Ages, car seats, motion sickness, nap times — the family version of the safari, from parents who run them.
Children are the easiest guests on a desert safari — camels, sand and the sea do the entertaining. The things parents worry about (car seats, motion sickness, heat, timing) are all solvable with a bit of planning. Here is what we tell every family who books with us.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Minimum age | None; bashing from ~4 |
| Child price | $45 (3–11), infants free |
| Car seats | Free on request |
| Best format | Private 4x4, 15:30 pickup |
| Duration | 5–6 hours |
Ages and what suits them
| Age | What works | What to skip |
|---|---|---|
| 0–3 | Gentle drive, camp, paddling at the Inland Sea | Dune bashing, sandboarding |
| 4–7 | Mild dune bashing, camel ride, sandboarding with a parent | Long overnight in summer |
| 8–12 | Full safari, sandboarding solo, overnight camping | — |
| Teens | Everything, including the quad-bike add-on at Sealine (16+) | — |
Car seats, seat belts and safety
Child seats are free on request and we fit them before pickup; tell us ages when booking. Everyone wears a seat belt in the dunes, drivers are desert-certified and the intensity is adjusted to the youngest passenger. Families almost always book the private vehicle so the driver can go gentle while nobody else misses out — at $260 for up to six it is often cheaper than shared seats for a family of five.
Timing that works with naps and bedtime
The sunset safari picks up at 14:30 and returns around 20:00 — fine for children over 5. For toddlers, book the morning safari (6 am pickup, back by 10) or a private vehicle with a 15:30 pickup and ask to head back straight after sunset. Bring snacks: the camp has water and soft drinks but dinner is only on the overnight version.
Pack list for families
- Sun hats, SPF 50, sunglasses — the sand reflects.
- Swimwear, towel and a change of clothes; sand gets everywhere.
- Snacks, a refillable water bottle, wet wipes.
- Motion-sickness tablets for anyone over 6 who gets car-sick; sit them in front.
- A light jacket in winter for the drive home.
Sandboarding with small children works best when a parent sits behind them on the board — ask the camp team, they will show you.
What the kids will remember
In our experience, in order: sliding down the dune on a board, the moment the camel stands up, running down the big dune into the sea, the driver's 'rollercoaster' section, and karak with the camp team. Museums are for later; this is the day they will talk about at school.
Toilets, food and the practical stuff
- Toilets at Sealine (proper) and at the camp (basic). None between — plan a stop at Sealine.
- Water and soft drinks are provided; bring snacks and anything the children will actually eat.
- Prams do not work on sand; a carrier does for under-2s.
- Nappies and wipes: bring what you need and take used ones back — the reserve has no bins.
- Sun: apply SPF before pickup and again at the Inland Sea; the camp has shade.
If someone gets car-sick
It happens to about one child in twenty. Tell the driver immediately — they stop, open the doors, and the fresh air on a dune crest fixes most cases in five minutes. Sitting in front, looking at the horizon and a tablet an hour before pickup prevent almost all of it. Keep a bag handy; we do.
BookableFamily desert safari — private 4x4Gentle dune route, free child seats, camel rides and sandboarding. $260 per vehicle for up to six, or shared seats from $45 per child.Book a family safariFAQs
There is no legal minimum. We take infants (free, in a car seat) on the gentle route; dune bashing proper is best from about age 4. Children 3–11 pay the child rate of $45.
