Multi-generational travel has been a huge growth trend in safaris over the last few years and it’s one that’s worth celebrating. With busyness reaching epidemic proportions, kids see all too little of their grandparents so an African holiday involving three (or sometimes even more) generations of the family is a wonderful way to bring everyone together, far away from the stresses and strains of everyday life. Take some time off while mom and dad hang out with your kids and catch up with the people who made sure your own childhood was so magical. We’ve collected together our favorite properties perfect for multi-generational family safaris, and here they are:

1. Ol Jogi

Your own private Kenyan bush ranch, just 45 minutes’ flight from Nairobi. Enjoy sweeping views of snow-capped Mount Kenya and having your own exclusive holiday home in the African bush. Once a private home (some people have all the luck!), Ol Jogi is nestled beneath a rocky outcrop in a private wildlife conservancy in Kenya and accommodates up to 25 guests. In other words, you can bring family friends along, too! Stay in suites within cottages and enjoy game drives and guided walks.

2. Thanda Island

Thanda Island is located in a private marine reserve close to the wonderfully named Mafia Island, off the coast of Tanzania. It’s surrounded by the warm, sparkling waters of the Indian Ocean and offers luxury villa and more relaxed ‘banda’ accommodation. Your family name may not be Robinson, but you’ll love being ‘cast adrift’ here where the pace of life is very definitely on island time. This can mean energetic days for younger folks, and more relaxed moments for your more senior traveling companions – so it’s perfect for everyone.

3. Tarkuni

Tarkuni is more than just a luxury safari lodge, it’s the owners’ home in the Tswalu Kalahari private reserve (South Africa’s largest). The Oppenheimer name is worth its weight in diamonds in this part of the world, so it should come as no surprise that they have created the perfect serene oasis for relaxed family moments. Whether you’re a parent, child or grandparent (and you could be at least two of those) you’ll find much to delight you at Tarkuni and in the surrounding desert landscapes.

4. Cottar’s Bush Villa

What makes Cottar’s Bush Villa so special is that it’s the only genuine luxury family villa in Kenya’s Masai Mara. What is already a fabulous place to visit on safari becomes even more wonderful when you, your parents and your children have your very own exclusive-use property. Cottar’s Bush Villa sleeps up to 12 guests and even has a half-Olympic size pool. With breathtaking views, a dedicated guide and safari vehicle, and 10,000 square feet of space (not to mention the Mara beyond), you’ll have everything you need for the best multi-generational holiday ever.

5. Campi ya Kanzi

The Kanzi House Private Villa at Campi ya Kanzi is situated in the green Chyulu Hills of southern Kenya – the same hills made famous by Ernest Hemingway. Happily, the only kind of hunting that happens there today might be your kids playing hide and seek, or a treasure hunt organized by your private guide to keep your kids entertained between game drives. Kanzi House offers the best of both worlds: a private Pool Cottage for you and your partner, while older and younger generations can occupy Kanzi House itself.

6. Segera

This unique safari property in Kenya’s Laikipia region is a veritable wonderland for kids and adults alike. Offering superb experiences of every kind: wildlife, art and gastronomy, to name but a few, it has everything required to keep every generation enthralled. When it comes to resting weary heads, Segera House offers two vast bedrooms with savannah views, multiple indoor spaces and a private garden and plunge pool. Plenty of space, in other words, to let everyone come together and for safari imaginations to run wild.

7. Sanctuary at Ol Lentille

The Chief’s House is the largest villa at this signature Kenyan safari property, sleeping six. The master bedroom has a private outdoor bath among the rocks, so you may have to pull rank when it comes to choosing who sleeps where! The al fresco dining deck and cozy sitting room with fireplace for those cooler Laikipia evenings all lend themselves to family gatherings, with a plentiful supply of board games to help you wean your kids off their smartphones.

8. Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge

To South Africa now, where we’ll stay in one of the luxury family villas at Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge (so good they named it twice). Each of these villas features two en-suite bedrooms, with plenty of other spaces in which to relax, come together or even spend some moments alone if the mood takes you. The views from the villa over a nearby waterhole mean that you could well spot wildlife without leaving the sofa, while the Sabi Sabi Game Reserve beyond (adjacent to Kruger National Park) promises phenomenal safaris.

9. Morukuru Farm House

Morukuru Farm House is designed specifically to give families or groups their own exclusive safari accommodation option in Madikwe Game Reserve, close to the Botswana border in South Africa’s Northern Province. The Farm House is the ideal base from which to explore Madikwe and has plenty of room for pretty much everyone you’re related to. Five huge en-suite bedrooms are linked to the main area by a covered walkway, and all are equally luxurious so that every family member has an equally special experience.

10. Morukuru Owner’s House

Owner’s houses in private game reserves are always something special. Built by people with a deep love for the African bush, they embody the spirit of their surroundings and are typically furnished and equipped to a very high standard. The Morukuru Owner’s House, in the shade of an ancient tamboti tree on the banks of the Marico River, is no exception. Two large en-suite bedrooms provide ample space for a small family, while the extensive decks and balconies make al fresco dining an easy and carefree option.

11. Asilia Mara Houses

We’re returning to Kenya and the renowned Masai Mara Game Reserve. Experience the freedom of the African bush with your own vacation property, while wild animals wander past and the breeze and birdsong reach you in your safari sanctuary. Choose from Mara House, Acacia House or Topi House, each of which has three bedrooms, sleeping six guests in total. You’ll have a full complement of staff dedicated to meeting your every need, and you get to determine exactly how your daily itinerary fits together.

12. &Beyond Homestead

With its four air-conditioned bedrooms and extensive shared spaces, the &Beyond Phinda Homestead gives every member of your family the space they need to be themselves – and to come together to create shared memories. ‘Homestead’ is the perfect name for this exclusive-use bush villa – it’s a contemporary bush farmhouse ideal for families that thrive on adventure yet enjoy the finer things in life. With your own ranger, host, chef, and guide, your every whim will be catered to. Highlights include the private exercise room and the interactive kitchen at the heart of your new home in Africa.

13. Cheetah Plains

The Exclusive Houses at Cheetah Plains take the Sabi Sand Game Reserve experience to the next level. With each of the three Exclusive Houses sleeping between four and eight guests, they form a luxurious launchpad for exclusive safari experiences to be shared with family or friends. A new benchmark in eco-luxe has been set by the sumptuous private suites, sun deck, wine gallery, and chef’s kitchen – all with one of South Africa’s most exclusive wildlife reserves on your doorstep. This accommodation represents the marries the sophistication required by today’s most discerning travelers with the raw beauty of the African bush.

• How to Pack for Kids on Safari

Let our team of travel designers create an unforgettable multi-generational family safari. Reach out to us to get started!