Celebrating Grandpa’s Big 7-0 with Hyenas and Maasai Magic

Hi I’m Leah, Marco’s 10-year-old granddaughter.

My grandpa is known as Mr. Safari -?he’s been taking me on safari since I was just one, so I think I’m officially Little Miss Safari!

For me, no holiday beats the African Bush. This year, our whole family went to the Maasai Mara to celebrate my grandpa’s 70th birthday, and of course, it was incredible. Grandpa really knows how to make life fun - his love for safaris is totally catchy!

One of my favourite memories from this trip was the Maasai ceremony for his birthday. I loved the dancing and singing. But the biggest highlight? I saw a hyena for the first time! We also got lucky and spotted a pied kingfisher and an elephant 'climbing' a tree to get food with his trunk. The migration was on the way to the Serengeti, we were lucky to see the herds as well. Being in nature is the best.??

For this articles, my grandpa and my mom Casey Van Embden asked me to share why I love safaris so much. I hope you enjoy it - and maybe share it with your kids, too.

Warm Safari Wishes, Leah (Marco and Casey)

Why Kids Love Safaris

by Leah

They’ll get to meet loads of fascinating people who speak different languages and share amazing stories. They’ll spend time outside in the sunshine, running around and exploring - so much better than being stuck on a screen! They’ll learn fascinating things firsthand! For example, did you know there’s a tree that can be used as a toothbrush? Or that you can identify animals by their tracks or even their droppings? (Gross, but surprisingly cool!) Every game drive is like a treasure hunt, spotting everything from baby elephants to secretive leopards hiding in trees. Safaris are a great way for families to have fun together, laugh, and make lots of special memories! It’s the perfect chance to be with each other and enjoy every moment.

Safari for All Ages

Safari is an adventure for everyone, no matter how old you are! My big cousins who are 18 and 20 say it is their favourite holiday and my little sister who is only 6, has already been on a bunch of safaris. They all love animals just like me! Family safaris are so cool because they work for everyone, even the very littlest ones. For very young kids, I think a safari in South Africa is the best idea - then you can also come and see the best city in the world - Cape Town!

Watch our amazing memory video

Check out this video from our family holiday where we celebrated my grandpa's 70th birthday, seeing wildlife and celebrating life with our family. I think you can clearly see we all had a great time. WATCH NOW ?

Dive deep into safaris with kids

Have a listen to my mom, Casey, on her awesome podcast! She’s so good at talking about all the cool things about traveling to Africa with kids (like me and my little sister!). She even tells everyone the truth about things people get wrong about safaris with kids. You’ll hear her excitement about our adventures and all her best tips for making safaris amazing for families! LISTEN NOW ?

Leah's Top Safari Questions

• What's the most exciting thing you’ve ever seen? “I watched elephants playing in a waterhole from a hideout - now that was super cool.”
• What’s the difference on a safari from when you were one, five, and now being ten years old? “At one, I don’t really remember much, but from the photos, it looks like I loved every moment—and maybe that’s where my love for wildlife began! By Five, I was fascinated by the animals and loved watching them. Now, at ten years old, I really understand and appreciate the whole experience—seeing the animals, learning about them, and being in nature."
• How is safari different from being at home? “At home, I don’t see wild animals roaming free obviously. It is quieter on safari and there is so much to do.”
• What’s your favourite thing about safari? “The animals, of course! But I also love the stories and history grandpa shares with us. He makes every trip so much fun.”

Photography on safari

One of my favourite things to do on safari is taking photos. I love how my mom always brings her old 'real' camera, and I’m getting better and better at taking my own photos. My younger cousin, who’s 5, also loves learning to use the big camera. I love looking back at the photos we’ve taken and remembering all the special moments we’ve shared on safari.?

Leah's Safari Dream

I am dreaming of taking my bestie on safari. She’s never been before, and I can’t wait to show her everything. The only challenge? She hates bugs. But maybe she will like the safari bugs - like dung beetles that roll up dung so they can lay their eggs inside.?

?

Leah's Safari Bucket List

I can’t wait till I am 15 years old so that I can go trekking to see the gorillas in Rwanda with my parents and grandpa - we can go and celebrate his 75th birthday!

I hope you enjoyed reading my first article and that maybe share it with your kids and grandkids, too. ~ Leah