We Took Our 3 Year Old on Safari and the Unthinkable Happened

COUNTLESS online forums recommend waiting to take your kid on safari. "They won't remember it." "You'll be miserable." I say, screw that! Take them young. Self-driving in the Kruger National Park is a lovely option for families with young children to get out and enjoy bush vibes. We had an incredible time, even when everything took a turn for the worst. I do want to emphasize, from an American perspective, this looks like some insane undertaking. But South Africans take their kids on safari at a very young age - we saw some tiny tinies out there. SANParks has plenty of facilities for families including kids’ menus at restaurants, family-friendly cottages, playgrounds at the major camps, kid items in the shops, and so much more. So if you’re looking to take a 3 year old on safari, look no further than Kruger Park. Oh, and before the internet comes after me. Your child IS NOT required to be in a carseat in the Kruger Park. Speed limits are very slow. It explicitly says on the entry rules you sign that children are allowed to be free in the car, but they cannot sit in the driver's seat. So we are 100% following the rules and this is one of the big "kid perks" of being in the park. Bonus points for making the long drives days more exciting for littles. Be sure to checked the pinned comment for a few additional tips! Follow me over on Instagram for more family adventures:   / megintheforest   Backpacking and camping gear that elevated our safari experience 👇 OR Astroman Sun Hoodie: https://alnk.to/fSiBG9O Snapfolds UL Bowl: https://alnk.to/c09W6w0 Kula Cloth Pee Rag: https://alnk.to/5Q7pLD5 Garmin inReach Mini: https://rei.pxf.io/JKvV0q Gerber Dime Multi-Tool: https://rei.pxf.io/zx5b3r Kid’s binoculars: https://amzn.to/4ysxtaS Sea to Summit X-lite collapsable mug: https://rei.pxf.io/X4oR2a Spork: https://rei.pxf.io/oNPvo9 Soft-sided cooler (we packed this in a duffle and brought it with us, priceless!): https://rei.pxf.io/B5e9RL Honestly, it doesn’t need to be a Yeti, I got this one for free, but something that has a bit of structure and ample insulation to stop the cooler from leaking in the car is required. NOTE These are affiliate links. I get a small kickback from every purchase, no matter the purchase, at no additional cost to you. This is a small way you can show support for my channel and it means a lot, so thank you! Official info on Kruger National Park, including bookings and more. https://www.sanparks.org/parks/kruger Music license License code: 2GUZMJ85PRJUTNES License code: UD972RRSYDZ6IWOY License code: QTFL8NAGDU18Q5T1 License code: ZSWFPSC6OZ6J0JGP License code: 1QKZZHQ1YDABXVUD #outdoorvlog #adventurevlog #familytravel #krugernationalpark #familysafari #southafricatravel Time stamps: 00:00 Intro 01:11 Accessing Kruger 02:07 Tour of Cottage Accommodation 03:17 When things go horribly wrong 07:32 Kruger Rest Camp Amenities 08:17 Are we going to the hospital? 10:00 Berg en Dal Rest Camp 14:13 What to expect on safari with a 3 preschooler 16:46 Skukuza Rest Camp 18:07 What to Pack 21:32 Outro