Can children join your Kruger Park safaris?
Yes. Children aged eight and older are welcome on Wild Wings' shared three-, four- and five-day Kruger Park safaris. Families with children under eight should contact us about a private departure: a safari with their own Wild Wings guide and safari vehicle, rather than sharing game drives with other guests.
We'll discuss your children's ages, routines and needs to work out suitable arrangements.
South African National Parks, usually called SANParks, manages Kruger National Park. Our safaris operate within its rules, and SANParks rangers conduct certain additional activities, including the bush walk and night or sunset drive on our five-day safari. These activities have their own minimum ages, which also apply when you book a private safari with Wild Wings.
This advice covers our own guided departures inside Kruger National Park. Private game lodges have their own child policies.
Why do children under eight need a private departure?
Our guides excel at bringing together people with different interests and levels of safari experience. An enthusiastic birder on their tenth safari and someone hoping to see their first elephant can happily share a vehicle. Knowing when to linger, explain something or move on is part of good guiding.
With younger children, the practical needs can be different. A later start, shorter drive or earlier return to camp might make everyone's day considerably happier.
A private departure gives your family more freedom to make those adjustments, including spur-of-the-moment changes when someone needs a nap, a snack or a break. Your guide can work with you on drive lengths, comfort stops and meal timings without having to balance those decisions with other guests' plans.
Before booking, tell us your children's ages, food preferences, usual routines and anything that might affect their comfort or enjoyment. Are they fascinated by birds? Nervous around animals? Likely to need an afternoon nap? We can discuss the practicalities with you and brief your guide before you arrive.
What should parents know about our safari vehicles?
Our open-sided safari vehicles are regularly inspected by SANParks. They have shade canopies, protective side panels built to specified dimensions and a seatbelt at every seat. These features work alongside seatbelts, parental supervision and the guide's instructions.
Parents are responsible for organising a suitable child seat or booster seat for younger children; Wild Wings does not supply these. Please discuss the arrangements with us before booking.
Everyone must remain seated and follow the guide's instructions, adults included. Many animals are accustomed to safari vehicles and will continue their normal activities while we watch. Standing up or leaning out changes the vehicle's familiar outline; sudden movements and shouting can alarm wildlife and change the encounter.
Your guide will explain the ins and outs of safari etiquette during your pre-safari briefing. Please listen, and help your children do the same. We're visitors in a wild habitat: giving animals space and treating them with respect helps keep everyone safe and allows wildlife to go about its day undisturbed.
Parents remain responsible for supervising their children on drives and around camp. Never approach, touch or feed wildlife, including the monkeys that may take an interest in your snacks.
Can children join the bush walk on the five-day safari?
The SANParks-guided bush walk included in our 5-Day Best of Kruger Safari has a minimum age of 12.
The SANParks ranger has the final say on participation. A child may meet the age requirement but still be declined if, for example, their physical size makes the walk unsuitable.
If your child cannot join the walk, they go on a morning game drive with an accompanying parent and our Wild Wings guide instead. This is our standard arrangement for guests who can't participate in the bush walk or would prefer a game drive.
If you and your child would enjoy stretching your legs and exploring the fenced rest camp, ask your Wild Wings guide about a short walk together. Our guides love sharing the smaller discoveries too: tracks, insects and birds can all reward a closer look. They'll let you know what is possible around the day's arrangements.
Can children join the night or sunset drive?
Our five-day safari includes an additional SANParks-operated night drive in summer or sunset drive in winter. The minimum age for either is six, and you can choose whether to participate.
In summer, your Wild Wings guide prepares an early dinner so those joining the night drive can eat before leaving.
In winter, the regular afternoon game drive is shorter to get everyone back in time for the SANParks sunset-drive departure. Guests return at around 18h30 for dinner.
Children who can't join remain at camp with a parent or responsible accompanying adult. They still have the regular Wild Wings game drives to enjoy, and camp is part of the safari too: birds to watch, monkeys to observe from a sensible distance, and time around the fire while dinner is prepared. Some camps also have river views.
How do your guides involve children?
Our guides love questions, from children and adults alike. They adapt their explanations to the people on board, sharing stories, wildlife facts, games and humour that help everyone engage with what they're seeing.
Tell your guide what interests your child. A dung beetle moving its load, a chameleon or a set of tracks can spark a whole conversation. There's plenty to discover between the larger wildlife sightings.
If your child is worried about something, mention that too. Understanding what's happening can make an unfamiliar experience more comfortable. On a private departure, your guide also has more freedom to adjust the pace when tiredness sets in or interests change.
Do children receive a discounted rate?
Children aged 8–11 pay 60% of the adult rate on our scheduled Kruger safaris. Children aged 12 and older pay the adult rate. Private departures for families with younger children are quoted separately.
When you enquire, give your Africa Safari Specialist your children's ages at the time of travel, accommodation needs and dietary requirements. Tell us what you're hoping for and anything you're unsure about. That helps us work out the arrangements with you.
For other destinations and safari types, see our general guide to age restrictions for children on safari.
What families say about our Kruger safaris
A private safari with children aged nine and eleven
"It was special having the vehicle to ourselves, and our kids felt completely free to be themselves and ask as many questions as they wanted!"
Family travelling in July 2024 · Read the full Tripadvisor review
A five-day safari with a ten-year-old
"Our daughter also enjoyed looking through the animal guide book provided to us by our safari guide. She was interested in checking off all the animals we found in the book."
Family travelling in April 2019 · Read the full Tripadvisor review
Planning a Kruger safari with your children?
Tell us their ages, what they enjoy and any practical needs. Our Africa Safari Specialists will help you work out the right arrangements for your family.
