Taking Children on a Kruger Safari: Age Limits, Costs & Family Planning Guide

One of the greatest things a parent can do for their child is to cultivate and nurture their child’s love for nature.

While the world is seemingly being pulled in a direction that takes them away from the wild, raising children who are in some way rooted in nature not only keeps them grounded as they grow up, but it can also ignite a lifelong passion for conservation.

Hiking and spending time outdoors is one way to nurture their connection, but one of the best ways to both encourage their interests and make the happiest memories together is to take them to the Kruger National Park.

Proclaimed in 1926, for the last 100 years the Kruger has welcomed travellers from all over the world and in many cases, travelling groups have included families with children of all ages.

The park is an unforgettable place for a family holiday, but when travelling with the little ones, there’s always going to be some extra planning involved.

In this guide, we’re going to share everything you need to know about taking children on a Kruger safari, so that you are well-prepared, from the first game drive to the idle hours in between.

Can you take children on a Kruger safari?

One of the earliest memories I have as a child is travelling on the dusty roads of the Southern Kruger. As a South African living so close to the park, weekend safaris were the norm, and by the time I was 8, I had seen most of the park’s inhabitants and stayed in most of the camps.

The park became a defining part of my childhood, and to this day, it is responsible for my interest in wildlife and also for my concern about the future of the animals and the park.

You can certainly take children on a Kruger safari, and there is a growing number of Kruger National Park tour packages that are especially accommodating to those travelling with children.

A Kruger safari with kids does need a little more planning than a couple’s weekend away, but nothing about it needs to feel complicated when you know all that you need to know about the basics, like age limits, malaria precautions, and how long the young ones can comfortably sit still.

Any age can visit the Kruger, but the park has a strict no open vehicle safari policy for children aged 0 to 3. Understandably, such safaris are not suitable for babies, because of safety reasons and also for the fact that open vehicle safaris can take place over a couple of hours.

The Park is also within a malaria area, so you’ll need to keep that in mind and make sure that you take the necessary precautions. Spending hours and hours on the road, especially if you are having an unlucky day and not seeing much, can get tedious and soon the little ones will be fidgety.

And is the Kruger safe for children? For most families, it absolutely is, provided you take some sensible precautions, as you would on any trip.

What is the Minimum Age for a Kruger Game Drive?

The Kruger has its own rules, as we mentioned above, and so do the various tour companies.

For most tour operators, 8 years old is the age most commonly set for children joining a shared open-vehicle game drive, mostly because younger children can struggle to stay still for the 4 to 6 hours spent on a game drive.

On a shared vehicle with 10 guests, for instance, the patience and peace and quiet needed to track animals becomes a lot harder to maintain when there are very young children aboard.

Having an age limit protects both the family’s experience and everyone else’s.

For Kurt Safari’s own scheduled group safaris (safaris that run with other travellers), children need to be at least 8 years old.

This does not mean that families with younger children wanting to go on a Kruger safari are without options.

Private family safaris, arranged for one household or group only, give you a safari that is entirely yours; your guide is free to slow down, he or she can answer all of your questions, and they will often be able to design the drive to be a little more flexible, so should the children on board become a little bit restless, the guide can make an impromptu stop, something they might not be in a position to do with a group tour.

Walking safaris are also an option, but children will need to be 12 and older to be involved with such a trip.

Most operators, Kurt Safari included, set the minimum age for guided bush walks at twelve, reflecting the closer proximity to wildlife on foot and the sustained concentration the activity demands.

Private Vs Shared Safaris for Families

A private safari is the ultimate luxury, while a shared safari can be something of a communal adventure.

For families wanting more control and the option to linger longer at a sighting, Private Luxury Safaris are absolutely worth every cent spent.

And for families who’d like a bit of camaraderie, and who enjoy comparing notes and reliving the day’s sightings over dinner with their fellow guests, a shared safari is the better option. It’s also a great choice if you are looking for a safari that has a lower price per person rate.

When you are planning on taking children on a Kruger safari, you need to think of the age of the youngest traveller, and how much your family wants the day to bend around them rather than the other way round.

This and the comparison below will help you decide between the two options for your family trip.

Honestly, there is no wrong choice here, because like with all safaris, the best choice will be the one that suits your family and gives them the very best memories of their holiday.

How much does a family Kruger safari cost?

It is difficult to give you an exact price because every operator will have their own way of working out the rates.

So we’ll give you a general idea of what our rates look like.

Kurt Safari’s shared 3 Day Kruger Park Safaris and 4 Day Kruger Park Safaris have typically started from around $800 to $1 300 per person, and this rate covers accommodation, most meals, transfers from Johannesburg, park fees and the game drives.

A fun fact about our game drives is that we are one of the few operators who aim to give guests as much time in the park as possible. Our drives will give you between 8 and 10 hours in the park, travelling through the most wildlife-abundant areas, giving you the opportunity to see the Big 5 and more.

International flights, travel insurance and gratuities are not included in the price, and you’ll find that these costs are excluded from most tours, regardless of the operator.

It is always best to get a personalised quote for the Kruger Safari Packages you are considering, rather than trusting what you find on the web. This is the only reliable way to know the real number for your family’s size and desired travel dates.

These days, many Kruger safari companies, and even some of the surrounding lodges, have a Kruger safari child discount, with children under a certain age charged around half the adult rate.

Kurt Safari’s scheduled tours are priced per person from age 8 upward.

How Long Should a Family Safari Be?

For a first Kruger safari with kids, 3 to 5 days is a good amount of time. It is long enough to settle in and get used to the early starts, and short enough that nobody, adult or child, reaches the point of safari fatigue.

It can also help to look for packages that include a free day or a day spent doing something entirely different.

Back-to-back game drives can wear thin for younger children by day 3, and breaking the pattern with a Panorama Route excursion gives children something else to see.

Families with more time, or who’d like a slower pace, can look at a 5 day trip, which tends to widen the range of terrain and wildlife seen along the way too.

The 5 Day Safari Packages suit this particularly well.

What Documents Do Children Need to Travel To South Africa?

The paperwork for travelling with children to South Africa is much simpler than it once was.

Since November 2019, foreign children travelling with an accompanying parent are generally no longer required to carry an unabridged birth certificate at South African ports of entry, a change the Department of Home Affairs introduced specifically to ease family travel.

That said, airlines and immigration officials can vary in what they ask to see on the day, and requirements can change depending on whether both parents are travelling, whether surnames match, or whether a child is travelling with only one parent or another relative.

Sometimes it is best to bring along a copy of the child’s birth certificate, along with written consent from any parent not travelling, and you should confirm the current requirements with the tour company, the airline or South Africa’s nearest diplomatic mission a few weeks before departure.

A passport valid for the full length of the stay, with at least one blank page for entry stamps, is essential for every traveller.

Family-Friendly Accommodation on a Kurt Safari

At Kurt Safari, we use a lodge outside of the park, in the tourist town of Hazyview.

Our Hazyview base gives children the freedom to move between the pool and the dinner table without needing an escort to protect them from a noisy vervet monkey!

Family safaris booked through Kurt Safari will usually stay at the upmarket Umbhaba Eco Lodge, which is close to at least 2 of the park gates, allowing for early morning game drives that don’t have to start with bleary eyes.

Interleading and family rooms are available on request, air conditioning takes the edge off the Lowveld heat, and reliable Wi-Fi means you can spend the evening uploading the day’s photographs, so that your friends and family back home can stay up to date with your trip.

Take Your Little Ones Someplace They’ll Remember Forever

Once you know the right age, season and safari style for your children, the next step is finding the package that fits. Have a look at our range of family-friendly Kruger Park safari packages to find a shared departure suited to your children’s ages and your budget.

If your little ones are younger, or you’d simply rather have the vehicle to yourselves, our signature tours can be put together entirely around your family’s preferences, right down to the nap times.

Continue Planning Your Kruger Safari

• Best Time to Visit the Kruger National Park
• What to Pack for a Kruger Safari
• Guided Safari vs Self Drive in Kruger National Park
• Kruger National Park Map & Regions
• Big 5 Kruger Safaris

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a Kruger safari with kids safe?

For most families, yes. Kruger sits in a malaria area, and its game drives happen in open vehicles, both manageable with the right preparation: a pre-trip doctor’s visit, insect repellent, sun protection, and a lodge and safari style suited to your children’s ages.

What is the minimum age for a Kruger safari?

It depends on the type of safari. Kurt Safari’s shared scheduled departures ask for a minimum age of 8, while private family safaris have a fixed minimum of 3 and can be shaped around younger children at the guide’s discretion.

Do children need malaria tablets for the Kruger?

Not necessarily, and it depends on their age, weight and the season of travel. This is a conversation for a doctor or travel clinic, ideally four to six weeks before departure, alongside non-medical precautions like repellent and covered clothing after dusk.

How much does a family safari to the Kruger cost?

Kurt Safari’s shared 3 or 5 day departures have typically started from around $800 to $1,300 per person, excluding flights. Private family safaris cost more, reflecting exclusive use of the vehicle and guide, and are quoted individually.

What is the best time of year for a family safari in the Kruger?

The dry winter months, roughly June to August, are widely favoured for family travel. Thinner vegetation makes wildlife easier to spot, mosquito activity drops considerably, and the cooler days suit long game drives better than the height of summer.