Posts Tagged ‘reference’
Fuzzy Meerkat
March 19th, 2010 Posted 8:50 pm
How to Keep Your Kids Interested on Safari
By its very nature, a Southern African safari is likely to keep your kids on the edge of their seats…for a period of time in any event. Up close and personal encounters with the weird and wonderful wild animals they have learnt about in books and on TV programmes will keep them intrigued initially but what happens if the novelty wears off?
There are a range of African safaris and game lodges catering specifically for children and these have to be given serious consideration before committing to a specific operator or wildlife destination.
Children have a brief attention span and after sharing the initial excitement of seeing the ungainly giraffe spread-eagle itself for a quick gulp of water or baby elephants gambolling together in the shade of a baobab, their interest can sometimes pall.
Create a game out of the game viewing
One way to keep your kids interested on safari is to create a game out of game viewing. Make a list of the possible sightings with rewards next to each animal and every time one of the children spots a lion for instance, they are duly rewarded. This will keep them keen and ensure no animal falls below their radar.
It is not always the Big 5 that attracts the most interest, however; it is often the little miracles in the bush that may well keep your kids enthralled for hours. Point out the different bird’s nests, for instance, and how they are made and, if you’re really patient (and lucky), you may catch a glimpse of adult birds teaching their fluffy chicks to fly – hugely entertaining.
Find a family of meerkats or monkeys with their young. Both animals are community-spirited, form groups of up to 50 members and are absolutely fascinating to watch. Each member in a clan of meerkats or mission of monkeys has a specific task and it is often remarkable to see how they perform their tasks regardless of the dangers involved.
Make use of age-specific excursions and activities
Don’t drag them along on extended game drives; rather arrange age-specific excursions or activities. The vast majority of Southern and East African safaris have supervised activities for kids to enjoy while their parents are on a long game drives that range from bush education to learning the basics of animal tracks to swimming competitions in the lodge pools.
Many lodges have dedicated enclosures for abandoned or sick animals that may be far more exciting for children. And if there are a couple of cuddly cubs or a fuzzy-headed elephant calf demanding attention, all the better!
Make sure they feel integral to the safari experience
Another great tip is to involve the children as much as possible in the total safari experience. Allow them to use their own binoculars and cameras for instance, and give them a check list of all the birds and animals found in the park and you may be surprised at their dedication and interest.
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