Botswana with Kids: How we Traveled with toddler & Preschooler

Last Updated on Aug 27, 2024

When I decided to take my small children on a safari, basically every article on the internet told me that traveling to Botswana with kids younger than 6 years old was impossible, but realistically they needed to be 10 years old to go on a safari. Even numerous Facebook groups with experienced travelers claimed that it was a horrible idea and that my toddler and preschooler wouldn’t be allowed.

Let me tell you that all this couldn’t be more misleading! Botswana with toddlers or small children is possible and we had a blast. We met other families traveling with kids of similar ages and even a baby.

What is the minimum age for safari in Botswana?

There isn’t an age limit! National parks do not impose any age requirement. Only some lodges have age restrictions, but for every lodge that does, there are two that don’t.

Now, one can say “just because you can it doesn’t mean you should” and I agree. You know your kids best and while we were told that we could explore the Okavango Delta the best way to do so is on mokoro – dugout canoe. It moves because a person stands behind you and uses a pole that pushes and steers you through the winding Okavango. 

While amazing, I didn’t see my kids sitting on a tiny mokoro for hours without much movement, so we opted not to do that part. I do know someone who did it with kids 3 and 6 and no one said they couldn’t board the boat.

You need to use your own judgment on the child’s attention span, ability to stay quiet when asked around the animals, and their interests. The kids need to have the capacity to be in a 4WD or on a game walk for a couple of hours without driving everybody insane. Some kids can do this when they are 3 or 4 years old, others would be a nightmare at that age.

My kids are mature for their ages and they were 2.5 and 4 years old. As we did a few different lodges around many countries (here’s our itinerary btw), we originally planned on doing only a few game drives and potentially having the kids stay at kids club. However, by the time we got to Botswana we realized that they were very good at game drives and did them daily for a few hours.

Is it safe to take young kids on safari in Botswana?

It’s perfectly safe to bring children on a safari to Botswana, but at some camps you need to be mindful as they’re not fenced and animals wander in. It’s not unusual for an elephant to suddenly walk out from the bushes or hyenas to roam at night. Don’t let the kids roam free without supervision and you will be fine.

Do the Kids Need Malaria Pills?

Anti-malaria pills are easy to buy, but we all know that they can make some people feel uneasy, especially kids. Fortunately, most areas in Botswana are malaria-free as it’s far away from cities where the risk of infection is higher. Plus, if you travel during the winter the water levels will be low. Without standing water to breed in and the chill of winter in the air, malaria-carrying mosquitos are in the dormant stage either way.

Where to Go in Botswana with Kids

One issue that everyone quickly realizes when trying to book a safari in Botswana is that unlike in other countries – South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Tanzania, you cannot book many lodges on your own. You need a specific tour operator to help you book lodges.

Officially you can book them, but the lodges rarely respond unless you’re an African safari provider, which is weird.

You can self-drive in Botswana, but the driving distances are long and it’s not unusual for the lodges, including camping spots, to be full months in advance so you might get stranded and forced to camp outside of the lodge area which in Botswana isn’t the safest option.

However, you need to take into account that depending on the tour operator some might not take your kids when planning a safari. For example, driving distances between places in Botswana are long and while it might be possible to stay just 1 night at the lodge, it doesn’t mean that it should be the case as you will all end up being annoyed.

I can only say superior things about the Natural Selection safari operator. They are understanding and know what they are doing.

Botswana Itinerary with Small Children

The most recommended itinerary is to start in Victoria Falls (or Kasane) and end up in Maun. For the convince you’ll probably fly in and out of Victoria Falls internationally, so it’s easier to get a flight back from Maun.

That way, you can visit Chobe National Park, then drive through Nata, then check out Makgadikgadi Pan.

If your children are over 6 years old you can visit Okavango Delta at the end. Alternatively, there is an option to do a day trip from Maun and arrange babysitting for the children younger than 6 years old.

Chobe National Park with Kids

Chobe National Park is the most accessible place in Botswana with small children. Apart from one lodge that I know doesn’t accept any children, 90% of lodges welcome kids of any age. We saw a few babies and quite a several families in the park.

We stayed at Chobe Marina Lodge as it was one of the best options price-wise. The lodge was all-inclusive with all our meals included along with one activity a day (river safari or game drive). Naturally, you can book a second activity, but we were only there for two nights, so one a day was perfect.

Chobe did feel busy, but undeniably we saw an incredible amount of animals up close. Families aren’t required to book a private vehicle, which had some advantages in terms of price, but we were riding with other people so this posed different challenges. For example, we had one awful woman in our vehicle who kept arguing with the driver that we must switch with her because she demanded to get a side seat instead of the kids and kept complaining about how are the kids allowed, even though our kids were not doing anything and actually fell asleep for the ride back to the lodge.

I actually found out later that Chobe Game Lodge in Botswana was a slightly more family-friendly option, as it was right in the middle of the park and offered more vehicles.

Which lodges in Botswana take toddlers and small children?

Camp Kalahari, Makgadikgadi Pans

It’s a fantastic place with many activities like horseriding, ATVs, and most importantly: excursions to see the friendly meerkats. Between January and April, Africa’s second-largest migration as 50,000 zebra and wildebeest move through the area.

Elephant Sands, Nata

It’s a true bucket list place with elephants wandering around and coming to the watering hole. It’s a must-stop on your itinerary, but make sure to book in advance. They only have 10 rooms so certain dates are often booked half a year earlier.

Other Important Info About Traveling to Botswana with Kids

Botswana’s regulations require you to bring a certified copy of the full original birth certificate of the child you are traveling with. If your child is under 18, don’t forget it, because they do check it thoroughly at the border and airport and won’t let you in without it.