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Family | Holidays

Off the beaten track holidays with young families

Are you kidding? If the snakes don’t get ‘em, then some deadly disease certainly will. They’ll spend the whole time whingeing about the heat and, in the process, scare away every bird and monkey within a ten-mile radius. And then there are the creepy-crawlies... Tropical rainforests and young children don’t mix. End of story. Or is it?

It’s odd that jungles are considered such no-go zones for young families. By the time they’re two or three, most children have followed the exploits of numerous fictitious jungle heroes.

Not once does Mowgli or Elmer the Patchwork Elephant get stricken by Dengue fever or bitten by a rabid vampire bat. To kids, jungles are magical, gentle places, teeming with exotic wildlife.

The trick to finding a really family-friendly jungle is to widen your search to include subtropical rainforests which, compared to the full-blown tropical varieties, are usually easier to reach, have more comfortable climates and a minimal risk of malaria. Brazil’s Iguassú Falls National Park, for example, is an ideal first-timer’s choice.

If the whole rainforest thing doesn’t work out, there’s still the added attraction of the waterfall. If only the Amazon will do, however, head for Manaus from where you can take a boat to various lodges offering jungle treks, canoe trips, fishing expeditions and alligator-spotting by night.

An important point to remember about taking kids into a jungle is that the wildlife is not always easy to see. Bug-viewing boxes with built-in magnifying glasses will help them focus on small wonders, like ants and spiders, while binoculars will allow them to zoom in on colourful birds.

You can’t expect children to feel the same sense of awe or humility that adults might feel upon entering a rainforest, but there is every chance that a tiny seed of awareness and respect for these special places will be planted in their minds.

Safe water

Boiling is the most effective way of sterilising water. Travel with a thermos flask and regularly fill it with boiling water. Bottled water is usually perfectly safe, although you should always check that the seal is intact. Some brands may have a high mineral content that is not suitable for very young children.

Chemical sterilisation is another option – iodine kills most bugs. An alternative, but expensive, method is to use a special travel water filter, which usually contains an iodine matrix.

Family medical kit

 Paracetamol syrup or dispersible tablets
 Child ibuprofen syrup
 Sore throat pastilles
 Thermometer
 Oral rehydration salts
 Water bottle with measure indicators
 Drying antiseptic, such as iodine
 Antiseptic wipes
 Anti bacterial hand wash
 Cotton wool and cotton buds in resealable bag
 Sticking plasters
 Steristrips
 Non-stick dressings and micropore tape
 Crêpe bandage
 Scissors
 Pointed tweezers
 Insect repellent (natural, or low DEET concentration for children)
 Insect bite relief cream/calamine lotion
 Eye drops (antibiotic)
 Ear drops (antibiotic, or for trapped water)
 Antihistamine syrup
 Antimalarial medicines
 Travel sickness pills (or herbal alternatives)
 Clear plastic bags for storage
 Teething gel
 Nappy rash cream
 Water resistant suncream SPF 15+
 Water purifying tablets or filter
 Thermos flask