Country Living in Southern Africa

Visiting Kruger National Park on a self-drive safari for the first time with your kids? Here are things I found handy to pack.

Whether you have visited Kruger many times before or never before, it is always different when you visit for the first time with your kids. I remember the first time we went as parents and even though I have been in Kruger many times before, going with child is different. If you frequently go and have some handy packing suggestions, please share them in the comments.

Packing can look a little different depending on the ages of your kids, but some things stay the same.

First on the list is snacks and drinks. Nothing spoils a drive like a kid being hungry or thirsty! This does not only keep their bellies full, but keeps them entertained too. Things like biscuits, fruits, dried fruits & biltong (dried & spiced meat/jerky) come in handy and are easy to pack. Never leave on a game drive without some refreshments in the car, even if you are just planning to go on a short drive!

Mosquito-repellant and malaria prevention. Kruger is a malaria area, so plan well ahead how you are going to tackle this. It is best to discuss your options with your doctor and make informed decisions on the prevention you will use for your family.

Pack some entertainment: boardgames, toys, pens & paper or notebooks, books. Think of things they can do in the car as well as in camp when you are not driving.

Swimwear and towels, most of the main camps in Kruger having swimming pools and it is nearly always good swimming weather. It is a great way to cool of and get rid of some excess energy.

A warm jacket and a beanie, especially if you are planning to book a nightdrive or guided morning gamedrive. The early mornings in the winter can be icy and even more so if you are driving on an open gamedrive vehicle. It might sound contradictory to the swimwear advice, but even the Lowveld can feel freezing at night.

Wildlife guidebooks. It is always a great idea to pack some guidebooks on mammals and birds. And if you have some off others like reptiles, scorpions, insects and plants it can be a wonderful addition to game drives and walks in the camp. There are so many very good guides to recommend, that I will need to a seperate blogpost on the topic. If you are looking for Kruger books for kids you can look at the storybook, We are going to Kruger National Park and for activities, checklists and a journal, Greater Kruger Activities and Journal.

An extra pair of binoculars or kiddies binoculars is wonderful to have. It is wonderful for kids to be able to see something close up or through binoculars. For little kids, cheap kids-binoculars is a great idea, they are just starting to use it and you don’t have to worry about them dropping the binoculars. For older kids you could look at the second-hand market for better quality binoculars or buy entry-level adult binoculars that are a bit cheaper. Read reviews and if at all possible go and test them at a store. Hold them in your hands, look through them and then decide.

Smart phones, tablets and devices with their chargers. This will all depend on how your family uses devices and whether you have a device for your child. I am not a fan of unlimited screen time. We have an extra device which my daughter may use as a camera at sightings and I have also loaded my Firefinch app for her, for identifying birds.

Comfortable shoes. You won’t be needing sturdy hiking boots, but most camps have some short walking trails and it is fun to explore the camp on foot. Walk along the perimeter to look for wildlife at the other side of the fence or look for birds and small animals in camp. At night, especially when camping, closed shoes are always a good idea.

A hat and sunblock. A sunburn can happen, even in the car when you don’t think of it and can get really uncomfortable, so have your sunblock handy in the car.

A flashlight or headlamp, if you are camping, this is super handy and exciting for your child to have their own light. Regardless of where you are staying, a flashlight is great for a walk back from the shop or restaurant in the dark, to look for eyes through the fence or to look at the nocturnal visitors to the campsite which could include bushbabies, genets, owls and even sometimes animals like honey badgers. Remember to never shine your light directly into in an animals eyes.

First aid kit, remember to check and stock up your basic first aid kit, remember children’s pain- and fever medication and allergy meds for incase.

Wipes and rubbish bag in the car. Spills can happen and having some wipes on standby is always a good idea. A trash bag helps to keep all your rubbish contained until you get to a dustbin.

A stretchy headscarf. This is one for the parents of girls, on most of my trips to the bush, you will see me with a buff or similar stretchy headscarf/headband. I always pack one for my daughter too. It keeps irritating flyaway hair at bay and warms your ears on a chilly early morning drive.

More optional extras. You can pack things like a camera, a scorpion light which illuminates the scorpions body to make them more visible or let me know what you pack for your children when you visit Kruger.