Africa’s 10 Best Private Houses for a Family Safari

It is best to start planning well ahead of your travel dates as the best houses get booked long in advance, especially for Christmas and the other festive seasons, though late availability is always worth checking.

The best private safari houses in Africa

Lengishu House, Borana Conservancy, Kenya

Lengishu House, set high on a rift valley ridge in Borana Conservancy, offers sweeping views across the Lengishu Hills and Lewa Downs. With six bedrooms and exclusive use, it’s ideal for adventurous families seeking an unforgettable Kenya safari.

Daily activities range from game drives – where you may see elephant, lion and the endangered and fiercely-protected rhinos on the conservancy – bush walks, sundowners, and bush meals to horse riding for all abilities and quad biking.

Families can fly camp for a night under the stars, or visit local communities, providing a deeper understanding of other cultures through personal and natural interactions.
A behind-the-scenes conservation experience allows older children and teenagers to track rhino with the anti-poaching unit and help them to identify and account for the rhinos — Borana is Kenya’s most successful rhino sanctuary.

Finally, my very top recommendation for a standout family experience is to take a private helicopter to Lake Turkana and the Suguta Valley. Stop along the way to swim in lagoons, dive down dunes in the Chalbi Desert and have a picnic on a ledge overlooking the valley with the most stunning views. On your return journey visit the Reteti Elephant Orphanage, the first community owned and run elephant orphanage.

Singita Serengeti House – Grumeti Reserves, Tanzania

Set on Sasakwa Hill in the 350,000-acre Singita Grumeti Reserves, Serengeti House is a home-from-home retreat for families wanting to escape to Tanzania. The house offers a private pool, tennis court, archery range, gym, and dedicated staff, with stays tailored entirely to guest preferences.

Wildlife is abundant year-round, with game drives, walking safaris, and visits to the local community. Guests can also accompany the anti-poaching unit and meet their bloodhounds, which are amazing to watch in action! Learn all about their work with the local communities, their conservation ethos and how they fight against poaching.

Children can join a mini rangers’ course, learning to track animals, identify plants, and understand bush survival. Activities include frogging, butterfly capture and release, and learning which plants can be used as a toothbrush or for toilet paper! At the end they can pass the popular Ranger’s Test.

Mkombe’s House, Lamai, Tanzania

Mkombe’s House is located in the northern Serengeti, set within the iconic Kogakuria Kopjes with views looking out over the Mara River Valley and the Lamai Wedge.

Beautifully styled, the mud and thatch house has a fresh, contemporary feel whilst leaving a zero footprint. The house can sleep a total of four adults and six children comfortably and there is no minimum age.

Mkombe’s House has a private guide that will tailor your family safari activities on a daily basis. Game drives are the main focus, but it’s also possible to go out on walks, enjoy picnic breakfasts or lunches and sundowners on the rocks.

Youngsters often enjoy scrambling around on the rocks around the camps in search of lizards, hyrax and other harmless creatures. Highlights include spending time in your own house in the bush, reading in a shady spot, or having the odd dip in the pool, with great views.

Ol Jogi, Laikipia, Kenya

Ol Jogi gives true meaning to the word ‘exclusive’. There is no other place on the continent where you can have an entire private 58,000 acre conservancy, with as much diversity of terrain and wildlife, entirely to yourself. Spend your time watching the large herds of elephants, antelopes, reticulated giraffe, zebra, leopard, lion, cheetah, small cats, three species of primates and a stunningly diverse array of birds. They are also home to black rhino and over 10% of the world’s Grévy’s zebra. Ol Jogi has been owned by the Wildenstein family for over 40 years and its core mission is conservation.

The Main House, built into a kopje, offers themed cottages set around tropical gardens, streams, and waterholes. Facilities include a pool, Jacuzzi, spa, hammam, gym, yoga room, and sauna.

Activities range from horse riding and camel treks to bush walks and rock climbing. A hidden tunnel leads to a waterhole hide for close wildlife viewing. For a true highlight, take a private helicopter over Northern Kenya, with options for heli-fishing, visiting the Singing Wells, or exploring the Suguta Desert.

Cottar’s Private Bush Villa, Masai Mara, Kenya

Set within a private concession bordering Tanzania’s Serengeti and the Loliondo Reserve, Cottar’s Private Bush Villa offers an exceptional base in the Maasai Mara. Designed for families and small groups seeking both privacy and immersion, it pairs the seclusion of a private home with the guiding and hospitality that have made Cottar’s renowned.

The villa’s five en-suite bedrooms open onto sweeping savannah views. A generous living room, dining area, and expansive viewing deck create inviting spaces to gather, while a 25-metre pool offers a welcome pause between game drives.

Days here are shaped by expert, privately guided adventures — game drives, night drives, and bush walks reveal the Mara’s extraordinary wildlife at your own pace. Children are engaged by Maasai guides who teach bushcraft including making a campfire, using a bow and arrow, identifying plants, and tracking wildlife.

For a different perspective, the plains can be explored by mountain bike or from above in a hot air balloon at sunrise. Visits to the local Maasai community add a cultural dimension — sharing songs, dances, and traditions that leave lasting impressions, especially for younger travellers.

Grand African Villa – Okonjima, Namibia

Set on the edge of a 22,000-hectare private reserve in central Namibia, the Grand African Villa at Okonjima offers a rare combination of seclusion, comfort, and conservation. Home to the AfriCat Foundation, the villa accommodates just twelve guests across four rooms, making it ideal for families seeking privacy.

The design is organic and understated, with thoughtful touches — menus tailored daily by the villa’s chef, or the option to have your bed rolled out onto the verandah for a night under the stars.

Days here centre on conservation-led experiences. Guests can track leopard and cheetah with researchers, witnessing first-hand the AfriCat Foundation’s work to rehabilitate big cats for release into the wild. A visit to the Rehabilitation Camp reveals how young cheetahs learn essential hunting skills in a protected environment. Okonjima is home to over one hundred cheetahs, many of whom were separated from their mothers before they learnt how to survive on their own.

Beyond wildlife, a guided San Trail offers an insight into the daily life of Namibia’s first people — from making fire to crafting rope. For active families, guided mountain walks reveal animal spoor, traditional plant uses, and sweeping views. Birdwatchers will find over 300 recorded species in the reserve.

Morukuru Farm House, Madikwe Game Reserve, South Africa

Set in South Africa’s malaria-free Madikwe Game Reserve, Morukuru Farm House brings a modern, eco-conscious twist to the bush. Bright and stylish, it offers the comfort and flexibility families need, with a fenced perimeter and nanny service ensuring peace of mind.

Children of all ages are welcome at Morukuru and permitted on game drives. Between safaris, younger guests can enjoy bush walks, spoor tracking, beading, and baking. A large heated infinity pool and outdoor tub for starlit baths add to the sense of relaxed luxury. Days are shaped around your schedule, with activities ranging from fishing and drumming to quiet moments at the Madikwe Hide.

Africa House at Royal Malewane South Africa

Africa House is an elegant, exclusive-use home within a private reserve in the Greater Kruger. Six en-suite bedrooms accommodate up to twelve guests, with a private guide and vehicle offering complete flexibility — ideal for families with younger children.

The children’s programme includes kitchen activities, a “cubs” spa menu, and a junior ranger course. Adults can enjoy superb guiding, close Big Five encounters, and exceptional spa treatments. Nearby experiences range from hot air ballooning and golf to cultural excursions.

Singita Castleton – Greater Kruger, South Africa

Singita Castleton is an exclusive-use lodge located on a private reserve in the Greater Kruger National Park. Steeped in history and originally a family home, it now perfectly combines the elements of a private safari lodge with the rustic charms of a farmhouse.

The main house enjoys attractive living spaces and the six cottages are scattered about the grounds, sleeping 12 in total. Children of all ages are welcome, with activities from archery and games to baking with the chef. The mini rangers’ course covers tracking, astronomy, and survival skills.

Days unfold with game drives, bush walks, mountain biking, or visits to nearby communities. The lodge overlooks an active waterhole, offering wildlife viewing throughout the day. A pool, gym, tennis court, and treatment room complete the experience.

Tswalu Tarkuni – Tswalu Kalahari Game Reserve, South Africa

In the vast, malaria-free Tswalu Kalahari Game Reserve, Tarkuni offers a serene private homestead for up to ten guests. Five suites are arranged around airy shared spaces, a shaded deck, and a tranquil poolside sala.

Families are welcomed with a junior ranger programme featuring archery, tracking, and dune adventures. Babysitting is available at any time. Activities range from game drives and bush walks to horse riding safaris.

You can also bond with meerkats and have the chance to view black-maned lion and desert adapted black rhino, have boma dinners and wine tastings. The main highlight is the sleep-out deck, Malori (meaning ‘dreamer’ in Tswana), which offers guests the unequalled experience of sleeping safely in the wilderness, under the stars.

A stay in Tswalu Conservancy is included in our signature South Africa family safari journey, “Under African Skies”. Explore the itinerary to see how it could fit into a wider South Africa safari.

How to plan your luxury family to safari in Africa

All of these private houses offer fantastic experiences for a family or group of friends wanting to embark upon a life-changing journey together in Africa. These unique private houses offer exquisite locations with the best wildlife, top safari guides, and a range of engaging activities on offer for the entire family.

Even better, you have the knowledge that your safari has a positive impact on the local wildlife and communities by contributing to small and impactful community and conservation projects.

To start planning your bespoke family safari to Africa, get in touch with one of our safari experts. Alternatively, be inspired by our range of expert-curated family journeys.