Questions, answered.
Everything you need to know before we begin planning your family's journey.
WHO WE ARE & WHO WE’RE FOR
Who is House of Wild designed for?
We work with families who want to experience Africa privately, comfortably, and without compromise. Most of our clients are travelling with young children and value thoughtful planning, seamless logistics, and exceptional properties.
What ages do you specialise in?
We specialise in families travelling with children aged 6 months to 6 years — those early years where the right planning makes all the difference.
That said, we design journeys for families of all ages. The difference is simply in how we approach the experience.
Why do you specialise in such young children?
Because nobody else really does, and the gap is significant. Travelling with a baby or a toddler requires a completely different approach to planning. Sleep schedules, feeding logistics, the right vehicle setup, properties with the right staff-to-family ratios - these details are everything when you have a 9-month-old. We've built our entire framework around getting this right from the start.
My children are older — can you still help us?
Absolutely. We design journeys for families across all ages. Our specialisation is in the early years, but the care we put into planning doesn't change based on how old your children are. If anything, you benefit from an agency that already knows how to think about the whole family picture, not just the adults.
We've never done a safari before. Is that a problem?
It's actually quite common. Many of our clients are first-time safari travellers who want to do it properly rather than figure it out themselves. We'll walk you through everything — what to expect, how to prepare, what to pack, and what the days will actually look like with young children in tow.
OUR OFFERING
What does "luxury" actually mean to you?
It's less about thread counts and more about how a trip feels. Luxury, to us, means never being rushed. It means a guide who knows your toddler's name by day two. It means a lodge that has thought about what a 3-year-old needs at dinner. It means you're not problem-solving on holiday - someone else already has.
Why work with House of Wild instead of booking directly?
We design journeys that go far beyond selecting lodges. From choosing the right properties for your children's ages, to structuring travel days around your family's rhythm, to securing the most suitable rooms and guides - every detail is considered.
You're not just booking a trip, you're stepping into a fully supported experience.
Why do you charge a booking fee when other agencies don't?
Most agencies earn their income through commission alone, which means their recommendations are shaped by what pays them best. Our booking fee means we work for you. The properties we suggest are chosen because they're right for your family, not because they offer the highest margin.
The fee also reflects something real: genuinely bespoke journey design takes significant time, expertise, and access. We're not pulling from a brochure.
Do the lodges you recommend actually welcome young children, or is that just marketing?
We only recommend properties where young children are a genuine consideration, not an afterthought. That means checking: whether high chairs exist and are actually used, whether babysitting can be arranged by qualified staff, whether the physical setup of the property is safe for mobile toddlers, and whether the culture of the camp is warm toward families rather than merely tolerant of them. The difference is noticeable from the moment you arrive.
Do you only offer safaris?
Safari is at the heart of what we do, but many of our journeys combine bush, beach, and city. Think: a private safari in South Africa, followed by a coastal stay in Mozambique, or time in Cape Town.
Which destinations do you cover?
We currently design journeys across South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Kenya. Each destination is selected for its ability to deliver exceptional, family-friendly experiences.
Will our trip be completely private?
Yes. All journeys are designed with privacy in mind - private vehicles, guides where possible, and carefully selected properties that align with this level of travel.
Is House of Wild right for us if we want a completely off-grid, rough experience?
Probably not. Our expertise sits firmly in considered, high-end travel. If the vision involves budget camping or entirely self-drive itineraries, there are other operators better placed to help. What we do well is private, unhurried, beautifully planned travel - and we focus on doing that exceptionally rather than trying to be everything.
COSTS & FEES
What does a typical journey cost?
Our journeys are highly tailored, but as a guideline, most families spend from $1,000–$2,500+ per person, per night depending on the level of property and season.
We'll always align recommendations with your preferences, but we work within a luxury framework from the outset.
Is there a minimum spend?
Yes. As we work with a curated portfolio of high-end lodges and private experiences, we typically recommend a minimum overall journey investment of $15,000–$25,000+ per family.
This ensures we can deliver the level of experience House of Wild is known for.
What if we're not sure about our budget yet?
That's fine. We'll have an honest conversation early on about what's realistic for your family. What we won't do is design a journey around an aspirational budget and then quietly stretch it. If we can't deliver the right experience within your parameters, we'll tell you that upfront.
What is the $2,000 booking fee?
Our $2,000 booking fee secures your journey design and allows us to begin planning in detail. In practical terms, that covers real hours from real people: initial consultation, full itinerary research and design, lodge liaison, child-specific property assessment, logistics structuring, and continued refinement until the journey is exactly right. It also covers our support during the trip itself — we don't disappear once you depart.
Is the booking fee deductible from the trip cost?
The booking fee is separate from your travel costs and covers the design and planning of your journey. This fee reflects the time, expertise, and access behind every journey we create.
Do you offer payment plans or staged payments?
The booking fee is required upfront to begin the planning process. Lodge deposits and final payments then follow the standard schedules set by each property, which we'll walk you through clearly. Some flexibility exists within that structure, and we'll always be transparent about what's due and when.
PLANNING & LOGISTICS
When should we start planning?
Ideally 6–12 months in advance, particularly for peak travel periods. The most sought-after lodges book out early, and early planning allows us to secure the best options for your family.
Can we customise the itinerary after the planning process begins?
Yes, and we'd expect you to. Itineraries go through multiple rounds of refinement. Your priorities will shift as the planning gets more detailed, and we build that back-and-forth into our process. The journey you start with is rarely the one you end up with - and that's the point.
Can you accommodate last-minute travel?
Where availability allows, yes. However, our approach is always to prioritise the right experience over rushing decisions - so earlier planning is strongly recommended.
Do you handle everything, including flights?
We handle all land arrangements within Africa. We can guide you on international flights and coordinate timings, but flights are typically booked separately.
How do we know the lodges will live up to what's promised?
We visit the properties we recommend. Our network is built on direct relationships — with lodge managers, general managers, and guides. When we recommend somewhere, it's because we know it, not because it appeared well in a catalogue. And because we work with returning clients, our reputation depends entirely on getting this right.
What if something goes wrong during the trip?
We remain reachable throughout your journey. If a flight is disrupted, a lodge has an issue, or something needs to change on the ground, we handle it. That kind of ongoing support is built into how we work - it's not an add-on.
HEALTH, SAFETY & FAMILY SPECIFICS
Is Africa safe for young children?
With the right planning — absolutely. We carefully select malaria-free or low-risk areas where appropriate, choose lodges that genuinely welcome children, and structure each journey to feel calm, safe, and enjoyable for the whole family.
What are the malaria considerations for babies and very young children?
This is one of the most common questions we receive from parents travelling with infants, and it's the right question to ask. We'll always discuss this early in the planning process. There are extraordinary safari destinations that are malaria-free or very low-risk, and we factor your children's ages into every destination recommendation we make. We'll also connect you with a travel health professional where relevant.
GETTING STARTED
What happens once we enquire?
We'll start with a conversation to understand your family, timing, and travel style. From there, we move into journey design once the booking fee is secured.
Ready when you are
Still have questions? Every family is different. If something isn't covered here, we're happy to talk it through before any commitment is made.