Elewana Collection Strengthens Commitment to Family Safaris Across Kenya and Tanzania with New Activities and Experiences
With families increasingly seeking purposeful legacy journeys, Elewana Collection transforms traditional safari sojourns with tailored experiences for family members of all ages
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As demand for multi-generational and immediate family safaris continue to surge, with experiential journeys taking precedence, Elewana Collection has recently expanded their family safari programmes across several of its properties in Kenya and Tanzania.
These new programs and activities are tailored to reflect both the natural and cultural wonders of each participating location, transforming what has traditionally been a journey suggested for older children and adults into a truly family-friendly experience for all age groups. With families prioritising unplugged, once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to create shared memories, Elewana Collection’s newly expanded family safari experiences have been meticulously designed to align with both interests and needs of travellers with their youngest explorers in tow.
Understanding that each region has its own singular landscapes, wildlife and cultural attributes, family programming is introduced selectively, matched to each property's own character and audience rather than applied uniformly across the collection. Where family experiences are offered, activities are tailored to each property's natural beauty and heritage, with age-appropriate programming starting at three years old, while other camps retain a more adult-aligned atmosphere. For example, children three years old and up can learn the art of spear making and throwing at Tortilis Amboseli Camp, Tarangire Treetops and Elsa’s Kopje.
New family focused culinary experiences include Garden to Table at Kifaru House in Kenya and The Manor at Ngronogoro in Tanzania, where children six years and older harvest vegetables and herbs from the property's shamba before the chef incorporates them into a family meal.
At Loisaba Tented Camp in Northern Kenya, older children can take part in scorpion searches, an evening introduction to learn about nocturnal wildlife and safe bush practices after dark. For many children, safari offers a rare chance to disconnect from screens and engage directly with nature, encouraging curiosity, patience and respect for wildlife while creating lasting family memories.
Thoughtful touches round out the amenity experience for little ones. In the evenings, children gather around the fire for marshmallow roasting and local folklore storytelling, and by day they can learn traditional games such as Iron Snake and Migration. A giant lawn version of Jenga, with each block carrying a wildlife or conservation fact, is also available for kids of all ages.
At Elsa's Kopje, children learn the true story of Elsa the lioness and the property's own conservation legacy, with the option to watch her story unfold on screen under the stars with an evening screening of Born Free. Additional downtime options include homemade playdough and an expanded board game selection collection-wide, with Movie Night, pool toys and lawn badminton offered at select properties. Children over four are gifted a Wildlife Warrior backpack containing a bottle, activity pack and items to use during their stay.
Practical services and amenities are also thoughtfully folded into Elewana Collection’s family friendly offerings, including bed rails and even special “potty seats” to make travelling with young explorers easier for all. Private vehicles allow for shorter game drives to accommodate longer sleep schedules for younger travellers while connected tents and multi-bedroom lodging ensure the comfort and rest for both immediate family and multi-generational travellers.
Elewana is also addressing the period before families arrive, helping parents understand what activities are available at each property, what to pack, and what they do not need to bring. The focus has been on making the family offering feel more structured without losing the freedom and simplicity that safari naturally offers.
The brand will continue to roll out additional family activities at select properties later this year, including the Wildlife Warrior Passport, a keepsake journal for young travellers to document their safari adventures.
Further underlining Elewana Collection’s commitment to welcoming families across a wide array of lodges and camps across their Kenya and Tanzania portfolio, the brand has created a new Head of Family Experiences role, helmed by Natasha Wissanji, bringing a dedicated approach to travelling with children on safari.
Natasha Wissanji comments on her new position as Head of Family Experiences as well as the brand’s decision: “Traditionally, safaris have been centered around families with older children able to join early morning game drives and sit quietly for long periods of time, however this model has shifted with the rise of multigenerational travel bringing increased demand for families looking to create core memories with younger children and grand parents alike. Our approach is both practical and meaningful, speaking to the specific needs that families with young children have while celebrating the natural and cultural beauty of each locale. The aim is to create moments in which children remain engaged while parents also have the opportunity to slow down and enjoy the experience themselves.”
The Elewana Collection is comprised of 17 award-winning boutique lodges and safari camps in iconic locations across Kenya and Tanzania, each of which has been carefully selected for its unique accommodation and ideal setting to provide unparalleled African wildlife-viewing and beach holiday opportunities. Elewana is the Swahili word meaning “harmony,” and the company prides itself on crafting memorable African safari experiences that offer the highest quality of luxury and comfort, embodying the balance between people, wildlife and environment that today’s sophisticated travellers have come to expect.
Explorer by Elewana upscale safari lodges cater to a wider audience through a more moderate price point as well as an increased range of activities on property.
