Parents have a chance to give children a treat

At this time of the year, many parents are now cursing the fast-moving calendar that will soon see the “chaotic” visitors return when schools close and children return home.

The usual quiet house that waits for dad and mom after a long day’s work will soon be invaded.

“Dad and mom, I want this and that, my friends are coming this weekend, so please give us a treat,” you will be told, not once, but probably throughout August.

But, again, parents should prepare to give a different treat, and it is only once a year.

The animals — the Great Migration of wildebeest from Serengeti into the Masai Mara — are back.

It is not the ordinary holiday break, but one that offers opportunity for family bonding and adventure; a time to engage your children on what they think about their future.

Why not budget for a trip to the Masai Mara or the Coast, if only for the warm weather.

The latter case would be the perfect timing for people living in Nairobi to escape the chilly weather and temporarily run away from the biting water problem.

Take a break from the day to day city hustle and bustle.

Just like the clockwork, the wildebeest are here again, crossing the Mara river from Serengeti National Park in Tanzania to the Masai Mara in search of pasture.

This has become one of the greatest attractions that it is called the Great Migration. From July to October, the animals which also include zebras and Thomson’s gazelles among others, cross the river into the reserve.

Accessible by road or air from all major towns in the country, Masai Mara is a major attraction for both local and international tourists.

Here, families can enjoy various activities such as game drives, balloon safaris above this savannah landscape that gives a bird’s eye view of the terrain. A time to dinner in the wild.

The children can carry a chart to identify various animals they spot across the plains with each having extra information about the animal, turning the trip into a learning experience.

They can also interact with the original inhabitants of the area, the Maasai, and learn more about their culture.