Wilderness Safaris Bush Buddy Programme Enhances Family Safaris

Wilderness Safaris ’ Bush Buddy Programme has been carefully crafted to ensure that its experiential family safaris are not only exciting and entertaining, but also educational – inspiring future leaders to love and conserve the world’s pristine natural heritage.

“With the global trend of multi-generational travel on the rise, we believe that we, as a leading authentic and sustainable ecotourism company, have an important opportunity (and obligation) to not only expose our younger guests to the natural world, but to share it with them in a way that inspires them to love and respect it, and to ultimately become future custodians of our natural heritage”, said Wilderness Safaris Chief Operations Officer, Grant Woodrow.

As part of the programme, a Bush Buddy bag is handed out to all children, aged six to 12 years, on arrival at Wilderness Safaris’ family-friendly camps in southern Africa. The bag includes interesting safari keepsakes, such as a bug viewer, crayons, pen, branded hat and eco-friendly wind-up torch, as well as an activity-packed children’s booklet called ‘My Wilderness Journey’. This booklet was carefully designed to be an interactive and illustrative workbook that features a wealth of interesting and fun information about animals, plants and the wilderness to encourage younger guests to explore the natural environment that they are visiting. Interspersed with wonderful activities and games throughout, the three-part booklet also features a mammal and bird checklist and a map on which children can plot their journey.

Teenage Packs include a mini-Maglite torch and branded cap, and are given to all teenagers between the ages of 13 and 17. Children visiting North Island in Seychelles receive a Beach Buddy Bag, with a sun hat, water bottle, bat and ball, bucket and spade, material Frisbee and T-shirt.

“The Bush Buddy bags are obviously complemented by our dedicated staff who are trained to provide insightful information and fun family activities, as well as a well-rounded introduction to the bush – one that hopefully inspires them to make a difference to our world, especially once they return home”, Woodrow added.

Entertaining activities led by Wilderness Safaris guides subtly encourage children to learn about and fall in love with the wildlife and natural environment around them. Each family-friendly camp offers different activities suited to its own particular environment; for example, water activities characterise the wetter regions in the Okavango Delta, Botswana, while land activities mostly take place around Wilderness Safaris camps in Namibia. Children can also take part in various arts and crafts, often geared towards acquiring particular traditional skills; giving them the opportunity to learn about the local culture and customs, while still having fun.

Spacious family rooms are available at many camps to ensure that parents can sleep near their children without being too cramped in one tent. There are several styles of family rooms – some with shared facilities and others with separate bathrooms. Wilderness Safaris Journey Specialists are well equipped to ensure that the best family safari offering is matched to each specific enquiry.

Wilderness Safaris’ Child Travel Policy also makes its family safari offering both affordable and flexible. At all camps that have family rooms, children receive a 65% discount during off-peak season and a 35% discount during peak season. This reduced rate is applicable for children up to, and including, age 16 – if sharing with an adult in a family room, triple or twin.

Whatever the age and personal tastes of the children, the kaleidoscopic spectrum of activities on offer, as well as Wilderness Safaris’ well-trained staff and family-friendly accommodation, is guaranteed to ensure that a family safari is enjoyed by all.

Click here to read more about Wilderness’ Family Safaris.