If you have children who know and love the animated classic, the Lion King, then a well-planned African family safari will no doubt be an adventure that the children will look forward to with eagerness. While there are many African safari tour guides who will not allow children under a certain age to join a safari, there are others who welcome the whole family warmly and will endeavor to provide special services to accommodate the entire group.

Some of the family-friendly services that are offered by African safari tour companies are baby-sitting, special menus to appeal to the kids, and specially trained guides for the family. Some family safaris will even make arrangements to have special children's activities, such as a bush treasure hunt, African-inspired crafts like bead-making, or bedtime stories told by authentic African storytellers.

Certainly, there are parents who worry about taking their children into areas where they have an increased chance of contracting a disease, such as malaria. But, there are a number of game reserves in South Africa which are considered safe. Another viable option is taking a "road trip" on well-kept roads in Namibia or South Africa, and enjoying a less structured type of family safari.

One of the challenges that parents might encounter during a safari is convincing a youngster, who loves to cuddle up with his favorite stuffed lion at home, that the mother lion preening her cubs cannot be petted or even approached. This can be one of the more difficult things to get across, especially for children who have never been on wildlife safaris.

Even with the challenges that are bound to come up, a safari for families is not only possible, but also great fun. As long as family wildlife safaris are undertaken safely and are conducted under the watchful supervision of an experienced safari guide, who knows how to handle and cater to the children in the group, they can be an experience that will provide lifelong memories.

Many parents who have never considered taking African safari holidays with their children in tow might be surprised to learn that family safaris are one of the most popular types of vacations for children, from the ages of four to eighteen. There are many African safari tour operators, African tourist bureaus, and adventuresome parents who have successfully undertaken various Africa safaris with their children and claim that is was the experience of a lifetime for the entire family.

If parents take their time in selecting the destination for a family safari carefully, and also take care in selecting a safari guide or African safari tour operator, then the chances are great that you and your children will have a wonderful holiday. One of the best ways to make sure you have the right safari travel company is to ask other parents who have gone on similar trips for their recommendations, so you can plan your trip with confidence.

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