A Botswana Safari with Children: The Best Lodges With Kids’ Programmes

Planning a Botswana safari with children can feel intimidating. You want the wild, unspoiled scenery of the Okavango Delta or the Chobe River, but you also need to know that your little explorers will be safe, engaged, and – most importantly – welcome.

Just imagine your little ones exploring the wilderness of Botswana, learning about the bugs that chirp in the night, or their first time seeing a towering giraffe reach for the succulent leaves at the top of an acacia tree.

Gone are the days when a family safari meant dragging a bored toddler on an overly long game drive. Today, Botswana’s premier lodges offer specialised kids’ programmes that go far beyond a simple playroom.

From bush pizzas to spoor tracking (animal tracks) and arts and crafts, these lodges prove they truly understand how a Botswana safari with kids is designed to bring families closer together through shared wonder.

Here is our list of the top safari lodges with kids’ programmes for the ultimate Botswana safari with kids.

Shinde Footsteps – Young Explorers Programme

Located on the northern edge of the Okavango Delta in the Shinde Private Concession, Shinde Footsteps is a timeless safari camp and serves as a perfect base for your Botswana safari with kids. With just four tents – including a family en-suite with two bedrooms – it ensures a highly personalised experience.

The camp hosts the Young Explorers Programme, which caters to children aged seven and older. This educational programme provides hands-on, engaging activities like tracking, spoor identification, fishing, fire-making, and even mokoro trips – all led by a specialist family guide. Engaging and age-appropriate activities on a flexible schedule is the emphasis in order to create shared memories that will last a lifetime.

For the adults, Shinde Footsteps offers a relaxing base for exploring the famed, reed-lined channels and labyrinths of the Okavango Delta, with a mix of both land and water activities year-round.

You’ll gain in-depth knowledge of Botswana’s incredible wildlife before blissfully retiring to the comfort of your suite, where you might even spot a wandering herd of buffalo passing by.

Wilderness Vumbura Plains – Bush Buddy Programme

With its stunning location on the cusp of the wildlife-rich Moremi Game Reserve, range of activities, and spacious family suites, Wilderness Vumbura Plains might just be one of the best safari lodges in Botswana for families.

Their Bush Buddy programme is a complimentary, specialised programme designed for children aged six to 17. Kids in the programme have a dedicated staff member to mentor, entertain, and educate. Bush Buddies curate several activities for young ones, including tracking, nature walks, and crafts. This is paired with private vehicle bookings to allow families to set their own pace.

Wilderness Vumbura Plains accommodates up to four guests in two spacious en-suite bedrooms. The main bedroom has a large, sunken indoor lounge – perfect for maintaining that family connection and reminiscing about the day’s adventures.

Linyanti Ebony – Ngwana Club

Located in a remote, off-the-grid area in the Chobe Enclave, Linyanti Ebony is designed specifically with families in mind. It comprises three luxury tented suites and one luxury family suite and can also be booked on an exclusive-use basis – with a minimum of eight people – making it ideal for large multi-generational family trips.

With no age limit in the camp, their specialist guides are trained to tailor the experience to families with children of all ages. Their kids’ programme, Ngwana Club (Ngwana means “child” in Setswana), offers special safari activities for children, such as guided bush walks where they can search for the Little Five, identify birds, and learn about traditional plants. Other activities include storytelling and cultural discovery, cooking classes, and arts and crafts.

While these activities are specifically designed for younger children, kids aged 16 and older are able to partake in all of the main activities, like night game drives, mokoro safaris, and helicopter flights. With their family-first approach, kids’ programme, and no age limit, Linyanti Ebony is a dream destination for a Botswana safari with children.

Chobe Chilwero Lodge – Secure Location, Engaging Activities

For families seeking a blend of high-end luxury and modern comforts, Chobe Chilwero – perched high above the Chobe River – is a standout. Its name means “high view” in the local dialect, as it provides outstanding views of the river and the wildlife that frequents its banks. It evokes a country club vibe while still maintaining the wild factor of the legendary Botswana wilderness.

With three family suites comprising private terraces, adjoining rooms, and convertible beds, Chobe Chilwero is made with family connections in mind. This lodge stands out with activities designed to keep young minds entertained and engaged.

Children can join guided walking safaris within the lodge grounds (Chobe Chilwero is fully fenced), collecting pods, leaves, and seeds while learning about plant identification. This can be followed up with croquet on the lawn, while aspiring young chefs will delight in making their own pizzas.

Families can even embark on shortened game drives with a private vehicle, ensuring a fun and age-appropriate experience for the whole family.

Tailoring Your Safari to Your Family’s Pace

The greatest luxury isn’t the thread count of the linens – it’s in the flexibility to honour everyone’s needs. To ensure your Botswana safari with children is filled with joy rather than stress, here are some essential tips.

Required Documents

Botswana has strict entry requirements for minors. You must carry the original or a certified copy of each child’s unabridged birth certificate – which lists both parents’ names. If only one parent is travelling, you need a signed Parental Consent Affidavit from the non-travelling parent, along with a copy of their passport.

Private Safari Vehicles

A private vehicle for game drives can make all the difference. This arrangement is a given when booking a camp or lodge for exclusive use and is often required if you’re travelling with children under a certain age.

When booking a suite in a lodge, a private vehicle can often be arranged at an additional cost. It transforms the experience from a rigid schedule into a flexible adventure, allowing you and your family to return to camp at will, without disturbing other guests. Conversely, if the grandparents are determined to stay out late to track a leopard, or if the kids are mesmerised by a pride of lions, you have the freedom to linger as long as you like.

Health and Safety in the Wild

Unfortunately, most of Botswana’s prime safari areas are in malarial zones. Be sure to consult your doctor four to six weeks before your trip for child-safe prophylactics. In addition to taking medication, avoiding mosquito bites is crucial. Use DEET-based mosquito repellents and wear long-sleeved clothing. Most lodges in malaria areas also have mosquito nets to prevent infection.

Choosing the Right Time

• May to August (Dry Season): This is often the best for families. The weather is milder (less intense heat), malaria risk is at its lowest, and wildlife congregates around water, making sightings more frequent and easier for shorter attention spans.
• The Green Season (November to March): Ideal if your family loves baby animals and vibrant birds, though it is hotter and more humid.

Tip: Pack a small journal. Encourage your children to draw one thing they saw each day or stick in a feather (or any other souvenir) that they found. It becomes the ultimate keepsake of their first African adventure.

Start Planning Your Botswana Safari With Children

The beauty of a Botswana safari with kids is that it creates a shared language of adventure for your family – one that will be spoken about for years to come. Every detail, from the safety of the vehicle to the thrill of spotting the Little Five on a guided bushwalk, is designed to support connection and ease.

Ready to create these family memories? What story do you want to tell? Speak to one of our safari experts to start planning your perfect family adventure today.