At Tinga Legends Lodge we encourage parents to visit with their kids (6 years or older) as there are few experiences in this world that can beat the genuine interest and excitement of a child when going on safari to search for their favourite Lion King character. We do, however, know that it’s daunting to do this for the first time, so we thought we’d give you some information to help you plan…

Food
Let us know what you and your kids like to eat and we’ll do our best to accommodate your requirements with healthy, tasty food and snacks. We try to use as much locally grown produce as we can, because it just tastes better. We can’t promise though that a few marshmallows won’t find their way into the boma dinner menu to be toasted and enjoyed around the fire.

Suites
We’ve got two large family suites at Tinga Legends which are perfect for families with up to two children, ten years to six. Each suite has twin beds and a comfortable sleeper-couch. The suites all have their own pools, which keep your kids entertained during the middle of the day when we generally don’t have kids activities as it is a little too warm.  

Activities
We’ve got a whole array of activities for you and your family to choose from. You can opt for as many or few as you feel like; the choice is yours. These are some of the activities we offer:

• Adult safari drives are available to all children who are six years and older. Open safari vehicles are used.
• Survival Spoor Identification:- Our ranger and tracker take the children on an adventurous excursion into the bush, around waterholes & dry riverbeds. The objective is to teach the kids how to identify & age spoor using basic techniques.
• Testing Tracking:- After learning how to identify spoor, the children get a chance to track an animal with their tracker & ranger, very exciting!  For obvious safety reasons, the Big 5 animals are not tracked.  Spoor such as Baboon, Giraffe or Zebra will be used to track. If no spoor can be found, the team will be split into 2 teams, and 1 team will track the other team.  This is not only great fun but is quite exciting and competitive at the same time, especially out in the wild.
• Spoor Moulds: Whilst learning spoor and animal tracking, if any interesting spoor (such as Lion or Leopard) is found… Spoor Casts can be made as a reminder of the tracking experience which will add to the adventure of being out in the wild and will allow the children to have “take home value”, which will be educational and memorable. 
• Orientation: Get lost often! Never Fear, our Field Ranger Team will show your children how to get UN-LOST.  They will learn how to use a compass, a map, and natural direction indicators to get themselves “home” or in this case, back to the lodge. A real lifesaving talent no matter where you are in the world.
• Basic Bush Survival: Still lost! Do NOT stress.  Here are a few ways to procure food, medicine & most importantly water. Due to the amount of educational value on offer, each section is broken down into sessions which will allow the children to adapt to the wild. An in depth lesson in what is safe to eat, how to tell if something is edible or not, how to make rope for snares and ultimately, how to survive. Man needs water to survive as do animals, big and small. Their ranger and tracker will educate them where and how to find this “gold in the wild”.  How to replace it with some other form if need be as there may be no water. How to purify it (or find fresher water), and, last but by no means least, how to trust the animals which will take them to water, if they know what to look for which is very exciting and more importantly, knowledgeable.
• Nature’s OWN Medicine: Our Field Ranger Team will show the children what can be used in nature…the natural insect repellant really does come in handy!
• Crafty Arts & Crafts: Enjoy making something memorable using your creative juices and your hands? Our Field Ranger Team will show the children, whilst sitting under a 800 year old Jackalberry tree, rope-making techniques using tree bark, dental hygiene & how to make a the perfect head-cover that doubles as protective camouflage, not just from the sun but from the animals in the wild.
• Astronomy for all: Sure to impress their parents, grandparents, friends or just about everybody who is interested in stars. Their ranger will educate them on an interesting and easily memorable lesson on stars and how to even identify certain constellations. Getting lost at night will become a thing of the past as they will be taught to navigate using the stars.
• Be the FIELD RANGER: Not for the faint-hearted…if the children have been staying with us for a while and have managed to do all the children’s activities listed above they should know how to survive the bush!  They will be dropped off in a specific designated place and will be encouraged to find their way back to their lodge.  NOT to worry, their designated FIELD RANGER will be with them every vital step of the way. They will lead the way, using some and sometimes, all the skills they have learnt.
• Treasure Hunt: The “masters of finding treasure”, then this activity, they will love. They can do a treasure hunt around the lodge where they can collect tantalizing treasure along the way.  The Treasure Prince or Treasure Princess (the winner) will receive a fantastical prize at the end of his or her hunt. (this will be done under the supervision of one of the operational staff at the lodge)
• Bug Hunting: Locating bugs in and around the lodge and/or whilst on game drive and identifying them.
• Delicious Cookie Baking (bad weather alternative): The children can decorate their own chef hats beforehand before they begin to prepare the cookies, all different shapes and sizes, for their own tea that afternoon before they go out on game drive, weather permitting.
• Decorating Cupcakes (bad weather alternative): Decorating cupcakes is fun and delicious.
• Some MORE Cooking (bad weather alternative): Make their own Pizzas’. Prepare the dough, select and prepare their own toppings and wait for the kitchen to produce their prepared meal.  Definitely an activity that is fun and yummy at the same time.
• Perfect Painting (bad weather alternative): All the treasure, either man made and/or that they have collected in nature, they can use to paint and create gifts for their families and friends back home.
• Kids Talk (bad weather alternative): Their Field Ranger will chat to them about simple and basic methods of survival Interesting and useful.
• Beading at Best (bad weather alternative): Put their creative caps on and make necklaces and bracelets, for boys and girls. This can be produced with a traditional slant or a contemporary flair.  This will give them wonderful memories of their time at Tinga or present the perfect gift for family and/or friends at home.
• Board games (bad weather alternative): A miniature games tournament can be put together as we have a wonderful selection of appropriate and educational games for children of all ages.
• Movie Magic (bad weather alternative): A selection of dvd’s are available and “movie magic” can be arranged at specific times to take the children into a world of make believe – popcorn and all good movie value adds is part of the experience.

All of the above activities will be hosted by our managers, so if you wish to slip away for a little R&R you can do this knowing you won’t be missed because your little ones are in excellent hands!

Costs
We understand that family holidays can be expensive, so we only charge 50% of the adult rate for kids from six to fifteen. We also don’t charge additional costs for any of the activities listed above (however there are a few basic terms and conditions that apply to this offer).

Rules
For everyone’s safety and best interests, there are a few rules that you need to be aware of, and comply with. But we are confident that these will not take anything away from an incredible safari experience for the entire family.

• No walks for kids under 16 years of age;
• Families who book a private vehicle can go on safari drives anytime. However, there is a surcharge for this and this vehicle is subject to availability;

Please feel free to contact us if you have any specific questions, as the more information we get before your arrival, the better prepared we will be for you and your family.