Before you scour the web or wade through travel brochures, outline your trip priorities. Once you've established a budget, define the type of adventure you are seeking as well as the experience you are looking for. You will want to consider the age of the kids, their interest in nature as well as their ability to sit still and follow rules set by a safari guide. Understanding your child may be more important than knowing the age limit set by the safari camp or lodge.

Guided or self-drive safari? Tented camp or luxury safari lodge? Jeep safari, elephant trek, bush walk, hot air balloon ride or canoe trip? While nearly all of the above are suitable for families traveling with children aged 12 and up, not all safari activities are appropriate for young children and many lodges and camps have a set minimum age. Select a lodge and activity that is appropriate for the entire family. Find out if a child sitting service or children's program is offered for kids that choose to stay behind. A young child may not want to participate on every game drive! Many lodges carefully interview young children to determine suitability; allowing small kids to participate on a game drive may be at the discretion of the manager. When choosing a vehicle, keep in mind that open land rovers provide for broader viewing than a minibus and 4-wheel drive cars may be necessary to navigate park roads.

The best time of year to view wildlife is during the cool, dry season when vegetation is thin and animals congregate at the few remaining water holes making them easy to spot. Wildlife viewing is best in the early morning and late afternoon, when temperatures are cooler and wildlife is easier to spot. While this means that the whole family has to be up and ready by 5 or 6 am, spotting animals is so exciting that even the sleepiest in the bunch are likely to accept the change to his or her biological clock and fall in step with the rhythm of the bush. Still not convinced? Early morning game drives last only a couple of hours, and usually end with a reward: a huge breakfast and plenty of time to relax.

Selecting the right outfitter or safari guide is key to a successful safari experience. Before choosing a guide, decide the type of wildlife safari you want to experience. Hire a reputable operator specialized in family safaris. Verify the guide's identification. Find out what is included in the cost, the minimum age set by the outfitter or lodge, and whether the lodge or safari camp is fenced in.

Equip each child with a camera and binoculars as well as a regional checklist to mark off all wildlife sightings. Pack neutral colored clothing (bright colored clothing can disturb wildlife and white shows dirt), hats, sunglasses, and sun block for the entire family. Plan to dress in layers, while early morning and late evening game drives can be quite cold by mid-day it is likely to be quite warm if not hot. Don't forget to include a regional field guide and plenty of film; the nearest shop is likely to be a considerable drive from the game park. On game drives, carry more film than you expect to use.