What are “Framilies” & why go on a Framily Safari?
These unbelievable private houses are why you should get away with your closest friends and family, not to mention in the surrounding areas; some of the purest and most mezmerizing natural scenes on the planet today.
As people are having less and less children, research is showing a surge in young “framilies”. A framily is what the name suggests; friends which are so close they are basically family members & their kids grow up closely with the other “chosen family”. Where better to combine your family and closest friends than on a once in a lifetime African Safari?
Below we have put together some of the best private houses in Africa which allows framilies from all over the world to enjoy complete exclusivity with their chosen loved ones in some of the only remaining complete wildernesses on earth; the wild African bush. From private butlers to swimming pool & watering hole galore, we have selected the best of the best private safari houses to be remembered fondly by kids and friends alike for years to come… Not a family argument in sight!
Bailey’s Banda, Beho Beho
Bailey’s Banda is set in the wild and vast Selous Game Reserve in the south of Tanzania. Beho Beho is the main lodge which this fabulous banda belongs to. Here, you can enjoy absolute exclusivity in one of the quietest parks on the continent. With walking safaris, boating, fishing and of course game drives, there is so much here to keep both young and old entertained with fond memories lasting a lifetime. The actual banda is huge & provides a pool as well as all the comforts you could ever need from the African bush – it is beautiful & our top pick for those wanting to enjoy a bit of relaxed safari before hopping on a 45 minute flight to the beaches of Zanzibar.
Selous Game Reserve, Tanzania
Kiba Point, Sand Rivers
Kiba Point offers the ultimate Tanzania safari barefoot luxury. Exclusive & located on the beautiful Rufiji River, there is no better location or safari house for a really diverse & private safari experience for the whole framily. Kiba Point is truly very spacious with four very well appointed rooms, and a private team of staff and guides to make your stay very personalised and special. From here you have amazing access to the river below & also to activities such as fishing, boating and even for the adventurous, fly camping…
Selous Game Reserve, Tanzania
Mkombe House, Nomad Lamai
Also in Tanzania, Mkombe House sits surrounded by Northern Serengeti’s beautiful & dramatic kopjes. As well as being in amongst breath-taking nature, Mkombe House is within a short 15 minute drive of the infamous Great Wildebeest Migration river crossings. Instead of sitting with your framily on an eve watching Attenborough narrate this spectacle of nature, why not go and see it for yourself whilst staying in one of the most enviable places in Tanzania…?
Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
Chongwe House
Sleeping eight people & nestled in the depths of the beautiful South Luangwa National Park, Chongwe House is for the adventurous framily seeking intimacy in the wild. It sits on the Chongwe River, which runs into the mighty and famous Zambezi. The fishing here is amongst the best in the world so for a group with this particular interest, there is nowhere better. Although the surrounding area is teeming with wildlife & you will certainly have action packed game drives, the private pool means really, if you’re tired, no one has to do anything at all…
South Luangwa National Park, Zambia
Luangwa House
Luangwa House is also situated in the South Luangwa Valley so offers a safari experience which is up there with the best on the whole continent. However, if you and your framily decide to take this wonderful private house for maybe a whole week, you may want to use the facilities & relax but be scared to miss out on all the safari action in the bush. Well Luangwa House offers a neat solution to this with its lagoon in front of the camp, attracting large numbers of animals to its waters. You may not need to even leave the luxury of the property to experience some incredible wildlife action… What more could you want?
South Luangwa National Park, Zambia
Jabali Ridge
Wow. Jabali Ridge is somewhere completely different to anything else in Tanzania. You wind around the Kopjes to get to your room & when you are there you feel star struck by the intricately designed rooms which wind their way through the surrounding nature. The view is also incredible – inside and out this is a stunning first class private safari house just set apart from the main lodge. Ruaha itself is incredible with hardly any tourists & an unbelievable amount of wildlife as well as night drives & walking safaris for all to enjoy. But don’t tell anyone! Our advice would be to get to this park before everyone else realises how incredible it is…
Ruaha National Park, Tanzania
Laragai House
Set on the Borana Private Reserve on the edge of the Laikipia Plateau, Laragai House has got to be one of the most desirable places to bring your family and friends to in the world. With sensational views, complete privacy, activities for days and wildlife galore; Laragai House makes a setting fit for even a royal framily get together…
Borana Private Reserve, Kenya
Tswalu – The Motse
“Designed for families” this is actually a haven for friends and families alike. Based in South Africa & easily combinable with other attractions such as the fabulous Cape Town, Tswalu offers enough room for a small army. Each suite is spaciously designed with en-suite bathrooms & a beautiful main area fit for a group of no more than 24. It is the ultimate big framily safari house choice… Not a family argument in sight!
Tswalu, South Africa
Zarafa Dowh Suite
For a small framily, Zarafa Dhow Suite offers complete intimate privacy in the Selinda Reserve, Botswana. With Botswana’s famed & incredible wildlife, and two connected suites offering every mod con & luxury you could imagine; Zarafah Dhow Suite offers a slice of peaceful luxury overlooking a watery lagoon with some of the most condensed wildlife on the continent. If you are after an utterly relaxing and private framily house, then it doesn’t get much more exclusive & intimate as this luxury find in the beautiful Botswana plains.
Selinda Game Reserve, Botswana
For more information on how to plan a Framily Safari, please do just give us a call or drop us an email… Family are bad enough to organise, but both friends and family can be a nightmare! Let the experts here at Africa Odyssey take the stress out of the organising for you. For further reading, a good place to start is our Family Safari page.
