Safari with Baby: Everything You Need to Know
Before baby, safari may have sounded simple enough. There are early wake up calls, sure, but these are worth it when you consider the trade-off: unforgettable wildlife sightings and long, leisurely moments spent in nature. After baby though, the questions often multiply... Will the drives be too long? What about naps and mealtimes? Where will baby sleep? Is it safe?
Before baby, safari may have sounded simple enough. There are early wake up calls, sure, but these are worth it when you consider the trade-off: unforgettable wildlife sightings and long, leisurely moments spent in nature.
After baby though, the questions often multiply... Will the drives be too long? What about naps and mealtimes? Where will baby sleep? Is it safe?
And, if it's your first safari too, the idea of travelling into the bush with a baby can feel like a whole new level of unknown!
At The Royal Madikwe, this is exactly where thoughtful hospitality makes all the difference.
As a family-owned and managed lodge, we understand that travelling with little ones requires flexibility, reassurance and consideration for the seemingly smallest of details. From camp cots and baby baths in your suite to specially prepared purées and mealtimes adapted around your family’s rhythm, our team does everything possible to make safari feel surprisingly manageable.
Recently, we had the pleasure of welcoming American fitness personality Ally Love, her husband and their nine-month-old son. Known globally for her work with Peloton, Ally shared moments from her stay with an audience of nearly one million followers, many of whom were curious about what safari with a baby was really like.
“Safari with a baby was actually not hard,” Ally shared. “I could wear him in the BabyBjörn facing forward, and every time we went on safari I’d give him a bottle and he’d fall asleep when the vehicle started moving.
Then, whenever we stopped to see the animals, he’d wake up and take everything in: the grass, the fields, the beautiful skies… You could see how intrigued he was. He would take it all in and smile.”
Ally also praised the lodge’s family-friendly touches: “Not only did they have a baby crib and bath in the room, they also prepared fresh baby food like puréed cauliflower and butternut squash.
Depending on your baby’s age or what you request, they had everything ready at mealtimes and I thought that was just so helpful.”
Earlier this year, travel writer Janine Avery of 5 Star Stories also visited us with her two children, aged five and one. In her review, she noted that The Royal “actively embraces families” and creates the kind of safari where “parents can actually relax.”
That, for us, speaks to the heart of it all.
Our Private Villa Collection was designed especially with families in mind, combining luxury and exclusivity with a homely atmosphere. Each villa comes standard with a private safari vehicle and guide, which means your child’s age doesn't restrict the whole family from enjoying safari together. Need to return early for a nap? Spend longer at a waterhole because your little one is extra fascinated by elephants? Your safari can unfold entirely around your family.
Between the game drives, children are also welcomed into the rhythm of lodge life with age-appropriate activities and the freedom to discover their surroundings in their own way. As Janine described, the lodge offered “new surprises for us every day,” including bug collecting and wooden lizard decorating kits, footprint casting activities, thoughtful gifts and a fully stocked minibar with juices and refreshments always close at hand. Our team also organised a dedicated childminder for the family, who kept the kiddies happy and engaged while the parents could enjoy the rare luxury of uninterrupted rest.
We know that travel time matters too. After all, less time spent getting to your destination means more time settling into nature! Fortunately, guests can take the daily Federal Air shuttle flight from Johannesburg International to Madikwe's Western Airstrip, arriving around one hour later to a warm welcome from our guides Ernie or Greg. Private charter flights are also available for those wanting more flexibility, privacy and a greater luggage allowance.
And so, for all the mums and dads in doubt, a safari with baby really doesn't have to feel daunting! With the right setting, the right team and the right details in place, it can become one of the most meaningful family experiences imaginable.
More news
Vote and make us a 2026 World Luxury Hotel Awards Winner
We’re incredibly excited to be participating in the 2026 World Luxury Hotel Awards, an international awards platform celebrating excellence in luxury hospitality across the globe.
Celebrating the Women Behind the Magic for National Women's Month
Every August, South Africa recognises National Women’s Month as a way to honour the courage and collective strength of the women who helped shape our country’s history. It’s a month rooted in the historic march of 9 August 1956, when thousands of women made their way to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest against the extension of pass laws to women.
Matriarchs, Mothers & Makers of the Wild
This Women’s Month, we find ourselves looking not only to the phenomenal women on our team but also to the females of the wild, whose roles are woven into the very balance of the bushveld.