Overland Travel in Africa with Small Children

How to Make Long Distance 4 x 4 Trips with Young Children in Tow

Nov 30, 2008

Overland Africa travel is fascinating and rewarding but can be tough for young children who have to sit still in the car for hours at a time.

Having young children does not mean the end of adventure travel in the continent of Africa. The entire continent can be traversed with many adventurers making the trip down the East Coast of Africa, from Cairo to Cape or travel in North or West Africa.

Short Overland Trips in Africa

Of course, shorter trips taking in only one or two countries at a time is a wise option for very small children and babies. Several countries in Africa do have an excellent infrastructure and are geared towards tourism, such as Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Botswana and Namibia.

A shorter trip could be started in Kenya in East Africa, for example, with trips to the beaches in Mombasa and a few game reserves en route which would provide the average family with plenty of fascinating things to see and do. South Africa has a plethora of tourist options and is often referred to as 'a world in one country' with game parks, mountains, excellent beaches and reasonable hotel and food prices.

In many of these places and a 4 x 4 vehicle is not necessary, however, if there is no tour operator involved it is best to do thorough research on the exact locations and places to be visited.

Long Overland Trips - Africa North to South

Traveling with children means planning very well and allowing for more time. Take the best part of a year or even longer if funds allow, to slowly meander down through the different countries to take in the sights. Choosing the right car is essential, since breakdowns will likely occur on bad roads.

There are tour operators who offer overland Africa trips, but these do not usually include children, they usually cater for young adults so the best way to travel in Africa with kids is to get kitted out in Europe with a reliable 4 x 4 vehicle and everything needed for the trip.

A typical long distance overland trip would start in Egypt and then traverse Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa. It is a good idea to travel in convoy if possible, especially through Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia.

Home Schooling On Long Overland Trips

If kids are of school-going age and the trip is expected to take several months, some time must be scheduled to keep up with their basic schooling. There are plenty of home-schooling curricula that can be bought and tailor made to keep up with the basics. It is a good idea to stop in one place for a week or two at a time before long distance bursts of travel so that the children can catch up with their schooling.

Of course as far as geography, animal studies, social sciences, history and arts and culture goes – the trip itself will provide an educational experience that not many kids will be fortunate enough to experience.

Take the time to meet the local people, engage in some volunteer activities in the different African countries and allow the children to play with local children for the enrichment that such an experience will provide. They will never forget it, since they will be ‘doing’ as well as ‘seeing’. In addition to curricula, take some sketch pads, painting and drawing gear, lightweight books for long trips, scribble pads, one special toy or favorite item - none of these need take up much room and all can be shared with others, which can make for some great cultural exchanges.

African game viewing can be a fascinating exercise for adults but children will quickly become bored. Try the following to keep them interested:

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