Kids Friendly Desert Safari: 1 Epic Guide to 21 Unforgettable Activities
A kids friendly desert safari is one of the most magical and enriching experiences you can share with your loved ones. It is a unique opportunity to step away from the screens and theme parks, and to immerse your family in a world of natural wonder, cultural discovery, and shared adventure in the heart of the majestic Arabian desert.
Imagine the look on your children’s faces as they see a vast, golden landscape for the first time. Picture the shared laughter as you embark on a gentle camel ride together. Envision an evening filled with captivating stories, delicious food, and dazzling entertainment under a canopy of a million stars. This is the essence of a perfect kids friendly desert safari.
This is not just a tour; it is a living classroom and an adventure playground rolled into one. It’s about creating core memories that your family will talk about for years to come. It’s the thrill of a gentle dune drive, the fun of sandboarding down a soft dune, and the warmth of experiencing Bedouin hospitality together.
This ultimate guide is your definitive handbook for planning the perfect kids friendly desert safari. We will explore the 21 ultimate activities and secrets that ensure every member of your family, from the youngest child to the wisest grandparent, has an absolutely unforgettable, safe, and joyous Dubai desert adventure.
The Foundation of Fun: What Makes a Desert Safari “Kids-Friendly”?
Not all desert safaris are created equal, especially when children are involved. A true kids friendly desert safari is built on a foundation of safety, inclusivity, and a carefully curated selection of activities that appeal to a wide range of ages and interests.
Safety as the Number One Priority
When traveling with family, safety is paramount. A reputable family-focused operator will prioritize this above all else. A great kids friendly desert safari is, first and foremost, a safe one.
- Expert, Trained Guides: The guides are not just drivers; they are trained professionals who understand the specific needs of families. They know how to communicate with children, how to keep them engaged, and how to ensure everyone feels secure at all times. They are first-aid trained and experts in desert navigation.
- Child Safety Seats: This is a non-negotiable feature. The 4×4 vehicles must be equipped with proper, age-appropriate child safety seats and booster seats. You must request and confirm these at the time of booking to ensure your child’s safety during the desert drive. A professional kids friendly desert safari operator will always accommodate this.
- Gentle Adventure Options: A key feature of a kids friendly desert safari is the option for a gentler desert drive. While the thrilling dune bashing is a highlight for many, a less intense “dune drive” or the option to skip it entirely and go directly to the camp should be available for families with very young children, pregnant mothers, or nervous passengers.
Inclusivity for All Ages
A great family safari ensures that no one feels left out. The perfect kids friendly desert safari is designed with the entire family unit in mind, from the smallest toddler to the most senior grandparent.
- Activities for Toddlers to Teens: The itinerary should include a diverse mix of activities. While teenagers might love the adrenaline of sandboarding and quad biking, toddlers will be completely enchanted by the gentle camel ride and the vast sandy playground of the camp.
- Comfort for Grandparents: The experience should be comfortable for older family members. This means providing options for standard-height tables and chairs at the camp (in addition to traditional low seating), ensuring facilities are easily accessible, and maintaining a relaxed, unhurried atmosphere.
- Pacing is Key: A successful kids friendly desert safari is well-paced. It avoids long periods of waiting, which can lead to boredom and restlessness in children. The flow from one activity to the next is smooth and engaging, keeping younger children interested and preventing them from becoming overtired before the main events.
The Focus on Education and Culture
A kids friendly desert safari is a wonderful educational opportunity, a chance for children to learn about a different culture, environment, and way of life in a fun, interactive way.
- Interactive Cultural Experiences: The camp activities are designed to be hands-on. Children don’t just watch—they participate. They can get a henna tattoo, hold a majestic falcon, and try on traditional attire. This tactile approach to learning is incredibly effective and memorable for kids.
- Knowledgeable Guides: The guides play a crucial role as educators. They bring the desert to life by sharing fascinating, age-appropriate facts about the desert animals, the hardy plants that survive in the harsh climate, and the rich history of the Bedouin people. A good guide makes your kids friendly desert safari a mobile classroom.
The Adventure Begins: Gentle Thrills for the Whole Family
The adventure portion of your kids friendly desert safari is designed to be exciting without being overwhelming. It’s about creating shared moments of fun and discovery that the entire family can enjoy together.
The Gentle Dune Drive: A Scenic Rollercoaster
This is the quintessential desert safari experience, thoughtfully adapted for families. Instead of the high-speed, aggressive dune bashing of standard tours, a kids friendly desert safari offers a gentler but still exciting dune drive.
Your professional guide will navigate the rolling dunes in a safe and controlled manner. They will create a fun, rollercoaster-like experience, gliding up and down the sandy slopes in a way that will have the whole family laughing and cheering, without any scary or jarring movements.
The focus is on the scenic beauty of the landscape. The guide will make several stops at picturesque locations. These breaks are perfect for allowing you to get out, take stunning family photos against the backdrop of the endless dunes, and let the kids run and play in the soft, clean sand.
The Iconic Camel Ride: A Journey for All Ages
The camel ride is often the absolute highlight for children on a kids friendly desert safari. There is something truly magical about riding these gentle giants, an experience that feels straight out of a storybook.
The entire experience is safe and closely supervised. Professional handlers will help every family member, including small children, mount their camel while it is safely kneeling on the ground. The ride itself is a slow, gentle walk, led by an experienced guide who ensures the well-being of both the guests and the animals.
Parents can ride on the same camel with younger children, making it a wonderful shared experience and a fantastic photo opportunity. The elevated view from atop the camel gives a unique perspective of the desert, and the slow, rhythmic pace is incredibly soothing. This is a must-do on any kids friendly desert safari.
Sandboarding: Fun and Forgiving for Beginners
Sandboarding is the desert’s answer to sledding, and it’s an activity that kids of all ages absolutely adore. It’s incredibly easy to learn, perfectly safe, and guarantees a lot of laughter.
Your guide will provide lightweight, specialized sandboards and choose a gentle, sandy slope with a long, flat run-out area at the bottom. This ensures a safe and fun ride from start to finish.
Children can have fun in multiple ways. Younger kids can simply sit on the board and slide down, just like sledding. Older kids, pre-teens, and teenagers can try standing up and surfing the dune, testing their balance in a fun and low-stakes environment.
The best part about sandboarding? The landing is always soft! Wiping out in the clean, warm sand is part of the fun and will result in peels of laughter from the whole family. This is a must-do activity on any kids friendly desert safari.
Optional Add-On: Kid-Friendly Quad Biking
For families with older children or teenagers who are seeking an extra dose of adrenaline, many kids friendly desert safari tours offer optional quad biking.
This activity takes place in a designated, safe, and fully supervised area, away from the main desert tracks. Smaller, less powerful quad bikes are often available specifically for younger riders, ensuring the experience is both thrilling and appropriate for their skill level.
It’s a chance for teens to experience the empowerment and excitement of driving their own vehicle in a controlled environment. All safety gear, including helmets, is provided, and instructors are on hand to give a full safety briefing and supervise the ride.
The Cultural Heart: Your Evening at the Bedouin Camp
As the sun sets and paints the sky in incredible colors, your kids friendly desert safari continues at a traditional Bedouin-style camp. This is where the cultural immersion, dining, and entertainment take place, all within a relaxed, safe, and welcoming atmosphere designed for families.
A Warm and Welcoming Atmosphere
The camp is designed to be a comfortable and engaging space. Upon arrival, you will be greeted with traditional Arabic hospitality, often with sweet dates and a refreshing drink, which is a lovely way to start the evening portion of your kids friendly desert safari.
The layout of the camp is typically open, allowing parents to relax at their table while still keeping an eye on their children as they explore the various activity stations. The seating is comfortable, with options for traditional low majlis seating on carpets and cushions, or standard-height tables and chairs for those who prefer them, like grandparents.
The Main Event for Kids: Holding a Falcon
One of the most unforgettable and unique experiences for a child on a kids friendly desert safari is the falconry interaction. This is a moment of pure awe.
A trained and magnificent falcon, a powerful symbol of Emirati heritage, will be at the camp with its professional handler. Children (and adults!) will have the incredible opportunity to wear a thick leather glove and have the falcon perch on their arm.
The handler is always present to ensure the interaction is completely safe and to share fascinating facts about this majestic bird of prey. This photo opportunity is truly a once-in-a-lifetime moment and a powerful educational experience.
Henna Painting: A Beautiful Temporary Tattoo
Kids absolutely love henna painting. A talented artist at the camp will use natural, safe, plant-based henna paste to paint beautiful, intricate designs on the hands or arms of your children.
The process is quick and painless, and the artist can often create designs that appeal to kids, like flowers or geometric patterns. The designs are temporary, lasting for about a week or two, and serve as a wonderful, artistic souvenir of their kids friendly desert safari experience.
Dressing the Part: Traditional Costumes
The camp will have a selection of traditional Emirati attire available for guests to try on. Kids love dressing up, and this is a fun, interactive, and educational way to engage with the local culture.
You can take wonderful family photos with everyone dressed in the traditional ‘Kandura’ (the white, ankle-length robe for men and boys) and the ‘Abaya’ (the flowing black cloak for women and girls). It’s a fun memory and a great way to teach children about different cultural traditions.
A Playground of Sand
Never underestimate the simple joy of sand. For younger children, the entire camp is effectively a giant, clean, and safe sandbox. While you relax with a coffee or tea, they will be happily entertained for ages, digging, building, and playing in the soft sand. It’s often the simplest and most beloved part of a kids friendly desert safari for toddlers and young children.
A Feast for the Whole Family: The BBQ Dinner
The dining experience on a kids friendly desert safari is thoughtfully designed to cater to all tastes, including even the pickiest of eaters. The BBQ dinner is a delicious, abundant, and stress-free feast for the whole family.
The Buffet: Something for Everyone
The dinner is served as a large, buffet-style spread, offering a wide variety of choices. This format is ideal for families, as everyone can walk around, see the food, and choose exactly what they want.
The buffet on a kids friendly desert safari typically includes:
| Category | Typical Dishes | Kid-Friendly Appeal |
|---|---|---|
| Salad Bar | Fresh greens, cucumber, tomatoes, various dressings. | A healthy and familiar option. |
| Appetizers | Hummus, Arabic Bread (Khubz), Spring Rolls, Samosas. | Kids love dipping the warm bread in hummus. |
| From the Grill | Chicken Tikka, Beef Kebabs, Lamb Chops. | Grilled chicken is a universal favorite for children. |
| Main Courses | Pasta with a simple tomato sauce, Biryani Rice, Vegetable Curries. | The pasta station is a guaranteed winner for picky eaters. |
| Desserts | A platter of fresh fruits (watermelon, melon, oranges), Luqaimat (sweet dumplings). | Sweet, simple, and delicious options for a treat. |
The sheer variety ensures that every member of the family, from the adventurous foodie to the cautious child, will find plenty of delicious food to enjoy.
Kid-Friendly Flavors
While the menu is authentic, the chefs on a kids friendly desert safari are mindful of younger palates. The spices used in the marinades and curries are generally mild and flavorful rather than hot.
You won’t have to worry about your child going hungry. The reliable combination of grilled chicken, pasta, bread, and fruit is a winning formula that keeps both kids and parents happy. A good tour operator, like Hafiz Tourism, understands this balance perfectly.
A Relaxed Dining Atmosphere
The dining atmosphere is casual, festive, and relaxed. There’s no need to worry about kids being perfectly quiet or sitting still throughout the meal. The open-air setting and the buzz of the entertainment mean that the normal chatter and energy of children blend right in. It’s a stress-free dining experience for parents.
Dazzling Entertainment: A Show for All Ages
The evening’s entertainment is a spectacular showcase of traditional Middle Eastern performance arts, designed to captivate and delight the entire family. The shows are vibrant, colorful, and full of energy.
The Mesmerizing Tanoura Dance
The Tanoura dance is often the first performance, and it is spellbinding for all ages. A male performer in a huge, colorful, and often illuminated skirt spins continuously on the spot at an incredible speed.
As he spins, he manipulates the heavy skirt, creating breathtaking patterns and illusions. He might detach layers of the skirt and spin them like props. The combination of the music, the colors, and the sheer skill and endurance of the dancer is hypnotic and a definite highlight of any kids friendly desert safari.
The Enchanting Belly Dance
The belly dancing performance is a graceful and energetic display of this beautiful art form. The dancer, in a glittering and colorful costume, moves to the enchanting rhythms of Arabic music.
The performance is always tasteful and family-appropriate, focusing on the artistry, skill, and celebratory nature of the dance. The vibrant music and beautiful, flowing movements are captivating for an audience of all ages.
The Thrilling Fire Show
The evening often culminates in a spectacular fire show. This is a performance that will have the whole family on the edge of their seats, wide-eyed with excitement.
A skilled and daring artist will manipulate flaming torches, breathe fire, and perform other incredible feats with fire. It is a thrilling, dramatic, and completely safe performance that provides a dazzling and unforgettable end to the evening’s entertainment on your kids friendly desert safari.
Planning Your Perfect Family Adventure: A Practical Guide
A successful kids friendly desert safari is all about planning. A few key considerations will ensure your experience is smooth, comfortable, and stress-free from start to finish.
Choosing the Right Tour Operator
This is the most important decision you will make. You must choose an operator that explicitly specializes in family-friendly tours and has a strong reputation for safety.
- Look for Family Packages: A dedicated operator like Hafiz Tourism will offer specific packages designed for families, which indicates they understand the unique needs of this demographic.
- Check Safety Credentials: Read reviews and check their website for explicit information on their safety protocols, especially regarding the availability and use of child seats and the training of their drivers.
- Read Reviews from Other Families: Look for feedback from other parents on platforms like TripAdvisor. Their real-world experiences will give you the most accurate picture of what to expect from a kids friendly desert safari with that company.
For broader research on family-friendly options, external resources like Dubai Desert Safarie can also provide valuable insights and comparisons.
The Best Time of Day and Year for Families
- The Evening Safari: The classic kids friendly desert safari takes place in the evening. This is the best option as it avoids the intense heat of the midday sun, making it much more comfortable and safer for children.
- The Winter Months (October to April): This is the ideal season for a desert safari in Dubai. The weather is pleasantly warm during the day and cool in the evening, creating perfect conditions for all outdoor activities without the risk of overheating.
Packing Your Family’s Desert Essentials Bag
A well-packed bag can be a lifesaver and a key to a smooth kids friendly desert safari.
| Item | Reason |
|---|---|
| A Warm Layer for Everyone | Absolutely essential. The desert gets surprisingly cold at night once the sun goes down. Pack a jacket, sweater, or fleece for each family member. |
| Comfortable, Closed-Toe Shoes | Protects feet from hot sand during the day and is better for running around the camp. Trainers are ideal. |
| Sunscreen and Hats | The sun is strong, even in the late afternoon. Apply sunscreen before you leave and make sure everyone has a hat. |
| Wet Wipes | Invaluable for cleaning sandy hands before eating and wiping sticky faces after dessert. |
| A Small, Familiar Snack | While a huge dinner is provided, having a small, familiar snack (like a granola bar or some crackers) on hand can be useful for a picky toddler during the car ride. |
| A Portable Phone Charger | You will be taking a lot of photos and videos of your kids friendly desert safari, and you don’t want your battery to die. |
| Any Necessary Medications | If any family member uses an inhaler, has allergies (and needs an EpiPen), or requires other medication, be sure to pack it. |
Managing Expectations and Preparing Your Kids
A little preparation can make a big difference in how your children experience their kids friendly desert safari.
- Show Them Pictures and Videos: In the days leading up to the trip, show your kids photos and videos of camels, sandboarding, and the desert camp. This builds excitement and familiarity.
- Explain the Itinerary in Simple Terms: Let them know what to expect. “First, we’ll have a fun, bumpy ride in the jeep. Then we’ll see some big camels and get to ride them! After that, we’ll go to a special camp for dinner and watch some amazing dancing.” This can help reduce any anxiety about the unknown.
- Embrace the Adventure: Go with a positive and flexible attitude. Things might not always go exactly to plan with kids, and that’s okay. The goal is to have fun together and create happy memories. Your relaxed attitude will help your children relax and enjoy the experience.
Conclusion: A Core Memory for Your Family’s Story
A kids friendly desert safari is one of the most rewarding and memorable travel experiences you can share as a family. It is a unique blend of adventure, culture, and natural beauty that offers something to captivate and delight every member of the family.
It is the pure joy on your child’s face as they see a camel up close for the first time, the sound of shared family laughter as you slide down a dune together, and the quiet wonder of watching the stars appear one by one in the clear desert sky.
This is more than just a fun day out; it is an opportunity to create a powerful, shared memory that will become a treasured part of your family’s story. It is an investment in connection, discovery, and pure, simple fun.
For an adventure that will captivate your children and delight the entire family, book a kids friendly desert safari. The magic of the Arabian desert awaits your family.
