Family Friendly Lodges

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	Sarova Hotels
12 Pummery Square, Poundbury, Dorchester, Dorset DT1 3GW			MAP
tel: (01305) 751 510

In Kenya, three safari camps plus hotels in Nairobi and Mombasa.

For Children

At Sarova Shaba, Lion Hill Lodge and Sarova Mara (the National Park properties) there are Junior Activities, the children divided into groups 4-8 years, 9-12 years and 12+. They learn bush craft; go on savannah bundu walks - with bow and arrow, accompanied by a tribesman (in archery club they learn how to make their own spears and arrows); learn how to light fires without matches; spend the night in a traditional Samburu manyatta (African homestead); and visit a local school, the visitors encouraged to bring photographs of their home life to show. There is also camel racing, sleeping under the stars and - learning traditional nomadic games and informative video evenings in the children's club house, lounging on straw mats.

At Whitesands there are beach walks with resident naturalists; history tours through the old Fort Jesus area; fashion shows, magic shows; horse riding on the beach; and a team of animators to organize more standard resort activities plus a children's disco. Also on offer are body boarding and scuba diving with PADI professionals; pool water polo and volleyball; plus Pirates and the Land of Zenj session, children dressing as ancient traders for history games.

At the city properties there are family fun days featuring magicians and cultural talents such as Mkamba carvers; visits to the Natural History museum; a visit to Daphne Sheldrick and her family of 20 orphaned elephants who can sometimes be bottlefed; trips to Nairobi National Park and the New Safari Park walk.

Sample Price

A family of four (both children under 12) in two rooms can stay at Lion Hill in July for US$315 per night full board. (A child aged 2-12, sharing with two adults pays 25% of the room rate, in a room of their own the price is 75% of the room rate.)