Your Complete Guide to a Family Friendly Safari in Dubai: 12 Essential Tips
A desert safari is one of Dubai’s most quintessential experiences, a thrilling journey into the heart of the Arabian wilderness. For parents, however, the idea of taking children on such an adventure can bring up a host of questions. Is it safe? Will the kids get bored? What about the food? Is it really an activity for the whole family?
The answer is a resounding yes! With the right planning and by choosing the right operator, a desert safari can be an incredibly magical, educational, and bonding experience for parents and children of all ages. It’s a chance to swap screen time for sand dunes and create unforgettable family memories against a breathtaking backdrop.
This comprehensive guide is designed specifically for parents. We will walk you through every aspect of planning a family friendly safari, from choosing the right package to a detailed breakdown of each activity from a child’s perspective. With these 12 essential tips and insights, you can book your tour with confidence, ensuring a smooth, safe, and spectacular adventure for your entire family.
Choosing the Right Family Friendly Safari Package
Not all safari packages are created equal, especially when you have little ones in tow. Selecting the right type of tour is the first and most important step.
The Classic Evening Safari: Best All-Rounder
The standard evening safari is a fantastic option for families with school-aged children and teenagers. It offers a perfect blend of adventure, culture, food, and entertainment, all packed into a manageable six-hour timeframe. It’s a high-energy experience that keeps older kids engaged and excited from start to finish.
The Private Safari: The Gold Standard for Families
For families, especially those with very young children, toddlers, or infants, a private safari is undoubtedly the superior choice. The extra investment translates directly into safety, comfort, and flexibility.
With a private tour, you get an exclusive 4×4 vehicle for your family. This means you have the space for a car seat, extra bags, and the freedom to stop whenever you need. Most importantly, the entire experience can be customized. You can ask the driver for a milder dune bashing ride, or even skip it altogether and head directly to the camp. This level of control makes it the ultimate family friendly safari option.
The Overnight Safari: An Adventure for Older Kids
For families with older children or teenagers who love camping, an overnight safari can be an epic adventure. It extends the fun and offers a unique opportunity to sleep under the stars, turning the tour into a truly memorable outdoor experience.
A Kid’s-Eye View of Safari Activities: A Detailed Breakdown
Let’s look at each part of the desert safari through the eyes of a child and address the key considerations for parents.
Dune Bashing: The Desert Rollercoaster
- The Thrill Factor: For most kids over the age of three, dune bashing is the absolute highlight. It’s a real-life rollercoaster ride over towering sand dunes. The combination of speed, sliding, and G-forces is pure, unadulterated fun that will have them laughing and screaming with delight.
- Safety First: This is the primary concern for any parent. A reputable family friendly safari operator prioritizes safety above all else. Drivers are highly trained professionals, and the vehicles are equipped with roll cages. It is mandatory for everyone, including children, to wear a seatbelt.
- Age and Health Restrictions: Most companies have a minimum age of 3 years for dune bashing. It is not recommended for infants, toddlers, or anyone with motion sickness issues.
- The “Skip It” Option: The beauty of a private tour from a provider like https://royaldesertadventures.ae/ is flexibility. If you have an infant or a child who is nervous, your guide can take you on a gentle desert drive or go directly to the campsite, ensuring you don’t miss out on the rest of the evening’s fun.
Camel Riding: Meeting the Gentle Giants
- The Experience for Kids: The wonder in a child’s eyes as they get up close to a real camel is priceless. The ride itself is a gentle, swaying journey that feels magical. It’s a calm and delightful experience that provides a fantastic photo opportunity.
- Safety Considerations: Children can usually ride on the same camel with a parent, sitting securely in front of them. Older, more confident children may be able to ride their own camel, but this is always at the discretion of the experienced camel handler who will ensure their safety.
Sandboarding: Surfing the Golden Slopes
- Fun for All Ages: Sandboarding is another activity that kids absolutely love. It’s like sledding but on soft, warm sand. While teenagers might try to master standing up, younger children will have a blast simply sitting on the board and sliding down a gentle slope.
- Parental Tips: The safari guide will choose a safe dune with a gentle incline and a flat run-out area. It’s a very safe activity, and since the landing is on soft sand, tumbles are part of the fun.
The Bedouin Camp: A Desert Playground
The camp itself is a fantastic environment for children. After being in a car, the wide, open, and sandy space is a perfect place for them to run around and burn off some energy in a safe, enclosed area.
Henna Tattoos: Temporary Art
This is often a huge hit, especially with young girls. It’s a chance to get a beautiful, temporary tattoo applied by a skilled artist. A family friendly safari will always use 100% natural, plant-based brown henna that is completely safe for children’s skin.
Arabic Costumes: A Fun Dress-Up Session
The camp provides traditional Emirati attire (Kanduras for boys and Abayas for girls) for a fun dress-up and photo session. Kids love the chance to try on different clothes and pose for memorable family pictures.
The Entertainment: A Captivating Spectacle
- The Tanura Dance: This spinning dance is visually hypnotic and captivates children with its colorful, illuminated skirts.
- The Fire Show: The grand finale is a thrilling spectacle that kids find absolutely mesmerizing. The daring tricks and giant flames are a huge crowd-pleaser for all ages.
The Food: A Kid-Friendly Feast
The buffet at a family friendly safari is designed to appeal to all tastes. Alongside the delicious Arabic mezze and grilled meats for the adults, there are always plenty of kid-friendly options like french fries, pasta, mild chicken skewers, and simple rice dishes, ensuring even the pickiest eaters will find something they enjoy.
A Parent’s Survival Checklist: 12 Essential Tips for a Smooth Trip
- Choose a Reputable Operator: This is the most important tip. Book with a company that has a proven track record and excellent reviews mentioning family-friendliness, like https://royaldesertadventures.ae/.
- Opt for a Private Tour: If your budget allows, the flexibility, comfort, and enhanced safety of a private car is worth every penny when traveling with kids.
- Discuss the Itinerary: Talk to your children about what to expect before the trip. Showing them pictures and videos of the activities can build excitement and reduce any anxiety.
- Pack a “Kid’s Kit”: Prepare a small bag with essentials: wet wipes, hand sanitizer, any necessary medications, a favorite small toy or activity book for the car ride, and some familiar snacks and a water bottle.
- Dress for Success: Dress your children in lightweight, loose-fitting clothing. Cotton is ideal. Pack a warm sweater or fleece for each child, as the desert gets very cool as soon as the sun sets.
- Don’t Forget Sun Protection: A wide-brimmed hat, children’s sunglasses, and a high-SPF sunscreen are non-negotiable for protecting them from the desert sun.
- Hydration is Key: Ensure your children drink plenty of water throughout the day leading up to the safari and during the tour itself.
- Prepare for Motion Sickness: If your child is prone to motion sickness, give them their usual medication before the dune bashing. A private tour allows you to request a much gentler ride.
- Set Restroom Expectations: The camp will have modern toilets, but there are no facilities out in the open desert during the dune bashing and sunset stop. A portable potty for toddlers can be a lifesaver.
- Safety at the Camp: While the camps are safe, they can be busy. Establish a clear meeting point and ensure you always know where your children are.
- Timing is Everything: The evening safari can mean a late night for little ones. Consider a nap in the afternoon before the tour to ensure they have enough energy to enjoy the whole evening.
- Embrace the Adventure: The best tip is to relax and have fun. Your positive and enthusiastic attitude is contagious. A desert safari is a wonderful opportunity to be adventurous as a family.
You can browse a wide range of tour options on platforms like https://dubaidesertsafarie.com/ or https://hafiztourism.com/, but be sure to use this checklist to vet if they are a truly family friendly safari.
Conclusion: Crafting Unforgettable Family Memories
A desert safari in Dubai is far more than just a tour; it’s a magical classroom and an adventure playground rolled into one. It’s a chance for your children to see, taste, and experience a different culture and a majestic natural landscape. From the thrill of the dunes to the wonder of riding a camel, every moment is an opportunity to create a core family memory.
By choosing a family friendly safari and following a few simple tips, you can ensure the experience is seamless, safe, and spectacularly fun for everyone. It is an adventure that your family will be talking about for years to come.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the absolute minimum age for a desert safari? For tours that include dune bashing, the minimum age is typically 3 years old. However, for families with infants and toddlers under 3, it is possible to book a private tour where the dune bashing portion is skipped, and the driver takes you directly to the camp.
2. Can I bring my own baby car seat for the 4×4 vehicle? Yes, and it is highly recommended. If you book a private tour, you can absolutely bring and install your own car seat to ensure the highest level of safety for your little one. This is not usually possible on a shared tour due to space and logistics.
3. Are there high chairs or baby-changing facilities at the desert camp? Most camps do not have high chairs, as the seating is typically low majlis-style. However, all reputable camps have clean, modern restroom facilities, and while they may not have dedicated changing tables, they provide a clean and private space for you to change your baby.
4. What happens if my child gets scared during the dune bashing? On a private tour, this is easy to manage. You can simply ask the driver to stop or to make the ride much gentler. On a shared tour, the driver has to consider all guests, but you can still communicate your child’s discomfort, and they will do their best to accommodate.
5. Is the food on the buffet too spicy or exotic for children? Not at all. A family friendly safari buffet is designed with all tastes in mind. Alongside the Arabic dishes, you will always find a selection of kid-friendly favorites like french fries, plain pasta, noodles, and mild grilled chicken skewers.
6. How long is the camel ride, and is it safe for a toddler? The included camel ride is typically a short 5-minute ride. It is very safe for a toddler, who would be seated securely on the camel in front of a parent. The experienced handlers ensure the ride is smooth and safe for all ages.
7. Are there any activities that are not suitable for children? The only activity that requires parental discretion is the belly dancing performance, depending on your family’s cultural views. All other activities, from the Tanura dance and fire show to henna and sandboarding, are overwhelmingly popular with children.
8. What should my child wear on their feet? Closed-toe shoes like trainers are the best option. They protect the feet from the hot sand and are comfortable for walking and running around. It’s a good idea to pack a pair of socks as well, as sand can get into shoes.
9. Is there a lot of walking involved? There is not a lot of strenuous walking. There is some walking on soft sand at the sunset stop and around the campsite, but it is generally very manageable for children.
10. What is the best way to keep my child entertained during the car ride? The drive to the desert is usually about 45-60 minutes. While the changing landscape is interesting, it’s a good idea to bring a small, non-messy activity like a coloring book, a tablet with headphones, or play some family car games to keep them entertained.
11. Is the overnight desert safari a good option for families? For families with older children (6+) or teenagers who enjoy camping, an overnight safari can be a fantastic and memorable adventure. For families with toddlers and very young children, the late night and rustic sleeping arrangements might be too challenging.
12. Are there medical facilities at the camp? All safari vehicles and camps are equipped with a comprehensive first-aid kit, and all safari guides are trained in basic first aid. For any serious medical issue, the guide would coordinate transport to the nearest medical facility in the city.
13. Can my children interact with the falcon at a falconry show? Children can watch the impressive falconry show from a safe distance. During the supervised photo opportunity at the end, older, calmer children may be allowed to wear the glove and hold the falcon under the strict guidance of the falconer.
14. Are there special prices for children? Yes, all tour operators offer a reduced price for children. The typical age bracket for a child’s ticket is from 3 to 10 or 11 years old. Children under 3 are often free of charge, but they must be on a private tour if they are to go to the desert.
15. What if my child has a food allergy? It is crucial to inform the tour operator about any food allergies at the time of booking. A professional family friendly safari provider like https://royaldesertadventures.ae/ will take this very seriously and can guide you on which buffet items are safe or arrange for a special meal to be prepared.
16. Is sandboarding safe for a 5-year-old? Yes, it’s very safe and fun. A 5-year-old would not be expected to stand up on the board. Instead, they can sit on the board, hold on to the front, and slide down a gentle slope like a sled. It’s a highlight for most young children.
17. What is the atmosphere at the camp like for families? The atmosphere is very welcoming, festive, and family-oriented. You will see many other families with children of all ages. It is not a party atmosphere but rather a cultural and entertainment-focused evening suitable for everyone.
18. Should I choose a safari in a conservation reserve? Yes, if possible. Safaris that operate in a protected area like the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve (DDCR) often offer a more authentic and educational experience. There’s a greater chance of seeing wildlife like Arabian Oryx, which is a wonderful learning experience for children.
19. How do I keep my child warm when the temperature drops? The key is layering. Have them wear a t-shirt and light pants, but bring a warm fleece jacket or hoodie and even a beanie hat for the evening. As soon as the sun sets, the temperature can drop quickly, and you will be glad you have these extra layers.
20. What is the single most important factor for a successful family safari? Choosing a reputable and professional tour operator. A good company will prioritize your family’s safety and comfort above all else, providing skilled drivers, well-maintained vehicles, and a high-quality camp experience, ensuring a stress-free and magical adventure for everyone.
