Taking five boys on holidays, where do you go to keep them happy?

When Rebecca Henderson and her husband Mark were planning a big holiday for their blended family, they knew one thing for certain – they wanted to give their children something meaningful: an experience, rather than just more ‘stuff’.

“And with five kids aged 16 down to 10, we were looking for a destination that had something for everyone,” Rebecca says.

That desire ultimately led the Adelaide family to Africa. Rebecca had been there once before – and it didn’t take much arm twisting to convince Mark!

“I knew that a high-quality, good travel agent was essential for Africa,” she says. “We were very keen to make sure everything was safe and super-organised.”

 Rebecca discovered Encompass Africa via Google, and emailed Danica. “She set up a call with us – and they filled us with confidence from day one,” says Rebecca. “Two things really stood out for us: the fact that Danica and her husband Jono had run Encompass Africa for so long, and that they’d travelled to Africa so many times with their own kids. That was huge for us – they genuinely understand what kids will and won’t enjoy.”

Just as importantly, Rebecca felt heard.

 “They really listened to us,” she explains. “It was really apparent that Danica took into account all the things we told her – all the things that were important to us.”

Apart from one non-negotiable – to see Victoria Falls – the family pretty much handed the reins over to Encompass Africa.

“We basically just said: here are the dates we can travel – what kind of two-week itinerary could you create for us that focuses on safaris and works for five boys?”

The result, says Rebecca of their June 2025 adventure, was spot-on.

Personal service and first hand experience make all the world of difference

Danica’s knowledge of properties was absolutely invaluable, and booking the trip nearly two years in advance meant the family were able to lock in their preferred accommodation throughout the journey.

 “When you’re travelling with seven people, it’s essential to book that far out to get the places you not only want, but actually need due to the size of your group,” Rebecca explains.

Many were sole-use properties – something that made a huge difference for the family.

 “It gave us such peace of mind. The kids could run around and have fun, and we didn’t have to worry about disturbing anyone else,” Rebecca recalls.

Milestone moments

The entire trip was filled with milestone moments. For the boys – 16-year-old Alec, 14-year-olds Will and Jack, Tom (12) and Seb (10) – there were a lot of “firsts” – crossing their first land border (from Zimbabwe into Botswana), trying all sorts of local food (they’re big fans of kudu), and, of course, seeing Africa’s incredible wildlife. For Rebecca, this was the most magical part.

 “Seeing the boys’ faces when they saw the animals was the absolute highlight for me,” she says. “Watching their reactions and seeing how much they enjoyed it was incredibly special.”

 The family were lucky enough to see all of the Big Five – and then some.

 “We almost got charged by an elephant at Chobe National Park in Botswana, and there was one incredible moment when we saw a young male leopard come almost face-to-face with a young male hyena – it was quite extraordinary,” Rebecca recalls. “We saw so many amazing sights, I could spend another hour telling you about them all!”

Giraffe-ternoon!

One experience was so memorable that it inspired its own nickname.

 “There was one afternoon when we saw so many giraffes that we called it ‘giraffe-ternoon’,” Rebecca laughs.

 At Victoria Falls, their wildlife highlight was seeing hippos for the first time. “We did a sunset cruise on the Zambezi on our first night and saw loads. One jumped out of the water right next to us – it was very unimpressed that we were so close!” says Rebecca. “The Falls were just so beautiful, and tons of fun for families. The boys had a brilliant time, especially zip-lining above the river.”

 Another thing that stood out throughout the family’s African adventure was the quality of the guiding.

 “Across the board, the guides we ended up with were just superb – really fantastic,” Rebecca enthuses. The standout, she says, was definitely JV, one of the guides at Simbavati Amani, a safari lodge in South Africa and their favourite stay of the trip.

 “The boys loved him to death,” she says. “But all of the guides were great, and the way the boys responded to them was so special. All five boys, at some point during the trip, found themselves having a really in-depth conversation with a guide.”

For Alec, the eldest, the trip may have shaped something even bigger. “He wants to be a vet and has always been keen to work with big animals,” Rebecca says. “After this trip, he’s talking about maybe working with big animals in the wild.”

 Italy, Vatican City, Florence… or Africa

As parents, she says, choosing Africa felt incredibly rewarding. “We’d been to Italy two years earlier and the kids loved it – but Vatican City or the cathedral in Florence don’t really hold a candle to seeing an elephant in the wild or racing through the African bush in a safari jeep. The boys thought that was just the best thing ever.”

 And while the days were full, there was also time and space to simply be together.

 “The great thing about having five boys is that they kind of entertain themselves,” Rebecca says. “Mark and I actually had time to relax and read during the middle of the day, because they were happily off doing their own thing. But we only have the boys half the time, so part of the point of this trip was really about maximising the time we had together. And we absolutely achieved that.”

 What would you say to other families considering Africa?

When asked what she’d say to families considering Africa as a holiday destination, Rebecca’s answer is simple: “Do it!”

 She continues: “I think most people will find their way to Asia or Europe at some stage in their lives. We wanted to take the kids somewhere that not everyone is lucky enough to visit.”

 And the impact of that choice continues to ripple outward.

 “We didn’t want them to miss out on experiencing this incredible continent – and now we’re doing the same thing at the complete opposite end of life.” That’s because, in 2027, Rebecca and Mark are returning to Africa – this time with Rebecca’s parents.

 “My dad’s over 80, and my mum’s in her late 70s, and I think they’d pretty much written off the idea of ever getting to Africa,” Rebecca explains. “But after experiencing it ourselves, and seeing everything that Danica was able to arrange, we’ve realised that taking my parents is actually completely manageable. With some tweaks, of course — we won’t be zip-lining over the Zambezi River!”

 So, is there any chance they’ll take the boys on this trip as well?

“No kids this time,” laughs Rebecca. “My parents are going to be a big enough handful!”