The best things to do in Kenya with kids

21.11.2023 - 17:59 / lonelyplanet.com

Kenya is East Africa’s top choice when it comes to doing a wildlife safari with kids.

Prices are reasonable, Kenyan culture is very child-friendly, the weather is perfect and there is just so much to do. Whether it’s marveling at an elephant in Amboseli National Park, seeing giraffes up close on the outskirts of Nairobi, relaxing on white sand beaches around Watamu, bouncing along in a wooden donkey cart on Lamu Island, or learning about the Maasai community while exploring the Masai Mara.

If you’re considering an African adventure and are wondering how it will go over with your kids, don’t hesitate for a minute – it’s almost guaranteed that your children (and you) will love Kenya.

The short answer is: almost everything. Kenya is a wonderful destination for kids of all ages. With highlights ranging from sailing on a dhow(traditional sailboat) and spotting wildlife to trekking on Mt Kenya, your biggest challenge will likely be figuring out how to fit in everything you’d like to do.

In Nairobi, healthcare is excellent and supermarkets are well stocked, so you’ll have no trouble finding nappies, formula milk, bottled water and baby food.

While there are few child-specific amenities, some hotels and restaurants have baby-changing stations, and in places that don’t, it’s usually easy to find a quiet corner. The brightly-colored kanga, kikoi and other textiles that you’ll see everywhere are lightweight and handy to take along as a ground cover for baby-changing.

If you’re traveling with a baby, you can also use them as wraps to carry your teeny traveler, Kenyan-style, on your back – a much better option than a stroller, which isn’t practical due to uneven and often non-existent sidewalks in most areas.

For getting around, ride-hailing apps like Uber are a good choice in Nairobi and Mombasa, as are private taxis. Family-friendly options for traveling to destinations elsewhere in the country include arranging transport through your safari company, hiring a private car with a driver, or hiring a self-drive rental car.

If renting, don’t forget to confirm child seat availability in advance. For adventurous kids and parents, there are also long-distance buses, and – for travel between Nairobi and Mombasa (including stops for Amboseli and Tsavo parks) – there’s the train.

If you’re in Kenya for the wildlife, there’s no better place to start than Nairobi National Park, just outside the capital, before heading southeast and southwest to some of the larger parks.

There are so many spots to choose from for beaches and coastal fun, including around Wasini, Diani, Watamu and Lamu. History enthusiasts will enjoy the museums in Nairobi and Lamu. For active adventures, older teens may enjoy trekking on Mt Kenya, and then there’s