When to go, Weather
Southern and Eastern Africa enjoy a warm climate year round, and it’s possible to go on safari at any time of year.
In Kruger National Park Summer lasts from mid October to April. October to February bring in welcome rains, and young animals are born soon after the first rains. In the middle of the day temperatures can rise to over 35 degrees – air-conditioned vehicles and lodges are definitely preferable. Spring is roughly from September to mid October. Temperatures rarely go above 30 degrees and this can be the most pleasant time to visit, weather-wise. Winter lasts from May to August and enjoy mild weather with no rain. Vegetation is at its lowest making animals easier to spot. As water is scarce, large numbers of animals gather at the remaining waterholes.
Tanzania lies just south of the equator and has a sunny, tropical climate. September to March is the ideal time to go, both weather wise and for wildlife spotting. April and May are the rainiest months. The wildebeest migration is a natural event and as such it’s impossible to predict exactly what time of year the animals will be in a particular part of the Serengeti. As a general rule however in December to March the migration is in the Ndutu area in the far south of the Serengeti. From April to May the migration moves North into the plains of the central Serengeti. From June to July the migration splits in two; one group heading West into the Western Corridor before crossing the Grumeti River and the other heading straight up to the North of the Serengeti near Kleins camp. Between August and October most of the herds will have migrated to Kenya, before returning south into Tanzania in November.
Kruger National Park
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Serengeti National Park
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Where to stay
Cape Town
Cape Grace V&A Waterfront
Definitely not for those on a budget, the Cape Grace hotel is one of Cape Town’s most resplendent boutique hotels, with harbour views and impeccable service. As well as offering a luxurious amenities for grown-ups, the hotel has everything kids could want. Book a special family package and you’ll get a children’s welcome gift on arrival, complimentary child-minding, a list of things for families to do in Cape Town, African story telling in the library every evening and much more. A very special treat.
Mount Nelson Hotel
The famous Mount Nelson, a plush pink hotel surrounded by stunning gardens takes its guests back to a grand colonial era. As well as sumptuous décor and all the luxury amenities the hotel is an absolute treat for kids with loads of entertainment such as games, movies, kid’stennis, a family pool and a special kids breakfast every morning. They can even give you a goldfish to look after during your stay!
Cape Milner
This hotel offers four-star service and amenities for quite reasonable rates. It’s centrally located and all rooms have views of Table Mountain. Facilities include a gym and pool and a childminding service is available.
Protea Hotel Cape Castle
A good choice for families who would like to self-cater, the Cape Castle serviced apartments are spacious and come with fully-equipped kitchens and mountain or sea views. There’s also a good restaurant, swimming pool and a supervised kid’s club. There are several other Protea Hotels to suit varying budgets in and around Cape Town, all featuring the Prokidz kid’s club.
Kruger National Park
Accommodation at Kruger is in the form of rest camps dotted around the National Park. These range from luxury lodges complete with pools, restaurants and bars, to basic huts and tents. No matter where you choose to stay, the rest camps are located so you’re almost guaranteed to spot spectacular wildlife right at your doorstep. Visit: www.krugerpark.co.za for a complete listing of rest camps in the park.
Berg-en-Dal Restcamp
This restcamp offers a variety of self-catering accommodation from camping sites to more luxurious cottages and guest houses. The rest camp’s 23 family cottages have two air-conditioned bedrooms, fully-equipped kitchen and lounge.
Skukuza Restcamp
Kruger’s largest restcamp is right in the heart of Big Five territory. Lodging includes basic bungalows, luxury riverside bungalows, family cottages and safari tents. There’s even a 9-hole golf course!
Djuma Bush Lodge – Sabi Sands Game Reserve (Greater Kruger Park)
This luxurious family lodge comprises of eight thatched chalets with en-suite rooms. The lodge features two viewing decks, a library and plunge pool. Each night you’ll be treated to a deluxe four course dinner under the African sky or around a roaring fire in the boma (grass hut).
Serengeti Plains
Kusini Camp Lodge
A permanent tented camp in the Serengeti’s southwest on the route of the spring migration and the only camp on that part of the Park. Each of the camp’s nine tents has a shower and private viewing terrace. Meals are in the dining tent which also features a library, lounge and veranda.
Lobo Wildlife Lodge
Lobo Lodge offers simple but comfortable rooms in the Northern Serengeti, with a prime position on top of a giant granite outcropping. There are spectacular views of the Lobo Valley and herds of wildlife from the Lodge’s swimming pool and dining terrace.
 Food and Drink
South African food is a blend of European and traditional African cooking, and is largely a meat-based cuisine. There’s also a great range of seafood harvested from South Africa’s abundant coasts. South Africa is a modern, multicultural country and there’s a great range of cuisines on offer from traditional African fare to excellent Indian and Asian cuisine, European fare and fast food.
A few delicious South African delicacies include biltong (dried, salted meat), boerewors (a handmade, flame-grilled sausage) and bobotie (a Malay-influenced, shepherd’s pie-like dish consisting of ground, curried meat with a bread custard topping).
Tanzanians similarly consume a lot of meat, with beef being by far the most popular. The staple food is ugali or boiled cornmeal mush – similar to polenta. It’s served with almost every meal. Like South Africa, Tanzania has a large Indian population so there’s excellent Indian cuisine available in the urban centres.
South Africa is well known for producing some excellent wines, especially chenin blanc and cabernet sauvignon.
While on safari most game lodges will treat you to a mix of African and international fare. Many have restaurants with a wide choice of dishes, others offer self-catering and some will provide a cook who travels around the park with you. Be sure to let the lodge staff know in advance if you or your kids have any special dietary requirements.
Shopping
While shopping isn’t the reason most families come to Africa, both South Africa and Tanzania are great for shopping for souvenirs and handicrafts. Check out small souvenir and homewares stores and markets. Best buys include basketry, woodcarvings, textiles and paintings. Bargaining is possible at most African markets although it’s not as common in South Africa as it is in some other African nations.
For general shopping including clothing, travel goods, books, electronics and imported goods the best variety can be found in Johannesburg and Cape Town.
Airport
Johannesburg International Airport is the transport hub of southern Africa. Recently upgraded, it’s modern, easy to navigate and offers a host of shops, restaurants, cafes, bars, rest areas and other facilities. There are banks, money changers, car rentals, a medical clinic, wired and wireless internet access and a shuttle bus/golf cart to ferry passengers between the domestic and international terminals. The nearest hotel is the Southern Sun Johannesburg International Airport Hotel, just 500 metres from the airport.
Transfers From Airport
Johannesburg International Airport is 24km northeast of the city centre. Taxis and shuttle buses can take you into the city or to the domestic terminal for flights to Cape Town or Kruger National Park.
Getting Around For Families
Getting around in Johannesburg and South Africa generally is easiest with a private hire car. Excellent highways connect the cities. If you’re not doing a great deal of travelling between destinations, public transport may be adequate, although it’s fairly limited and expensive. There are two major national bus operators and a good rail network.
Tanzania is much less developed and road conditions are variable. It’s possible to hire a 4WD and self-drive, but most visitors go between Arusha and the wildlife parks on scheduled domestic flights or charter planes.
What to Wear
While on safari you should wear comfortable, casual clothing such as shorts, tracksuits, cotton trousers or loose skirts. A jacket is a good idea for night drives, especially in winter when warm clothing at night is essential. Hiking boots are not necessary, but wear comfortable, sturdy walking shoes. A hat and sunscreen are extremely important as is the liberal use of mosquito repellent.
In South Africa you can wear clothes similar to what you wear at home. Cape Town can be quite cool in Winter, so be sure to pack warm clothing. Dress standards are conservative in Tanzania. Wear light, casual clothing and dress modestly to avoid causing offence to the locals.
Population
South Africa has a population of approximately 43,800,000. It is a culturally diverse nation home to Africans (79.4%), Europeans (9.3%), mixed-race or “coloureds” (8.8%) and Indians/Asians (2.5%).
Tanzania has a population of approximately 29,000,000. Tanzania’s population is made up of over 120 tribal groups, and none of these groups comprise more than 10% of the population. Despite this, or perhaps because of it, Tanzania has remained one of the most peaceful African nations. The most numerous groups are the Sukuma of Lake Victoria, Chaaga of Mount Kilimanjaro, Nyamwenzi of Tabora, Hehe of Iringa and the Gogo of Dodoma.
Culture/Religion
In South Africa most inhabitants profess Christianity of some form and belong to either Catholic, Anglican and other protestant denominations, Afrikaner Calvinist churches or African independent churches. There are also significant Hindu, Muslim and Jewish communities, and traditional beliefs are still practised widely, sometimes in conjunction with Christianity.
The most prevalent religion in Tanzania is Christianity, with Islam being widely practised near the coast, particularly on the islands of Zanzibar and Pemba. Tanzanian are welcoming and generous people, however the culture is quite conservative, particularly in Muslim areas, where it’s important to dress modestly to avoid causing offense.
Language
English is an official language in South Africa along with 10 other languages. The most commonly spoken language besides Afrikaans, a south Germanic language based on 17th and 18th century Dutch dialects. Afrikaans by 60% of white South Africans and around 90% of “Coloureds” or mixed-race South Africans. The other official and unofficial languages spoken in South Africa are native African languages.
Tanzania is home to over 120 ethnic groups, each one speaking their own language, but the national language is Swahili. English is widely understood in urban centres. While on safari your guides will speak English but if you’d like to spend some time in Tanzania outside the Arusha and the National Parks it’s helpful to know a few basic Swahili words and phrases.
Hello - Jambo
Goodbye - Kwaheri
How are you? - Habari?
Good! - Nzuri!
What’s your name? - Wewe unaitwaje?
My name is… - Ninaitwa….
Pleased to meet you - Nimefurahi kukujua.
Thank you - Asante
I don’t understand - Sifahamu
How much is this? - Hii ni bei gani?
What is this? - Hii ni nini?
Where is the bathroom? - Choo kiko wapi?
Time
South African Standard Time is GMT+2 which is eight hours behind Eastern Standard Time.
Tanzanian local time is GMT+3, seven hours behind Eastern Standard Time.
Currency
South Africa – the unit of currency is the Rand (ZAR), divided into 100 cents. $1AUD equals roughly 5 ZAR. Credit cards are widely accepted in South Africa and ATMs are plentiful in cities and towns.
Tanzania – the local currency is the Tanzanian shilling (TZS). $1AUD equals roughly 955 TZS. Major hotels and tour companies/game lodges usually accept credit card – elsewhere in Tanzania plastic is not widely accepted. Bring travellers cheques or US dollars which can be converted at banks, money changers and some hotels.
Tipping
It is customary to tip taxi drivers, porters, waiters approximately 10% of the charges. The lodge staff and your safari driver will appreciate a tip of up to US$10 but tipping is generally at your discretion and is not actively encouraged.
Electricity
In most of South Africa the standard power source is 200/230 volts AC and three-pint round plugs are in use. Tanzania uses 230V, 50 cycles, AC. Plugs and sockets can vary but are usually the three-square-pin (British) or two-round-pin varieties. Adaptors are available in Africa at most major airports.
Health Precautions
There is a risk of malaria in both Kruger and the Serengeti. You need to consult your GP prior to departure on the best anti-malarial drugs for your family. Insect repellent is essential while on safari, day and night. Tanzania is considered a Yellow Fever zone and a Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is required to enter the country.
Your doctor can advise you of other recommended vaccinations. Make sure you make an appointment with your doctor a few months before you leave, to allow time to complete any booster shots. Because of the malaria risk, pregnant women and very young children are advised not to travel to Kruger and Serengeti National Parks.
 Tap Water
In South Africa tap water is generally considered safe in urban areas but not so elsewhere. Your game lodge will provide plenty of drinking water during your stay in the National Parks.
Drinking the tap water in Tanzania is not advisable. When you’re not on tour, stock up on plenty of bottled water.
Passport and Visa
Australian citizens do not require a visa to enter South Africa. Australians can obtain a visa for Tanzania on arrival or can pre-purchases one prior to departure. There is no embassy or consulate for Tanzania in Australia but the High Commissioner of Kenya is accredited to Tanzania.
HWK Family Travel Tips
The big question parents ask about going on safari with kids is “how safe is it?” Going with an organised tour, rather than travelling independently is a safer option for families as you’ll be travelling with experienced guides whose duty is to reduce the risk to travellers, and you’ll avoid the risk of getting lost. Game viewing is usually done in an open vehicle, as well as a few guided tours on foot. Your guide will prepare you with a safety talk before you begin your tour. Of course, wild animals can be dangerous, but as long as you adhere to you guides safety instructions, there is very little to worry about. If you’re doing a self drive tour, observe speed limits and drive carefully to avoid collisions with the wildlife. And unless you’re safely inside one of the rest camps, please – don’t get out of the car. | 
For any child who loves animals, any youngster who is fascinated by Animal Planet or thrilled by The Lion King, Africa is the one destination that fulfils their wildest dreams. For many grown-ups too, safaris, savannahs, mountains and jungles are the stuff of tall tales and legendary adventures. Taking your kids on safari will instil in them a sense of wonder and appreciation for nature and teach them to love, respect and care for our environment. 