Botswana Safari with Children

By safari specialist Wilder

Instilling a love for the natural world is one of the greatest gifts you could give your family. Having grown up in Botswana, I can confidently say that spending time in the bush has provided the most fun and impactful memories of my childhood.

The tented camps of the Delta are somewhere I was lucky to visit from a very young age and the memories I formed there have stayed with me ever since. Exceptionally well located and each offering something special and unique, these camps go back to basics while still providing all the touches needed to feel comfortable and secure, particularly reassuring for families embarking on their first safari with children.

Why is Botswana ideal for a family safari?  

For families with older children, looking to plan a safari holiday, Botswana has some of the best options out there. Some lodges offer thoughtful family packages where children stay for free or at reduced rates. Family game drives tend to be shorter and focus on wildlife-rich areas, whilst other activities are available too, such as quad biking, horse riding and meeting with habituated meerkats.  

Family friendly camps, like Little Machaba in Okavango or Camp Kalahari in Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, offer specifically youth-oriented activities: active tracking on foot safari, cultural bush walks with San guides, and even authentic bush camping, where sleeping under canvas and cooking on an open fire makes every day a formative experience that will stay with you for life.  

With a strong emphasis on accommodating multi-generational families, a trip to Botswana is a fantastic place to be for children 6 and above. At cazenove+loyd we specialise in tailor-made luxury safari, that will be sure to enthral the youngest bush adventurer and most seasoned safari travellers alike.  

Top three family safari lodges in the Kalahari Desert  

Camp Kalahari

Set against the vast, shimmering salt pans of the Makgadikgadi, Camp Kalahari feels remarkably timeless. Traditional Meru-style tents open onto an otherworldly landscape where zebra and wildebeest migrations pass within view, alongside an array of desert-adapted wildlife. Days are shaped by discovery: enchanting encounters with habituated meerkats, walks with San Bushmen who share their ancient wisdom, and horseback safaris across open horizons. It’s a place where generations gather, explore, and reconnect beneath endless African skies. 

Jacks Camp

Evoking the romance of a bygone era, Jack’s Camp blends mid-century elegance with the spirit of grand desert exploration. Persian rugs, campaign furniture and a cabinet-of-curiosities atmosphere create a retreat that feels both refined and adventurous. Families are warmly welcomed, with generous savings for children, while the camp’s intimate Natural History Museum sparks curiosity in explorers young and old. It’s sophisticated, storied and utterly distinctive. 

Dinaka

Intimate and inviting, Dinaka’s eight thatched safari tents offer a gentle introduction to the wild. Families are embraced through the Young Explorers Programme, where specialist guides bring the bush to life through tracking adventures, fireside storytelling and conservation games. Young adventurers leave not only with treasured keepsakes, but with newfound confidence and a deeper connection to the natural world. 

Top three family safari lodges in the Okavango Delta 

Little Machaba

Away from the Delta’s busier stretches, Little Machaba offers a quieter rhythm of safari. Wildlife roams freely, from the Big Five to abundant plains game, but it’s the winding waterways that truly enchant. Drift silently in a mokoro canoe or explore by motorboat, gliding past vivid birdlife, watchful crocodiles and pods of hippos. Here, the bush reveals itself in whispers rather than spectacle. 

Duba Plains Camp

With just five expansive suites overlooking sweeping floodplains, Duba Plains is both intimate and indulgent. Private plunge pools and uninterrupted views create a sense of serene seclusion. Families with children are welcomed into a safari experience that is as immersive as it is luxurious, with a Young Explorers programme designed to inspire curiosity and ignite a lifelong love of the wild. 

Barclay Stenner Moremi

My final selection earns its place through an extraordinary attention to detail and gift for hosting multi-generational families. Guided personally by its owners, each stay at Barclay Stenner Moremi is crafted with the utmost care and intention. From young adults to grandparents, every generation finds its rhythm sharing stories, sightings and still moments that quietly become family legend.  

Why choose c+l for your Botswana Family Holiday? 

cazenove+loyd was founded in Botswana more than 30 years ago. Our Destination Experts have spent their lives exploring Africa’s wild places, developing deep-rooted knowledge and long-standing relationships on the ground.

This expertise – combined with an insatiable passion for safari and conservation – allows us to craft journeys that go far beyond wildlife viewing. Each experience is thoughtfully designed to immerse you in Africa, creating memories that endure long after you return home.