Discovering Your Child’s Nature: Hidden Benefits of a Family African Safari

As you’re planning an African safari, you will surely anticipate observing majestic wildlife from your safari vehicle, the thrill of having animals wander through your camp, and the gorgeous landscapes and vistas you’ll admire. One of the most rewarding and unexpected aspects of a family African safari, though, is the opportunity to see your children engage with this unique environment and its inhabitants.

For parents, watching your children encounter the animals, interact with locals, and discover new passions or hidden talents can be an experience that transcends the typical African safari adventure.

You—and they—may learn as much about yourselves as you do about the wildlife, conservation and different cultures you encounter on an African safari.

In a recent podcast episode synopsis, one of America’s favorite Moms, author Kelly Corrigan, shared her key takeaways including:

“We have to raise the kids we have, not the kids we wished we had and definitely not the kids we ourselves were.”

In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, it can be difficult to spot and nurture your child’s unique talents and interests. On a safari, though, there’s ample opportunity to introduce him or her to new ideas, skills, places, and people and watch what piques their curiosity and interest.

Here are some ways embarking on family adventures like African safaris can help parents discover their kids’ hidden nature.

Enjoy Varied Explorational Opportunities

Explorational is not a typo!  This isn’t so much education in the traditional sense as it is education through exploration. One Nat Hab guest, a father, wrote after a Nat Hab family African safari adventure,

“You cannot learn this sort of stuff in school.”

A family travel adventure presents opportunities to explore an incredible array of disciplines and interests in a remarkably short span of time: wildlife, hospitality, botany, conservation policy, cultures and languages, and different foods. You never know what will seize a child’s attention or pique curiosity.

Each child, just like every safari, is different:

• A stargazer’s camp on the eastern edge of the Kalahari desert could fuel a budding astrophysicist’s passion.
• Conservation and sustainability come alive as kids witness the challenges and threats facing wildlife and habitats and learn about the efforts and initiatives to protect them. Zoologists, veterinarians, and policymakers in the making are often full of questions for local guides and wildlife experts.
• Landscape, wildlife, and portrait photography opportunities abound for budding photographers.

Are you and your family considering an African safari? Test your knowledge with Nat Hab’s African Wildlife Quiz.

Inspire, fuel or discover your child’s passions & skills

On a trip, kids can try things out, play, explore, ask questions. Do you have a child who’s interested in wildlife, botany or conservation? A budding photographer or filmmaker? Maybe a future policymaker, philanthropist, or nonprofit leader?

My ten-year-old niece asked me just last month, “How do you know what you want to do or be?” What she was really asking was, “How am I supposed to know?”

Her father and I turned to each other and agreed: we’re not sure you ever really do know. And in this day and age, you may do or be more than one thing.

Here’s what I know for sure: exposure, exploration, experimentation, opportunities to play and ask questions—that’s how she’ll find what she wants to do.

Taking kids on family adventures can be a great way to expose them to different cultures, environments, and challenges that can spark their curiosity and inspire their future goals. Whether they are interested in photography, anthropology, public health, wildlife biology, botany or conservation, there is something for everyone to learn and enjoy on an African safari adventure.

• Photography: A safari offers countless opportunities to capture stunning images of landscapes, animals, plants, and people. Kids can practice their photography skills and learn from professional guides and photographers how to use different techniques, equipment, and settings to create amazing shots. They can also learn about the ethics and challenges of wildlife photography and how to respect the natural habitats and privacy of their subjects.

I will never forget watching filmmaker Kjell Redal go from rowdy teenager to focused photographer (and back again!) before our eyes on a 2011 safari in Botswana.

• Anthropology: A safari can also introduce kids to the rich and diverse cultures of Africa, from the ancient traditions of the Maasai and the San people to the modern lifestyles of urban populations. Kids can interact with local communities and learn about their history, language, religion, customs, art, music, and cuisine. They can also compare and contrast their own culture with those of others and gain a deeper understanding of human diversity and social issues.

On our family Botswana itinerary, a walking safari with local Kalahari bushmen reveals as much about their indigenous culture as the native plants and wildlife we observe.

For some kids, interactions with local culture and people are among the highlights of the trip. One grandmother shared that after a Nat Hab family adventure, both guides and staff spent time “teaching our grandkids local games, which they will share with their friends back home.”

• • Public Health and Policy: A safari exposes kids to the realities and complexities of public health and policy in Africa. Crossing borders from South Africa to Botswana to Zimbabwe and Namibia can highlight the differences political decisions make for wildlife and local people. Kids can witness firsthand the effects of proactive conservation policy, and also of poverty, conflict, and climate change on the health and well-being of people and animals. They can also learn about the efforts and challenges of local and international organizations and agencies to address these issues.
  • Wildlife Biology or Conservation: A safari can ignite kids’ passion for wildlife biology or conservation by allowing them to observe and learn about the amazing diversity of life in Africa. Kids can see animals in their natural habitats and learn about their behavior, adaptations, ecology, evolution, and challenges. They may be able to participate in citizen science projects and conservation activities that help protect endangered species and habitats. They can also discover the careers and roles of wildlife biologists and conservationists in the field.

• Botany: A safari can inspire kids’ interest in botany by showing them the incredible variety of plants that grow in Africa. Kids can see plants that are vital and unique to different regions and ecosystems, such as savannas, deserts, rainforests, mountains, and wetlands. They can learn about the characteristics, functions, uses, and importance of plants for people and animals.

Travel: For some kids, an African safari family adventure allows for fun planning, organizing, managing, and enjoying the trip. While some kids will not be interested in this part of the adventure at all, others will enjoy the preparation and anticipation almost as much as the trip itself. Kids can learn about the logistics, costs, and sustainability of travel to different destinations. They can also develop communication, teamwork, problem-solving, leadership, creativity, adaptability, and cultural sensitivity essential for travel.

Instill a Sense of Service

We often hear—and say—in conservation: people care for or protect things they care about. An African safari can be a transformative experience for a child, as it exposes them to the beauty and diversity of nature, as well as the challenges and opportunities of conservation. Family adventures can help raise the next generation of service-minded, empathetic travelers and conservationists.

Meeting locals and seeing endangered species in the wild, witnessing majestic wildlife, stunning landscapes, and the rich cultures of Africa may develop a deeper appreciation for ecological interconnectedness and a stronger sense of responsibility for protecting it.

A child who participates in service projects, such as helping local communities with education, health, or environmental initiatives, may learn valuable skills and gain confidence in their ability to make a positive difference. Interacting with other travelers, local guides, and welcoming hosts broadens horizons and respect for different perspectives and backgrounds.

These are some of the ways that an African safari could instill or cultivate a lifelong sense of service in a child, by inspiring them to care more about the world and its inhabitants, and to act on that care in meaningful ways.

Cultivate Connection Sharing Awesome Experiences

The impacts of sharing with your kids a guided poled mokoro (canoe) excursion in the Okavango Delta or a 4×4 wildlife drive with a picnic lunch in the bush or a quad bike adventure across the world’s largest salt pan are impossible to foresee—or explain to them in advance. One father said,

“How can you even explain to children what a safari like this is like? You can’t.”

What we do know is it does families—and kids—good. Dacher Keltner, author of Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life, has studied and taught about awe at UC Berkeley for more than 20 years. He reports that families bond over laughter and awe, two things in abundant supply on family adventures.

“Awe is the feeling of being in the presence of something vast that transcends your understanding of the world… The feeling of awe tends to overlap with other emotions, like wonder, bliss, or sometimes fear. But awe is the emotion that we feel when we encounter the vast mysteries of life that challenge and transcend our understanding of the world.”

Standing on the edge of the world’s largest falling sheet of water, Victoria Falls, or Mosi-oa-Tunya, “The Smoke that Thunders,” it’s difficult to feel anything other than awe. The same is true of spending quality time with an elephant herd on the Okavango Delta.

For me, the most memorable, truly awesome in the most literal sense of the word, moment of our Botswana safari was watching, from the window of a helicopter flightseeing tour, as a herd of giraffes ran free across the plain for as long as we could see them.

What impact does that kind of awe have on kids and families? Research shows:

• It builds connection. People act more generously and ethically, think more critically when encountering persuasive arguments, and often feel a deeper connection to others and the world.
• Awe prompts people to redirect concern away from themselves and toward others and nature.
• Remarkably, about 75% of the time, awe is elicited or induced by nature.

We don’t know if your son or daughter will become a teacher or a scientist or an artist. We do know that the awe you all experience on an African safari family adventure is a wonderful opportunity to discover your child’s nature.

Plan Your Family Safari

If you’re looking for an African Family Safari Adventure, in addition to the Botswana Family Safari Adventure, Nat Hab offers specially designed itineraries to:

• Kenya: This year-round, 8-day custom-crafted family safari showcases one of Africa’s premier safari countries and its legendary wildlife mecca, the Maasai Mara. On its vast savannas, great herds of wildebeest, zebra and gazelle graze. Elephants and giraffes roam the acacia woodlands, while lions and cheetahs lie in wait, stalking wary prey. Family-friendly luxury camps—many run and staffed by Maasai locals—provide a host of ways to explore Kenya’s wild landscapes.
• Tanzania: Have you dreamed of seeing wildebeest thunder across the Serengeti or the ancient caldera of the Ngorongoro crater—home to Africa’s densest concentration of wildlife? Then check out our family Tanzania adventures custom-designed just for you.
• Namibia: Vast, rugged, and off-the-beaten-path, Namibia offers an African safari adventure like no other. Namibia’s wildlife is extraordinary despite the country’s often forbidding desert environment. The vast salt pan and savannas of Etosha National Park teem with animals, many uniquely adapted to the arid climate, while the rocky wastes of the Palmwag Concession offer a chance to track desert elephants on this 10-day custom adventure.
• South Africa: From the bushveld of the interior to the rugged coast, on this 10-day custom family safari, you’ll explore a range of habitats, each home to a varied and fascinating collection of animals, from the famous Big Five to the African penguin. Exclusive safari locales, off-limits to typical tourists, offer a diverse slate of activities for all ages, including guided nature walks and night drives to seek out nocturnal wildlife—neither of which is allowed in public reserves.