Our Christmas gift guide for safari kids
Our top gifts for safari kids
Christmas is fast approaching so we thought we’d share with you our top safari gift ideas for your adventure seeking kids. Whether you are looking for games or books to entertain the kids on the flight or in camp, or safari clothing to the kids can match the guides, we have got some fabulous ideas for you.
Set the scene with a safari-themed book
Before you head off on your adventure you might like to set the scene by reading one of these highly recommended books with your children. There will also be time in between game drives to curl up on a day bed and read a book.
We all went on safari by Laurie Krebs
Ugly Five by Julia Donaldson
Let’s Explore Safari by Lonely Planet
Our Planet Children Book by David Attenborough
Wildlife of East Africa: A Photographic Guide by Dave Richards
Family fun games to bring you all together
These games are hot favourties with our own children and are great played together around a camp fire or whilst chilling before an afternoon game drive. Safari Trumps by Banana Box and Dobble Animals and are all fun card games for the family, and IQ Puzzler provides hours of entertainment.
Get the kids looking the part in safari clothing
Your kids will blend into the landscape on safari and on the beach in these brilliant safari clothes. Stay protected from the sun in a Safari Hat from The Little Adventure Shop and keep warm in a cosy Jack Wolfskin fleece in the chilly mornings before the sun rises. Keep the bugs away with these brilliant BUGTech Zip-off safari trousers from The Safari Store and add some colour to their outfits on the beach with a Kikoy or pair of Kikoy shorts from Bushbells.
Stocking filler accessories to make the kids look like professionals
The kids will feel like a safari expert with a pair of Carson Hawk Kids Binoculars and they won’t then need to borrow yours! A Jack Wolfksin Backpack is the perfect bag for taking on a game drive or nature walk, or if the they want something smaller, a camo waist bag and bottle from The Little Adventure Shop will help them fit right in.
A little something special…
For those families with a Kenya trip on the horizon, adopting an elephant from the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is a truly special gift that not only brings joy to the children but also helps to give an elephant a better quality of life. Adopt your elephant and then plan a special visit to him/her while you are in Nairobi.
And let’s not forget about the parents
Treat your partner to a pair of ‘pyjamas with purpose’ from Elizabeth Scarlett where each pair supports animal conservation charities. And for the men, these Maasai crafted belts from Manyatta come in a range of colours and you can also get one to match the tribal area you might be going to in Kenya.
Coral Tree Girls Fund
Introducing the Coral Tree Girls Fund
The Coral Tree Girls Fund has been an integral part of Coral Tree since inception.
Our family has been investing in the education of girls in one way or another for decades. When the time came for us to launch our travel business, the vision included a non-negotiable ‘making a difference’ element.
It was clear to us that we could support our family’s already existing efforts in Kenya and aim to expand these as we grow. We are currently supporting 3 local girls through their education, and by the end of 2022 we aim to be supporting twice that.
Paying it forward
In the area of the Rift Valley in which our family is based in Kenya, an education is not something that is guaranteed for anyone, especially not girls. Pressures exist not only for them to go straight from childhood to motherhood, but also to stay at home. The family finances often prioritise the education of boys over girls.
I’m one of two daughters whose education has been firmly supported and encouraged all my life. I know first-hand what a difference it makes to motivation, self-esteem and overall success. The Coral Tree Girls Fund is one of the ways I choose to pay this forward through our Coral Tree Projects.
A safe space to learn
Through the Coral Tree Girls Fund, we support girls education from a financial point of view (more of which later). We also support the girls from a physical and emotional perspective.
We take them shopping for term-time essentials and provide them with a quiet environment in which to do their homework. They are able to access any online learning resources they need, and get help to go over test results. We help them understand anything they might have got wrong, and in the school holidays they come to us for more learning support. We’re also a source of pre-exam cramming, encouragement and celebration when the desired results are achieved.
We had one such celebration recently – Charity Chikuruyi did exceptionally well in her exams, achieving an overall score of 370 out of 500. Her hard work has paid off and she now stands a very good chance of getting into one of Kenya’s top schools, and her preferred one at that. One big step closer to achieving her dream of becoming a doctor! We celebrated with lemon drizzle cake, and ginger beer. Then we watched a film with all the other students.
These one-to-one sessions, in a caring and supportive environment the girls an opportunity to discuss anything else they wish. They sometimes need help with family life, the trials and tribulations of adolescence, health matters, etc.
How your holiday helps the Coral Tree Girls Fund
Every holiday we book contributes directly to the Fund. This way our clients are supporting the Fund, but not paying extra to do so. We send out a biannual progress report on the Coral Tree Girls Fund as part of our regular newsletter. Let us know here if you’d like to be kept updated, or if you’d like to make a contribution beyond what we already do.
From the girls, and from us, thank you for your support.
