The festive season is upon us again and that means it’s time for an incredible family adventure. When travelling with kids, it’s always a good idea to head to places that have activities the little ones can engage in. We know just where you should go:
1. Turtle Bay, Watamu
November hasn’t been a warm month which means going to the coast is an awesome idea. Turtle Bay is an all-inclusive resort located in one of the most beautiful beaches in the country. Your kids have it all when you take them here. There are supervised activities for 4-12 year-olds that include swimming, arts and crafts, cooking classes and beach games. If you want to raise philanthropic and charitable kids, then there’s an opportunity to inculcate that idea at this spot. Kids can vie for points which are later converted to donations for local charities.
It’s a pocket-friendly resort with prices starting at Ksh 7,400 pp on an all-inclusive basis.
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2. Neptune Paradise Beach Resort & Spa
This is another beautiful hotel in Ukunda, Mombasa. They have special entertainment and activities for kids only which means that you don’t have to worry about the kids getting easily bored. We know the whole point of going to the coast is to swim without worrying about the weather and Neptune ensures your kids have a good time at the kids-only pool and a kid’s club for them.
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3. Voyager Beach Resort, Nyali
We’re sure your kids will love this resort because not only is it located at the beachfront, but it also has a kids’ club. This attractive nautical-themed hotel is also all-inclusive and caters greatly to kids above four years with an animation team and energetic supervisors to engage them in fun activities. The best part is that older kids have something as well. With a Young Rangers’ Club present, they get to learn and participate in exciting activities such as canoeing and wind-surfing. That’s an adventure they won’t forget anytime soon. Add all of that to their three pools to choose from, with a whirlpool available.
Prices start at Ksh 12,200 pp on an all-inclusive basis.
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4. Baobab Beach Resort & Spa
This is another all-inclusive resort located at the Indian Ocean beachfront. The one thing your kids will love is the Kole Kole wing houses. They have a kids’ club over there with many animators who will keep your child busy with various activities such as arts and crafts, beach adventures, paintings, dancing and more. Kids also learn how to produce souvenirs which you can carry home for those treasured memories. If you have a special occasion as a family, you can also dine a la cart at the Marhaba and Tangezi Restaurants.
Prices start at Ksh 18,300 pp on an all-inclusive basis.
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5. Medina Palms
For the parents and guardians who will be seeking to explore Watamu, this is a luxurious resort that is also kid-friendly. The Nemo’s Cave Kids’ Club is there to ensure that your child is getting the most out of the trip while you still get pampered. They can ran and play around the specially designed padded area, paint, listen in and partake in music and storytelling and more with their professionally trained nannies. This is for kids aged 2-8 years old. Medina is currently the only five star resort in the North Coast of Kenya with a Trip Advisor 2019 Travellers’ Choice badge as a mark of their quality.
Prices start at Ksh 17,800 on a half-board basis.
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6. Ol-Pejeta Conservancy, Nanyuki
This is one of the most popular destinations in the country for those who truly want an adventure. This private conservancy that’s just a short drive from Nanyuki town offers kids a range of activities to partake in. From a ‘behind-the-scenes’ visit to the chimpanzee sanctuary, rides with rhinos, afternoon lion tracking and more. The conservancy has a new offering for kids in the Junior Rangers’ Club. Kids aged 4-16 years old get to answer a set of questions in a booklet that you can buy at Morani’s Restaurant, Rongai Gate Gift Shop and the Chimpanzee Adoption Centre. The idea is to have them fill up the book as they journey through the conservancy and at the end, they’ll meet the Tourism Team at the Morani Information Centre where they get a ranger hat, a certificate and an honorary pin after repeating the ranger oath. This is an excellent rewarding activity for your kids.
The conservancy has several properties to suit every budget.
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7. Base Camp, Maasai Mara
Has your kid ever made a bow and arrow and got the chance to use it? If the answer is no, we recommend this place that’s all about fun for the little ones. They also get to learn about nature and track butterflies and animal footprints. It gets even better because there’s staff who can babysit until early evening as you go do a little exploration of your own.
Prices start from Ksh 8,000 pp per night full board, exclusive of game drives.
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8. Acacia House, Naibosho Conservancy
One of the most appealing qualities about this place is that it’s warm and homely. The air of familiarity works well for kids as it won’t feel like they’ve just been entirely uprooted from one place to the next. They have a ‘kids-only’ loft bedroom (parents, time to stay away), a DVD room with children’s classics, a toy room, pool and a baby pool for the small ones. With a dash of creativity, kids can also mould safari animals from the termite clay and bake them in fire. Acacia House also allows kids to cook with the chef.
Prices start from $210 pp per night on a full-board basis and sleeps four adults plus kids.
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9. El Karama Eco Lodge, Laikipia
El Karama is a multiple-award winning lodge in Laikipia, away from the many bustles of everyday life and amazing travel destination that your kids will love. This spot is ideal for kids and teenagers humming witch activities such as fishing, sculpture-making with termite clay and how to track animals using plaster casts. The lodge provides all the kit needed for these activities. They also encourage young kids to write and paint. With their ethos as providing distraction-free fun activities to the whole family, this is the place you want to be for a true escape.
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10. Solio Lodge, Aberdare
This lodge is located on a private wildlife sanctuary in the valley between the slopes of Mount Kenya and the peaks of Aberdare ranges. This premium lodge is also perfect for your kid with amazing activities for them such as spotting wildlife, tout fishing in the Aberdare National Park, Maasai and Samburu style bead making and more. The family can also take wonderful nature walks and horse riding in the morning and take in all the beautiful nature surrounding the area.
Prices start from $700 pp per night inclusive of all activities and on a full-board basis.
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