I took 1,300 photos on our recent family safari vacation in Kenya and Tanzania.  Enough fodder for Photo Friday for the next few years!

I’ll be judicious, however, and just feature the photos of moments that really wowed us.  I’m going to start with a biggie — photos of a kill from start to finish.  Witnessing one of Africa’s great cats hunt is absolutely fascinating and elicits a range of emotions: excitement, joy, sadness, and terror (depending on your proximity to the action).

The awe-inspiring experience of observing life’s most basic instinct — survival — in progress is unforgettable.

Watching a kill is all about luck and timing.  Experienced guides help as they can read the animals and what they are more or less likely to do next. These photos were taken while we were in the Serengeti staying at &Beyond’s exceptional Serengeti Under Canvas (this camp follows the wildebeest migration across the park).  Poor luck and timing meant we missed the migration by just 3 days. Nonetheless, the game viewing was extraordinary.

We came across a pride of lions relaxing mid-morning. A yawn thrills all but passes quickly (finally caught on film!).

Our guide suspected the lioness was hungry and sure enough, she set out to look for a snack.

As soon as she (and we) saw this baby wildebeest meandering without the herd, we knew we were in for some action. This wildebeest didn’t stand a chance.

We were all holding our breath as we watched the lioness stalk her prey.

Success!  (Loving my new Sony A55 at this moment)

The male lion is happy.  The lioness did all the work, but he gets to eat first.

Check back for a flurry of articles on our tremendous family safari in Africa.  In the meantime, Delicious Baby has many great posts lined up this week for Photo Friday.

Relevant Links:

Family safari in Africa FAQ

Planning a family safari in Africa

I do feel sorry for our Royal Family sometimes. They just don’t look as glam as the stuff of fairy tales. I’ve already warned you not to take your kids to a British royal residence when the owner is in (see Top Things to Do with Toddlers in London). They will get the shock of their lives if Queen Elizabeth II is on a walk about. Our royal Octogenarian prefers a headscarf to a crown most days, teamed with a sensible jumper and skirt and nice sturdy shoes. No glass slippers, ball gowns and tiaras for her most days of the week.

But on April 29, reality is being put on hold and a real life Royal fairy tale will unfold before our eyes, when Prince William finally marries his very patient girlfriend who has had to endure the unfortunate nickname Waitie Katie for far too long now.

His hairline might be slightly receding, but luckily they both still have what it takes, for my six-year-old to be able to buy into the idea that William really is Prince Charming and Kate is his Cinderella – it’s not exactly a tale of rags to riches, but her mother did use to be an air hostess, the two families didn’t mix in the same circles.

Soon after the wedding date was announced April 29 2011 was made an extra public holiday across the country. It is a momentous day in the history of Britain.

Westminster Abbey

To help children understand its significance the best place to start off is Westminster Abbey where the ceremony will take place.

If you can book yourself a Professional Blue Badge Guide who is particularly experienced with family groups and young kids, to take you around the Abbey, then it is so worth it. A fantastic guide will turn this building from just a big old church into a place where really cool stuff happened. When I took Ella along our guide had her pretend to be Kate, whilst I was William and we walked arm in arm up the exact same aisle that the real bride and groom will be gliding up in a few weeks time. We then practiced putting on a cardboard crown, as Westminster Abbey is where Kings and Queens have had their coronation since 1066.

The Tower Of London

Next stop The Tower. Here real life soldiers guard the Crown jewels that Kate may get to wear. Get there first thing at 9am and see those guards open the tower with a special ceremony, and at 2.50pm you can see them collecting the secret password to get into the Tower after dark. Clandestine stuff.

Be careful how you phrase any question before asking about looking at our crown jewels, though. The phrase ‘Crown Jewels’ is cockney rhyming slang for balls, and these aren’t the balls that you kick around a soccer pitch! The Tower has a Crown Jewels family trail that really makes exploring the tower fun. Or you could take the Knights and Princesses trail to see how the medieval royals actually lived in the Tower.

Kensington Palace

Round off your potted history of British royalty with a visit to Kensington Palace. This is the former home of seven princesses, including Diana, Princess of Wales and it’s likely to be the first marital home of Princess Catherine, as she will be known, and Prince William. There is an ever changing programme of family events, check the website for the diary.

The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground is found just around the back of the Palace too, in Kensington Gardens. It’s a really magical space with an almost life-size pirate ship complete with rigging and crow’s nest; a sensory trail, a beach and teepees to hide amongst.

The Wedding Procession

If you’re lucky enough to be in London for the actual day of the wedding, you could try and park yourself in a spot along the route, details of which can be found here. The bride and groom will go to the Abbey in separate cars, passing along The Mall, Horse Guard’s Parade and Parliament Square to Westminster Abbey. After the ceremony at 11am, they will return together by horse-drawn carriage along the same route to The Mall, ending up at Buckingham Palace for the reception. For further detail on the route keep an eye on the Official Royal Wedding Website. If you do plan to get a glimpse of the new princess in her fairytale carriage I’d leave any strollers behind and rely on shoulders and babycarriers to help get kids a peep above the crowds.

The wedding is also likely to be shown on big outdoor screens across the country, whilst hundreds of local neighbourhoods across the UK are expected to throw street parties. Go for a wonder and head for the bunting to experience a real British knees up!

Relevant Links:

Ciao Bambino recommended family hotels London

Winter activities in London with kids

London sightseeing with kids

Kid-friendly luxury at Woolley Grange

Visiting Sandbanks, England with kids

Holidays with kids in The Cotswolds

Visiting Dover Castle and the White Cliffs of Dover

Checking out a rhino in the Masai Mara, Kenya

My dream of taking a family safari in Africa was fulfilled last week; we just returned from a 9-day vacation in Kenya and Tanzania.  We visited the Masai Mara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, and Lake Manyara national parks. I learned so much during the planning and execution of this trip — my head is spinning with all the details and tips I want to share.

Our trip was absolutely phenomenal in every way — a true experience of a lifetime. I need a vacation from my vacation it was so busy, but traveling in an environment that is utterly foreign, exotic, and engrossing is the ultimate escape from the daily grind.

In retrospect, I made a few consequential planning mistakes.  They did not detract meaningfully from the trip because our tour operator, &Beyond, took great care of us, but I’d certainly do a few things differently the next time around and I’ll be sure and share the details over the next few weeks on the Ciao Bambino blog.

I’m going to start our coverage with answers to frequently asked questions about a safari with kids.

No, my zoom was not uber-strong, this lion was close!

What exactly is a safari?

Wikipedia’s definition:

“A safari (pronounced /səˈfɑri/) is an overland journey, usually a trip by tourists to Africa, traditionally for a big-game hunt; today the term often refers to a trip taken not for the purposes of hunting, but to observe and photograph animals and other wildlife.”

Everyone has their own vision of what a trip to Africa is like from books, movies, and National Geographic. The bottom line is that a modern safari is about experiencing the vibrant and complex ecosystems native to Africa.  The focus is usually animals, but uncovering details about trees and plants is a critical part of understanding the environment.

Safaris in certain parts of Africa may involve learning about the local culture too.  Interacting with the Maasai people was an important part of our trip and as memorable as our animal encounters.

A safari usually involves driving in a 4-wheel drive truck that allows you to follow animals through rugged, unpaved terrain.  Walking safaris are also increasingly popular.

The wilderness areas are vast and guests typically stay in accommodations within a game viewing reserve or private concession.  Accommodations in this now well-developed industry range from simple tents to luxury lodges.  Really, there is a mind-boggling array of options — at least in the top safari destinations (see Fodor’s list from October 2010).

Zebra in the Masai Mara, Kenya

Is a safari vacation kid-friendly?

Most kids love animals so in that sense — yes, safaris are kid-friendly.  But the real answer is much more complex than that.

This is our second safari vacation (the first was without kids) and as a general rule I would not bring a child under 8 years old on this kind of trip.  Let me acknowledge that I’m sure there are thousands of exceptions out there — kids that are more mature, patient, and listen better than my own child does — the bottom line is you have to draw the line somewhere and I’m drawing it at age 8.

Why?

Game viewing involves hours and hours in the car — a typical drive is anywhere from 2 to 4 hours.  This is not the zoo so there are no guarantees when an animal will show up or what they’ll be doing when you will see them.  A lion is a lion and that’s exciting, but a sleeping lion won’t hold a kid’s attention for long.  There may be long periods where nothing is happening at all.  We searched for hours for a leopard in every park we visited and never saw one.

Once you finally see an animal, it is essential to observe quietly. This was a struggle for our 8-year-old. There is only so long a little boy can sit still — particularly when there is something exciting to chatter about.

You are in the wild and there are no fences separating you from the world’s biggest carnivores. The best safari vehicles are totally open so you can easily see the animals and feel more integrated in the environment.  Listening is truly a matter of life and death here, so kids need to be at an age where that is a guarantee.

Malaria exists in some (not all) of the popular game viewing areas and pharmaceutical protection is essential.  You have to be comfortable with the options.  In our case, our son was swallowing his first pill. This made every dinner exciting … and exhausting. We sat through tears and multiple tries the first few nights until finally the pill went down.

A typical bush “airport”

Is a safari dangerous?

In essence, yes. I would do it again with my family in a nanosecond, but that doesn’t change the fact that on this kind of trip the risk at one point or another is real.  I can’t speak for every safari destination, but those I just experienced were remote.  If something happens out there you don’t just get to pop over to the top-notch hospital that is a 5-minute drive away.

Many lodges now have electric fences but smaller animals can still come through at night.  Hippos, hyenas, elephants — all were outside our door at one point or another during the week.  They can’t waltz into your room but they are loud and this may be disconcerting (and part of the fun!).  Bottom line is you need to be with kids that stay put and who won’t be traumatized by the excitement.

The accommodations where we stayed all run on generators that are turned off during the night so you only have flashlights and a whistle to blow if you need help.  It’s dark in a land without electricity of any kind … really dark. Our son woke up one night and needed some consoling over the lack of light.  Nothing devastating or long lasting, but this may be a big issue for some kids.

Bush breakfast by &Beyond

What is the most important travel tip of all?

Using a reliable tour operator or planning a trip through an established single portfolio of properties is a must.  There are so many different outfitters these days offering safari tours and I will say categorically that the reason I felt comfortable 100% of the time during our trip is that we were working through top quality service providers.

This impacts everything — I’ll do a dedicated post on this topic shortly — but the important point is safety is the biggest concern and you want to know that every car, driver, plane, accommodation, guide, and meal is the best they can be.  Period. There is zero room for flexibility here.

I don’t want to confuse top quality with luxury because they are not one in the same in Africa. However, top quality will be associated with expense. There is no way around it — traveling in Africa is hideously expensive.  If someone is offering a package that is much less than the others in the market, there is a reason for that and I’d choose another provider.

Most of our trip was booked through &Beyond and I could cry I was so impressed with the quality of this organization.  I’ll do a follow up post with all the juicy details, but I’d recommend a trip to Africa with them any time and place.

Our cell phones worked intermittently and issues came up. It’s essential to have a single point of contact and/or an organization that is accountable for all of your details and logistics.

A visit to a Maasai village in Kenya

There is so much more to say on traveling to Africa with kids; I have at least 7 posts in the works!

Stay tuned for …

&Beyond – A complete review of the &Beyond lodges and experience

Sanctuary Retreats – Booking through a reliable portfolio of hotels. What you need to know and our review of Olonana

Ngong House – A review of our stay at this unique hotel in Nairobi

Comparing tour operators and accommodations – what you need to know

Experiencing a hot air balloon ride in the Masai Mara

Mistakes and lessons learned

How to prepare for a family trip to Africa

This is a guest post from Felicity Long of Shermans Travel, a guide to the top travel deals and destinations.

When it comes to beating the winter blues, a family vacation to the Caribbean is a no brainer. For one thing, island resorts offer some of the best supervised children’s programs in the industry, entertaining kids with age-appropriate activities that mix plenty of indoor and outdoor fun. For another, Caribbean destinations offer entire menus of activities that families can do together, from kayaking and snorkeling to even smooching a dolphin or two. The best news is that family travel deals abound in a range of price points, from budget to downright posh.

The trick, however, is deciding which island is the best match for you and your family. Each has its own personality and devotees, but we have come up with a list of some of our favorites.

Atlantis, Paradise Island

If dizzying water slides (the Leap of Faith is a favorite with my crew) and eerie aquascapes filled with marine predators are the stuff junior’s dreams are made of, it’s hard to top the razzle-dazzle of Atlantis, Paradise Island.  The resort has always been great for older kids, thanks to the high-adrenaline Aquaventures slides and river rides, but ever since Lego partnered with the resort to create Atlantis Kids Adventure (AKA), for ages 3 to 12, even tiny kids can be included in the fun. Young guests can get up close and personal with dolphins – under the supervision of trainers, of course – at Dolphin Cay; get soaked in the Splashers water play area, created for kids under 54 inches tall; learn to make chocolate in the AKA Culinary program, or design their own stuffed animals at The Bear Factory Atlantis Pals.

Grand Cayman

Holding a giant stingray the size of a truck tire is not for everyone. On our first visit to Grand Cayman’s Stingray City, which is essentially a sandbar in the middle of the ocean swarming with stingrays, our younger son began the day refusing to get out of the boat. An hour later, there he was, being held aloft by a guide in waist-deep water feeding one of the sea creatures by hand. Many local hotels offer packages that include a Stingray City outing, although be aware that the spot is a favorite among cruise passengers and can get crowded.

Grand Bahama Island

The Radisson Our Lucaya Beach & Golf Resort on Grand Bahama Island is another family favorite, partly because of the miles-long white, sandy beach and partly because our kids like the shops and activities at the bustling Port Lucaya across the street. Kid-friendly activities – Junkanoo parades, anyone? – are on tap at Camp Lucaya, for ages 3 to 11, and the UNEXSO Close Encounter dolphin encounter at nearby Sanctuary Bay is a hands-down favorite. Check out air-inclusive packages at OurLucaya.com.

Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

If the last time you thought about Club Med was when you were a swinging single, it’s time to give the company – especially the family villages – a second look. Our favorite is Club Med Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, where our kids loved snorkeling in the clear turquoise water, playing tennis with the friendly GOs (the Club Med terminology for the staff) and, most of all, swinging from the flying trapeze at the circus school. The resort is baby-friendly, taking infants as young at four months old into the Baby Club, while teens are not forgotten at hip Passworld, for the 11 to 18 set.

Because my husband and I are foodies, we appreciate the cuisine at the resort – an aspect of all-inclusive properties that can often be disappointing.

St. Thomas, USVI

Maybe because St. John was the first U.S. Virgin Islands we ever visited years ago, it is still one of our favorites. Yes, Trunk Bay has become crowded with cruise passengers and the marketplace at Cruz Bay has become more trendy, but the island still retains a rustic charm, thanks to the designation of much of it as a national park. We like the water sports, including scuba and sailing, at the Westin St. John Resort & Villas, while the kids enjoyed the activities at the Westin Kids Club. There are pools sprinkled among the acreage, and we could hop on a private ferry back and forth to the more bustling St. Thomas.

St. John, USVI

Parents who like not having to reach for their wallets on vacation can stay on St. Thomas proper, thanks to the Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort & Spa, which became the island’s only all-inclusive resort on July 1, 2010. Family fun includes snorkeling, kayaking, sailing, scuba instruction, miniature golf and family movie nights. Check out the winter deals at SugarBayWyndham.com.

Photos courtesy of Nancy Solomon

Relevant Links:

Best places for kids in the Caribbean on Ciao Bambino

Kids clubs that make you want to be a kid again

Jamaica with kids

Where to Stay at Atlantis Resort

10 Surprises on the Disney Dream

The destination is booked.  Your hotel is set. Now, how do you transform a trip from ordinary to extraordinary?

You can always wait until you arrive and ask the concierge, a fine option for many trips, or you can take advantage of Internet to try and find those few unique experiences that will ensure your are creating a trip your family will remember a trip for a lifetime.

This is the part of trip planning that I love, the customization.  The Internet has opened up so many options.  No longer do you have to wait to get to a destination only to discover you’ve arrived the day before an amazing event or festival.  I always recommend researching and booking fun activities before you arrive.  I plan one really special experience on each of our trips.

Highlights from our family vacations for inspiration:

Private Whale Watching & Luau in Maui: Looking at the pictures brings me right back to the rich blue waters off of Maui.  When the Zodiak turned off the engines and all you heard was the breathing of the whales as they rolled and played along the surface of the ocean.  They were so close that it had our hearts racing.  We followed this outing with a private Luau by CJ’s that was perfectly balanced- culturally rich and very entertaining. Our whole family was in stiches!

Moose Safari in New Hampshire: My 7-year old son wanted to see moose and catch fish.  That was the basis of our trip.  Everything that I had looked at was at least six hours north of us, certainly too far for a weekend getaway.  Then, I stumbled upon MWV Moose Bus Tours, in Conway, NH.  For two hours we drove around in a comfortable bus, outfitted with spotlights to shine on the moose and disco lights to entertain the kids.  While listening to silly moose songs, we were able to find four moose.  These huge animals were a fast favorite of both my 7 and 2- year old.  For more fun Activities in New Hampshire check out my post-trip debrief.

Gladiator School & Soccer Game in Rome: I love this activity for Rome because so many of the sites in Rome are ruins, which can be hard for the kids to conceptualize.  During gladiator school, kids will have the opposite experience as they try on gladiator gear and “train” in the sand pit.  The session is finalized by a simulated fight.  While it may sound violent, it’s really quite tame and all in good fun.

Food Tour in London: This was a surprise favorite for us.  London and great food are not always synonymous, however, leave it to Context Tours to plan a great tour.  We booked a private two-three hour tour and discovered spots we most definitely would not have found on our own.  It was also a perfect way to start our stay in London because it helped us learn our way around while someone else was leading.

Medieval Games in Athenry, Ireland: Kids learn best when they have a hands on experience.  At Athenry Castle is was an afternoon of medieval games, including relay races, archery and tug-of-war.  This was all outdoors before stepping inside to dress up in medieval costumes complete with weapons.  Along the way we were taught about life in the castle. To compliment this, another must-do castle experience is falconry at Ashford Castle.

Surf Camp in San Diego: A personal favorite.  There’s no better way to get in touch with your inner Californian that to “Hang Ten,” (aka surfing).  You can also ride the everlasting wave at the Wave House in Mission Beach.

Ice Hotel in Quebec: A hotel built completely of ice and sculpted into an artistic masterpiece.  Truly stunning with a long ice slide that was a huge hit and a spectacular ice cathedral, but be prepared for arctic temperatures, it was only 5 degrees while we were there.  That’s fine for a visit but too cold for a sleepover.

Tour planning tips

Let’s be honest here … you don’t always score a home run.  Although the pictures from the our Dungaire castle banquet look charming, it was an evening where we were looking for any way to exit gracefully.  The small venue — and hilarious entertainment (the busload of senior citizens took very seriously) — made for a very long evening.  Also, the ice hotel was amazing, but way too adventurous for our crew.  A visit would have been fine but the overnight was risking hypothermia (for real).  Instead stay at the lovely hotel 100 yards away.

Some sites to help you find some starting points.  I like to see what types of tours are offered and then search using some of the key words. Also, look at what some tour operators offer and then recreate it for your group.  For example, while planning for Ireland, I reviewed the Disney Adventure Tours and then booked similar things like scone making, falconry, a visit to a sheep farm and a Irish step dance show.  Having a private itinerary gives us the flexibility we need with our kids and take away the worry that we will disturb others.

Trip Advisor has a “To Do” section that has a few good ideas.  Viator has many different tours to look at for ideas.  Abercrombie & Kent Family Holidays and Classic Journeys Family Trips also offer amazing itineraries that can inspire wonderful trips.

Photos courtesy of Nancy Solomon

Relevant Links:

Directory of kid-friendly guides and walking tours

Using movies to make trip planning and preparation more fun

Multigenerational family trip planning tips

Volunteer family travel

This is a guest post from Jody Halstead of Family Rambling. She blogs about her family travel adventures from Iowa. This post makes me want to go to San Antonio. Thanks Jody!

San Antonio River Walk

At first glance San Antonio seems like a dream destination.  Year round temperate climate – check.  History – check.  Culture – check.  Great food – check.  And then you look a bit deeper and realize that San Antonio has everything a traveling family could ask for in a vacation spot.

San Antonio’s temperate climate makes the city perfect to visit year-round.  Average lows in December and January hover around 50°F, while summer highs reach the mid-90′s. The shoulder season of April/May and September/October are perfect for visitors with temperatures in the 80′s and the summer crowds depleted.  May and October are the rainiest months, but even then you’ll only lose half a day to the weather.

Things To Do in San Antonio with Kids

San Antonio for the Nature Lover

The fabulous climate makes San Antonio a great place to get outside and explore — and San Antonio has dozens of opportunities!

For underground adventure visit the Natural Bridge Caverns.  Tours take you through a spectacular half mile of caverns.  Not into underground exploring?  Try the 350 foot long zip line.  (Prices begin at $17.95 for adults, $9.95 for kids).

San Antonio is filled with parks!  One of the most popular is Enchanted Rock.  The park is almost 1650 acres of wilderness filled with hiking trails, rock climbing, picnicking spots and rustic camping.  The centerpiece, though, is the 640 acre pink granite dome that rises 425 feet above the ground.  Tip:  arrive early as parking spaces can fill quickly on weekends. (entrance fee $6 per day)

For nature with a side of wild visit the Wildlife Ranch.  400 acres of open Texas hills lead you through a worldwide safari of over 500 animals.  You can also get up close and personal with some animals in the petting zoo.  ($16.50 adults, $8.50 kids).

The Alamo

San Antonio for the Historian

Texas history really begins in San Antonio and no place evokes more passion than the Alamo.  Smaller than you’ll expect, it really won’t take long to explore.  The Alamo is one of five missions; I suggest a drive along the Missions Trail.  The other four missions are larger and more impressive, definitely worth visiting.  These missions still hold regular services and are open to visitors from 9am til 5 pm.  There is no charge to visit the missions.

For a look at justice, Texas Style, you’ll want to head to the Texas Ranger Museum located in the Buckhorn Saloon & Museum.  Photographs and artifacts will give you an idea of Texas’ past, then take a step back to San Antonio circa 1900.  Don’t miss the Bonnie & Clyde exhibit- including a replica of the “death car”.   The Buckhorn Museum is filled with natural history- over 520 species of animals are represented.  The Buckhorn Museum is a large tourist draw and admission prices reflect this.  Food in the saloon is good, but it’s the atmosphere that will thrill the kids.  (Admission to the museums $17.99 adults, $13,99 kids; keep your receipt for free second day admission.  No charge to visit the saloon, cafe or arcade).

For a closer look at Texas history a visit to the Witte Museum is in order.  Log cabins and historic homes of San Antonio have been moved to the museum grounds while history comes alive in special shows inside the museum.  The science tree house is four stories of fun and hands on learning and makes a great adventure when the weather isn’t cooperating.  (adults $8, children $6)

San Antonio for Shoppers

El Mercado is always my first stop.  The largest Mexican market outside of Mexico you’ll find everything from clay figures and hand beaded bags to beautifully worked leather goods and authentic dresses.    Plan to eat at Mi Tierra — a favorite of both locals and tourists.  Enjoy a serenade from roaming Mariachi, savor fresh Tex-Mex cuisine and don’t forget treats from the bakery as you leave!

For arts you’ll want to stroll through La Villita, just off the Riverwalk.  San Antonio’s oldest settlement now hosts artisans whose crafts range from pottery and painting to jewelry and metal work.

After indulging your artistic side at La Villita stroll down the steps of the Arneson River Theater to the famed Riverwalk.  Here you’ll find shops selling trinkets and restaurants to suit any taste.  Rest your feet and enjoy a tour of the Riverwalk by boat.  The history is fascinating.

JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa

Where to Stay

There is no shortage of lodging around San Antonio.  My suggestion is to spoil your family at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort.  With its 6 acre water park (heated and open year round), incredible kids club, sensational spa and two PGA golf courses every member of your family will be thrilled.

Options around San Antonio range from budget friendly to luxurious; you’ll have no problem finding something to fit your needs and your price point.

San Antonio is a wonderful, year-round family destination.  One visit will leave you wanting to return!

Photos courtesy of iatraveler on Flicker.

Relevant Links:

Review of JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa on Ciao Bambino