Lalibela Mark’s Camp

At Mark’s Camp, families with children of a similar age share a game drive, so everyone on board can keep up. It is a small detail that sums up this relaxed lodge in Lalibela Wildlife Reserve, where the whole camp is built around safaris with children.

The camp sits in a wide valley in the malaria-free Eastern Cape, set above a busy waterhole that draws roaming wildlife and plenty of birdlife. You can watch the comings and goings from the pool deck, the lounge or your own private deck.

Out on the reserve, the Big Five share the landscape with cheetah, hyena and caracal, and there are no public roads to disturb the peace. Between drives, children aged two and over join a programme of scavenger hunts, rock painting, bird spotting and animal track identification. The youngest stay with experienced nannies, so parents can head out on safari knowing their little ones are in good hands.

Meals are served in the indoor dining room or around the fire in the outdoor boma, with a special menu for under-eights. The camp is discreetly fenced, there are two swimming pools, and a large open fireplace keeps things cosy on cooler evenings.

ACCOMMODATION

The stone and thatch chalets are decorated in a vibrant Pan-African style, and each one opens onto a private deck with views over the bush. Rooms have air conditioning, ceiling fans, a coffee station and a safe, while the en-suite bathrooms have walk-in showers and his and hers basins. Classic rooms suit two adults and a child under seven on a daybed. Family rooms have partitioned sleeping areas, giving parents and children their own space. The Family Suite has two en-suite bedrooms and a spacious shared lounge.