Go2Africa reveals safaris will help close the UK's nature gap as 56% of kids learn about nature from screens, not real life

From Garden to Game Drive: Why Family Safaris Are Bridging the UK's Nature Gap

As summer holidays wind down, families aren't just unpacking, they're already dreaming up the next big trip. Family safari experts at Go2Africa say one adventure consistently tops that wishlist: a family safari. Official data also shows nature isn't just nice for kids, it's essential, and experts increasingly agree the earlier that connection starts, the more it grows.

Natural England's latest Children's People and Nature Survey found 93% of children say being in nature makes them very happy, while the number reporting a strong connection to the natural world has jumped from 44% in 2021 to 65% in 2025. Yet the same survey reveals a telling gap, children are more likely to learn about nature from a screen (56% via TV) than from actually being in it (42%).* It's a disconnect now drawing real policy attention, with the UK's new Natural History GCSE moving toward the classroom and its public consultation closing this September. The qualification's own emphasis on hands-on, real-world learning, spending time in actual habitats rather than reading about them, is exactly the experience Go2Africa's Africa Safari Experts say a family safari delivers at its fullest.

Experts at Go2Africa say a family safari is one of the most powerful ways to close that gap. With more than 25 years of first-hand experience designing African journeys, the team is challenging the assumption that safari is a teenagers-and-up experience, arguing it's one of the most rewarding trips a family can take, at any age and any stage.

Best Safari Spots for Every Kind of Family

Africa Safari Experts are seeing a clear shift toward experience-led family travel, and these destinations show just how differently a safari can work depending on who you're travelling with:

Victoria Falls River Lodge, Zimbabwe

Best for: first-time safari families

Wildlife is simply part of daily life at Victoria Falls River Lodge, elephants wander through camp, hippos call from the river, and every boat excursion becomes its own mini safari. It's ideal for families dipping a toe into safari for the first time because the wildlife comes to you, easing everyone in gently, and it pairs naturally with a visit to Victoria Falls itself, giving first-timers a headline landmark alongside the wildlife.

Somalisa Acacia, Zimbabwe

Best for: families with younger children

Home to one of Africa's most celebrated children's safari programmes, the Ngwana Club, Somalisa Acacia is built around hands-on activities designed to spark curiosity in young travellers under expert guidance. Its famous elephant pool regularly draws wildlife right into camp, so magical moments happen before a single game drive even starts, ideal for families whose youngest members need shorter attention spans catered for.

Nyamatusi Mahogany, Zimbabwe

Best for: teens and older kids

Teenagers often want adventure over observation, and Nyamatusi Mahogany delivers it. From guided walking safaris and canoeing to boating and fishing along the Zambezi let older kids actively engage with the wilderness rather than just watching it from a vehicle. It suits families whose teens are craving a more physical, immersive experience than a traditional game drive offers.

Thornybush Kamara House, South Africa

Best for: multi-generational celebrations and milestone trips 

As an exclusive-use villa, every meal, drive and activity at Thornybush Kamara House revolves around one family's schedule, not the camp's. Grandparents can rest while younger children nap, teenagers can stay out later, and everyone reunites for dinner, making it especially suited to family milestones (big birthdays, reunions) where privacy and flexibility matter as much as the wildlife.

"Africa has an incredible way of bringing families together," said Ashley Gerrand, Africa Safari Expert at Go2Africa. "When children are immersed in nature, curiosity takes over. They're asking why elephants communicate the way they do, how lions hunt, or why vultures matter. Every game drive becomes a conversation, and every guide becomes a teacher. These are the moments families remember.”

Four Tips for Planning a Safari the Whole Family Will Remember

Many parents still assume safari is best saved for the teenage years, but Go2Africa's Africa Safari Experts say that's not the case. Here are four tips for planning a safari the whole family, whatever their ages, will remember. 

1. There's no "right age" to start, it depends on the child

Many assume safari should wait until children are older, but some of the most memorable trips happen when kids are young. Age still shapes the itinerary: walking safaris are typically 16+, and some camps set their own minimum ages, from four to six. Matching camp to child is where expert guidance earns its keep.

2. Let the accommodation do the work of managing different ages

Multi-generational safaris are one of Go2Africa's fastest-growing requests, and the key is a set-up that flexes around everyone. Private guiding and exclusive-use villas, like Thornybush Kamara House, let grandparents rest while children nap and teenagers stay out later, before everyone reunites over dinner.

3. Build in downtime, not just game drives

A good itinerary balances high-energy wildlife time with slower, hands-on activities, especially for younger children or multi-gen groups. Farm-style stays, baking bread, milking cows, garden visits, give children a different connection to a place, closer to the "real habitats, hands-on learning" the UK's new Natural History GCSE is built around.

4. Loop in an expert before you loop in the kids

Talk to a specialist first to sense-check age restrictions, activity limits (walking safaris are often 16+) and pacing, before building excitement with the family. A simple step that avoids disappointment once everyone's invested in the trip.

Lauren Barnard, Africa Safari Expert at Go2Africa commented: "People often assume young children are too young to get anything from a safari, but that's not what we see on the ground. Even a three or four-year-old will remember the sound of a lion roaring at night, or the moment they spotted their first elephant. It might not be a memory in the way an adult experiences it, but it shapes how they see the natural world for years afterward. Every generation takes something different from time in the bush, and that's exactly why it works so well as a family trip." 

Ends

Editors notes

Methodology

*GOV UK (2026) The Children’s People and Nature Survey for England: 2025 update

About Go2Africa

Go2Africa is Africa's tailor-made safari specialist, based in Cape Town since 1998. With over 25 years of first-hand African expertise and trusted local relationships, our Africa-Based Safari Experts combine first-hand experience, specialist regional knowledge and trusted local relationships to help travellers experience the Africa that's right for them. We are home to 21 Condé Nast Traveller Specialists, more than any other African safari company, and are also recognised by Condé Nast Traveller, Travel + Leisure and the World Travel Awards. As part of the B Corp-certified Nawiri Group, we generate funding through travel and long-term partnerships, then work alongside trusted local organisations on initiatives that strengthen landscapes, support livelihoods and help people and wildlife thrive together. 

https://www.go2africa.com/