Itineraries. Updated November 2026. 5 min read.
Kids do not want a safari. They want to feed a giraffe, see a lion yawn, sleep in a tent and swim. This trip is built in that order: the easy wins first, the adventure in the middle, the big animals when they are ready for them, and the pool at the end.
Our sample family route runs 10 nights: two in Nairobi, two at Lake Naivasha, three at a family camp in a Maasai Mara conservancy, and three on Diani Beach. In mid-range camps and hotels it starts at about $3,800 per adult and $2,600 per child under 12, sharing with parents, excluding international flights. It is a sample route we tailor to your family, not a fixed departure, and every drive is in a private vehicle, because that is the single biggest thing that makes safari work for children.
Why this order works for children
Nairobi comes first because jet-lagged children need short, brilliant things: a giraffe taking a pellet from their hand at the Giraffe Centre, baby elephants at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust nursery, and a night in a tented camp inside Nairobi National Park, where the first lion may be visible from the road with the city skyline behind it. No long drive, no 5am start.
Naivasha comes second because children need to move. On Crescent Island you walk among giraffes, zebras and wildebeest with no predators about; at Hell's Gate you cycle past zebras and buffalo; and at night, hippos come out of the lake to graze the lawns, which your guard will show you with a torch. Then the Mara, for three nights, when everyone has slept and is ready for longer drives. And Diani last, because a pool and a beach are the reward every child will remember, and because parents need rest too.
Which ages this trip suits
| Ages | How this route works for them | Read next |
|---|---|---|
| Under 6 | Works with shorter drives and the right camps; some camps set minimum ages, so we choose carefully | Safari with toddlers |
| 6 to 11 | The sweet spot: old enough for game drives, young enough to be amazed by everything | This page |
| 12 to 17 | Add a walking safari, a bush skills morning or a Mara bike ride; teenagers like being trusted | Family safari with teenagers |
| Grandparents too | Ask for a room near the main area and an extra vehicle if the group is large | Multigenerational safari |
Family camps, age limits and the private vehicle
Each camp sets its own rules for children, and they vary widely: some welcome any age, many luxury camps take children only from 6 or 8, and some only from 12. For the Mara we look first at camps that are set up for families, such as Basecamp, Porini and Kicheche, and check each one's current policy for your children's ages before we book. Family tents, connecting rooms, early dinners and a guide who enjoys children matter more than thread count.
A private vehicle is how we run every family trip. It means you decide when a drive ends, you stop for a toilet or a snack when you need to, and no one in a shared vehicle sighs when your six-year-old asks a question for the tenth time. It also means bush breakfasts on the plains and short drives of two or three hours instead of all day.
What children cost
| Cost | For children | Our note |
|---|---|---|
| Maasai Mara reserve fee | Free for young children; $50 a day for ages 9 to 17 | Adults pay $100 a day January to June and $200 July to December |
| Kenya Wildlife Service parks | About half the adult rate | Nairobi National Park, Hell's Gate and others |
| Camps and lodges | Reduced rates for children sharing with parents at many camps | Policies vary; we show each one in your quote |
| Our sample price | From about $2,600 per child under 12 | Against about $3,800 per adult |
Health, safety and car seats
- Malaria: children's malaria tablets are dosed by weight, so take each child's current weight to your travel clinic, and start them on the day the clinic says
- Sun: Kenya sits on the equator and much of it is high; hats, long sleeves and high-factor sunscreen every day, even when it feels cool
- Car seats: not every vehicle has child-seat anchor points; tell us your children's ages and we plan seats for the transfers, and many families bring a light travel booster
- Paperwork: every child needs a passport, a Kenya eTA and Kenya's $44 inbound health insurance, and a consent letter if they are not traveling with both parents
- Food: lodge kitchens are used to children and will make plain pasta, rice and eggs; tell us about allergies when you book
When to go, around the U.S. school calendar
Most families travel in the summer, and June to August works well: the weather is dry and cool, and the wildebeest usually reach the Mara from about late July, so a late July or August trip can catch the migration. It is also the busiest time, so book nine to twelve months ahead. The winter break is the other window: late December is dry and warm, with the coast at its best, but Christmas and New Year prices are the highest of the year and camps fill early. Spring break in March is green-season value in the Mara, though the long rains can start in late March. Thanksgiving week falls in the short rains, usually afternoon showers, and is quieter and cheaper.
Swaps and shorter versions
- Ol Pejeta instead of Naivasha: chimpanzees, rhinos and night drives, with a longer road day to the Mara
- Watamu instead of Diani: a quieter beach with a marine park, reached via Nairobi and Malindi
- Eight nights instead of ten: drop Naivasha and fly Nairobi to the Mara
- A Mara bike ride or a walk with Maasai guides for older children, where the conservancy allows it
What is included
- Airport pickup and every transfer on the route
- Ten nights in family rooms or family tents, full board in the Mara
- A private vehicle and Kenyan driver-guide for the road legs and the Mara, and the Mara to Ukunda and Ukunda to Nairobi flights
- Park and conservancy fees, the Giraffe Centre and Sheldrick visits, Crescent Island, Hell's Gate bikes and the Naivasha boat
- Our 24-hour support throughout
What is not included
- International flights
- Kenya eTAs, Kenya's inbound health insurance, vaccinations and travel insurance
- Optional extras: the Kisite dolphin dhow trip, a balloon flight (operators set their own minimum ages), a Maasai village visit
- Tips, premium drinks and personal items
How to book
Tell us your dates and your children's ages first, because the ages decide the camps. We tailor the route, check each camp's policy for your family, and send a written quote with adult and child prices and every fee listed. Fees and fares change, so we price on the day you ask. You can pay in full or monthly with no deposit, which helps when you are paying for four or five.
