“If you want something done, do it yourself or tell your kids not to do it.” – Unknown

Children have the distinct ability to teach adults so much. For instance, you do not know just how patient you can be until you are face to face with a child determined to throw an unholy tantrum for whatever reason. These little bundles of…mixed feelings are a whole lot of work but they are absolutely worth it.

Oscar Wilde once said that the best way to make children good is to make them happy. Interesting take on the whole parenting thing but it couldn’t hurt to try it out. After all, when your kids are silly happy there is a very small chance that they will go out of their way to make your life miserable just for kicks.

So how do you make kids happy? Good question. The trick is to think of anything that would make you happy and then look at it from a “PG 13” angle:

• You like going out with friends. Why not take your kids out on play dates?
• You like music. Why not see what kind of musical instrument your child would like to learn how to play?
• You like camping. Why not bring them along every now and again?

The list goes on and on. As long as you enjoy doing it and it can be miniaturized into something a child can enjoy as well (nothing too graphic) then you can try it out.

Why you should travel with kids

Sometime back we looked at the secrets to taking a safari with kids. While most parents might think they know how to handle their kids (and for the most part they will be right), when it comes to taking a safari with them, if you are not prepared the madness that will ensure will absolutely consume you.

That, however, is not meant to discourage you from taking a safari with your kids. By all means, travel with them because:

• It helps build their self-confidence
• It helps teach them about other cultures
• It could very well kindle an interest they did not know they had
• It gives you a chance to actually bond with them
• It could help them develop some life-skills

So the next time you are thinking of taking that trip to Kenya do not plan it just for two. Bring your kids along and let them enjoy the spectacles that await as well.

Child-friendly lodges in the Maasai Mara

There is a reason the Maasai Mara is one of the leading and most popular game parks in the world. Well, there are several reasons actually:

• It has more than 500 different species of birds
• It is home to the Big Five (Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Rhino and Buffalo)
• It plays host the Great Wildebeest Migration each year

Apart from the fact that it is 1,510 square kilometres of pristine nature, the Maasai Mara is also home to some of the most iconic accommodation facilities on the planet. Most of which are very child-friendly. With that being said, here are some child-friendly lodges in the Maasai Mara that you and your kids might want to visit once or twice.

Mara Intrepids

One of the biggest challenges when it comes to going on safari with children is the sleeping arrangement. Unless you can find a facility with family-size tents or rooms, in many cases parents often end up splitting themselves up so that their little kids do not have to spend the nights alone in separate tents. Mara Intrepids took this into consideration and offers large family tents with two bedrooms, an outside deck and a spacious lounge. They also have a swimming pool and a rather intriguing children’s adventure club.

Gamewatchers Adventure Camp

This is yet another wonderful facility for people travelling with children to the Maasai Mara. With a tradition that is deeply steeped in strong family values, the Gamewatchers Adventure Camp has a reputation for offering its guests a most exciting wilderness experience with just the right kind of ambience, knowledgeable guides, beautiful tents and an affordable rate.

P.S: This camp is only suitable for kids above the age of 10.

Mara Serena

There is something to be said about big brand names. When it comes to dependable quality in service, you really can’t go that wrong when you bet on a big brand name and ‘Serena Hotels’ is as big as they come. The thing about Mara Serena is that it is smack in the middle of the Maasai Mara Reserve itself. This means that you do not have to take long game drives from dawn till dusk just to get a glimpse of the wildlife. You can enjoy shorter morning and evening game drives and still get to see so much of the flora and fauna in this park. Plus, you get all the amenities that come with a big brand name.

Speke’s Camp

If, however, you are more of a private kind of family and would like to go somewhere a little out of the way of traffic then maybe you should consider a lodge in one of the adjoining private conservancies. Bordered by Olare Orok Conservancy and Mara North Conservancy, Speke’s Camp sits on its own little private portion of this wild paradise. Apart from the fact that it is situated in a prime game viewing location, it is also next to the Olare Orok River, Rhino Ridge, Musiara Swamp and Paradise Plains. Comprised of gorgeously huge tents, Speke’s Camp offers you the chance to see the Maasai Mara from a very relaxed and private vantage point.

Kicheche Mara Camp

It doesn’t get much better than this beautiful tented camp. The thing about accommodation facilities like Kicheche Mara is that they go out of their way to offer you the best possible service on this side of the Sahara. The fact that Kicheche Mara is an upscale lodging facility in one of the best game reserves in the world does not mean that they have forgotten that you are in the bush. In fact, they go out of their way to remind you of that with roaring campfires, exciting game drives and wonderful storytelling or narratives by the more than knowledgeable staff and guides.

When trying to find child-friendly lodges in the Maasai Mara and really any safari destination in the world, look for places that have incorporated children into their planning. From the size of the accommodations to the kind of children-based activities they have on their programs. The idea is to make your kids feel right at home without necessarily feeling like they are being treated like children. So no finger painting or any of that stuff. Get them a guide who will help them identify the flora and fauna around them as well as allow them to let their curiosity lead the way a little bit.

Do you know of any child-friendly lodges in Maasai Mara that we should try out? Share the information with us in the comment section below.