drive age problem in one go. There are child-minding services and tailored activities for children.

See rates and availability for Ngala Safari Lodge

Ndzhaka Tented Camp, Manyeleti

New for 2027, Ndzhaka has 15 luxury tents in an unfenced camp in the quiet Manyeleti, with an in-camp waterhole. Children from six are welcome, and vehicles take a maximum of seven guests, which suits a family of four or five well. Read more in our guide to new safari stays for 2027.

Budget-friendly family glamping

AfriCamps Waterberg and AfriCamps at Oakhurst

For families who would rather cook their own braai and spend less, AfriCamps is hard to beat. Tents sleep five, with a full kitchen, a big deck and a wood-fired hot tub. The Waterberg camp is about two and a half hours from Pretoria with horseback safaris and game drives, and Oakhurst near Wilderness on the Garden Route sits on a working dairy farm with a forest boardwalk and a play area. Rates start from about $80.

For big families and multi-generation trips

When grandparents, cousins and friends are all coming, an exclusive-use villa often works out best. You get your own vehicle, guide and chef, and you set the schedule around the youngest and oldest in the group.

• Singita Castleton, Sabi Sand: up to 12 guests, with babysitting, a children’s play area and children’s menus. See Singita Castleton
• Jaci’s Private Lodge villas, Madikwe: three villas with three to five bedrooms each, a private pool and a dedicated chef, host and ranger. Malaria-free.
• Little Thakadu, Madikwe: four private tents with their own pool, ideal for two or three families.

Read more in Exclusive-Use Safari Villas and Private Tented Camps: Are They Worth It?

What children love most on safari

• Tracking: reading footprints and dung is the activity children talk about for weeks.
• Junior ranger programmes: many camps give children their own activity books, badges or bush lessons.
• Night drives: spotlighting for eyes in the dark feels like a real adventure.
• Star beds and sleep-outs: a night outdoors with the family. See our star bed guide.
• Marshmallows at the fire: it is the simple things.

Packing for a family glamping safari

• Binoculars for each child, even cheap ones. It stops the arguing.
• Warm layers, beanies and gloves for winter morning drives.
• Neutral-coloured clothes, sun hats and high-factor sunscreen.
• A head torch each for walking around the tent at night.
• A small animal spotting checklist or field guide.
• Snacks and something quiet to do for the drive to the reserve.

The full list is in our safari packing guide.

Frequently asked questions

What is the minimum age for a safari in South Africa?

There is no national minimum, but many lodges only allow children aged six and over on shared game drives, and walking safaris usually start at 12 to 16. Younger children can often go out with a private vehicle.

Where is the best malaria-free family safari in South Africa?

Madikwe, the Waterberg, the Eastern Cape and the Kalahari are all malaria-free. Madikwe Safari Lodge, Thakadu River Camp, Marataba and Tswalu are strong family choices.

Can toddlers go on safari?

Yes, but choose carefully. Pick a malaria-free reserve, check that the lodge welcomes young children, and book a private vehicle so you can head back to camp whenever you need to.

Are tented camps safe for children?

Yes, at reputable camps. Tents are raised or on solid bases and close securely, and guides escort families after dark. Many camps require children to share a tent with an adult.

When is the best time for a family safari in South Africa?

The winter months from May to September are dry, with excellent game viewing, although mornings are cold. School holidays in June, July and December are busy, so book early.

Which family glamping options are budget-friendly?

AfriCamps in the Waterberg and on the Garden Route has self-catering tents sleeping five from about $80. Thanda Safari Tented Camp in KwaZulu-Natal and Garonga in Greater Kruger are good-value full-board options, but check their child policies.

Give them the adventure

The first time a child sees an elephant up close is something parents tend to remember as clearly as the child does. Pick a camp with the right set-up for your ages, check the drive rules, and let the bush do the rest. Browse our full family glamping collection to find your tent.