Desert safari for
families.
What parents should know before booking a Dubai desert safari with kids 0-12. Pricing, pace, food, safety, and the right package per age.
Pick by kid age.
Kids 0-2
Ride free on a parent's lap. Both morning and evening safari work; morning is calmer for nap schedules.
Kids 3-7
Morning safari fits better — shorter programme, no late-night BBQ. Tell the driver to use the gentler dune route.
Kids 8-12
Evening Safari + BBQ is the family default — kids enjoy the camel ride, sandboarding, BBQ buffet, henna, dressing up for the photo.
Teens 13+
Evening + ATV combo — they love the 30-min self-ride quad bike on Lahbab. Yamaha 220cc fits 13+.
Practical notes.
Dune bashing safety. Driver pace adjusts on family routes — say "kids on board, gentler route" at pickup and the driver locks the family line. Seatbelts on at all times. Motion-sick kids: avoid the very back row.
Food. Buffet has chicken, rice, pasta, fruits, dessert — kid-friendly even for picky eaters. Dietary requirements (gluten-free, dairy-free, nut allergy) handled with notice.
What to bring. Closed shoes, light jacket for evening (desert cools after 19:00 in winter), kid sunscreen, baby wipes. Camp has changing facilities for diapers.
Naps and tired kids. The Land Cruiser is your private space — kids can sleep on the way back. Camp has quieter zones if shows get too loud.
Pickup time. Evening pickup 15:00-16:00 is right after kids' afternoon naps. Morning pickup 06:30-07:30 means an early start — pack snacks for the drive.
Make it memorable.
- Kids quad track at AED 150 (9-12 yr, fenced track)
- Kids meal plate (smaller portions, milder spices)
- Henna painting included in standard package
- Arabic dress photo included — kids love it
- Birthday cake at the camp (24-hr notice)
- Quiet camp zone for tired kids during shows
Plans change.
What parents want to know.
Dune bashing safety. Driver pace adjusts on family routes. Tell the driver at pickup or on WhatsApp at booking that you have kids on board — the team locks the family line which uses gentler dune approaches and avoids the steeper photo-stop crest detour. Seatbelts on at all times, including the back row. Kids prone to motion sickness should sit middle row, not back; tell the driver before the route starts and they'll position you.
Food safety. Buffet has kid-friendly mild options (chicken, rice, pasta, fruits, dessert) alongside the spicier adult dishes. Halal meat across the buffet. Vegetarian and vegan options. Allergies — nut, gluten, dairy — handled with notice via WhatsApp at booking. Clean water on tap; bring a refillable bottle.
Sun + heat. Bring kid sunscreen and apply before pickup. Cars are air-conditioned but the dune-bashing portion has window-down moments where direct sun hits. Hats stay on at the camp; lightweight scarves or buffs are useful. Camp has shaded zones for breaks.
Camel ride safety. Camels are tame but tall — the camel handler lifts kids on while the camel sits, then the camel stands. The motion can surprise first-timers; warn your kid ahead. Parents can ride the same camel with kids 4+. Helmet not used on camels (low height, low speed).
What if my kid panics during dune bashing? Driver stops. We don't continue if any passenger feels unsafe. The convoy continues without you and meets you at the camp. Refunds for partial completion don't apply but the team will reschedule the safari for a calmer alternative day if requested.
Working around kid schedules.
Evening pickup at 15:00-16:00. Right after kid afternoon nap window. Most families with kids 3-7 do well with this. Drop-off at 21:30 — late for some toddlers but the camp has quiet zones.
Morning pickup at 06:30-07:30. Early start — pack snacks for the drive. Drop-off at 11:30 — leaves the rest of the day for hotel pool, nap, family lunch. Best for kids 0-6, summer travelers, photographers.
Toddler-specific tip. If your kid naps at 19:00, the evening safari camel-ride and camp dinner timing is right at nap-start. Two paths: book the morning safari instead, or pack a stroller (some camps accommodate strollers in the dinner zone — check at booking). Most families with toddlers default to morning safari.
Multi-day Dubai itinerary tip. Day 1 morning safari + afternoon pool. Day 2 city sightseeing. Day 3 evening BBQ camp + pool morning. Splits the safari experience across the trip. Booking both gets a small loyalty discount — mention at second booking.
Book the family package.
Free Dubai hotel pickup. Family of 4 from AED 870.