Safari-Themed Summer Activities for Kids

Each year my daughter Catie hosts a Kids Camp! Inside this post you'll find low prep and super simple safari-themed summer activities for kids that she came up with for her camp.

Nothing says summer adventure like a backyard safari! These hands-on activities are perfect for a camp day, playdate, or rainy-afternoon rescue. Each one is simple to set up, uses easy-to-find materials, and keeps kids busy exploring, crafting, and imagining their way through the jungle.

Grab your gear, and let's head out on safari!

Safari-Themed Summer Activities

In this post, you'll find 8 hands-on safari activities perfect for a camp day or backyard adventure:

1. Decorate Your Own Safari Binoculars
2. Safari Animals in Kinetic Sand
3. Safari Bead Bracelets
4. Pipe Cleaner Beaded Snakes
5. Model Magic Safari Animals
6. Backyard Safari Animal Hunt
7. Snake Fruit Kabobs
8. Ice Excavation Dig
9. Safari Week Story Time

Each activity includes a simple materials list, step-by-step instructions, and plenty of room for your own safari day photos. Let's get started!

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Decorate Your Own Safari Binoculars

Every good explorer needs binoculars! Kids design their own before the adventure begins.

Materials:

• Cardboard tube binoculars (pre-made or two toilet paper rolls hot glued together)
• Stickers (animal, jungle, or nature themed)
• Sticky gems or rhinestones
• Oil pastels
• Safari themed duct take and washi tape
• Hole punch and string (optional, for wearing around the neck)

Instructions:

1. Give each child a set of cardboard binoculars.
2. Let them color the binoculars using oil pastels, blending colors for a wild, textured look.
3. Add stickers, gems, and safari themed tape for extra safari sparkle.
4. Punch holes on each side and tie string through so kids can wear their binoculars around their neck.
5. Ready to explore! On to the next adventure!

Safari Animals in Kinetic Sand

A sensory activity that doubles as imaginative play. This is perfect for little hands that need to dig, build, and explore.

This doesn't have to be fancy to be a hit.

Materials:

• Kinetic beach sand
• Plastic safari animals
• Large bin or tray

Instructions:

1. Pour kinetic sand into a bin or tray and spread it out evenly.
2. Hide plastic safari animals throughout the sand.
3. Let kids dig, build watering holes, mold sand hills, and create their own safari scenes.
4. Encourage storytelling — ask which animals live where, or what they're doing!

Safari Bead Bracelets

A quiet, focused craft that lets kids create a wearable safari souvenir.

Materials:

• Leaf-shaped beads
• Colorful clay beads
• Stretchy cord or string
• Scissors
• Tape

Instructions:

1. Cut a length of stretchy cord for each child, sized to fit their wrist.
2. Tape the cord onto the table or a tray to keep it in place.
3. Let kids string leaf beads and clay beads in any pattern they like.
4. Tie off the ends securely and trim excess cord.
5. Wear proudly on safari!

Pipe Cleaner Beaded Snakes

A slithery craft that's silly, tactile, and easy for all ages.

Materials:

• Pipe cleaners
• Pony beads
• Googly eyes
• Hot glue gun (adult use only)

Instructions:

1. Have kids thread pony beads onto a pipe cleaner, filling it from end to end.
2. Bend and curve the pipe cleaner into a wiggly snake shape.
3. An adult hot-glues googly eyes onto one end to finish the face.
4. Let the snakes "slither" around the safari scene!

Model Magic Safari Animals

A creative, open-ended sculpting activity where kids design their own safari creatures.

Materials:

• Model Magic clay (we used white)
• Markers
• Pipe cleaners
• Googly eyes

Instructions:

1. Give each child a ball of Model Magic to shape into an animal of their choice — lion, elephant, giraffe, zebra, and more. The sky is the limit! Whatever animal they want to make.
2. Use pipe cleaners for legs, tails, whiskers, or other embellishments.
3. Add googly eyes and use markers to draw on spots, stripes, or other details once the clay is shaped. Kids can even use the markers to change the color of the model magic.
4. Set finished animals aside to air dry.

Backyard Safari Animal Hunt

Get moving with a scavenger hunt that combines exercise with animal matching.

Materials:

• Plastic safari animals
• Markers
• White poster board

Instructions:

1. Before kids arrive, hide plastic animals around the backyard.
2. Draw a spot on a poster board for each animal and put its number underneath.
3. Kids search the yard, and each time they find an animal, they match it to its name on the poster.
4. Continue until all animals are found! Repeat!

This is great way to give yourself a little break during camp! You're off duty for a few minutes while the kids run around together.

Snake Fruit Kabobs

A fun and tasty way to end the safari — edible snakes that are as fun to make as they are to eat.

Materials:

• Wooden skewers
• Grapes
• Strawberries
• Candy googly eyes

Instructions:

1. Give each child a skewer along with grapes and strawberries (halved, if needed, for easier threading).
2. Have them alternate threading fruit onto the skewer to form a long "snake" body.
3. Stick candy googly eyes into the strawberry hear near the top of the skewer for the snake's face.
4. Snack time!

Note: Skewers have sharp points — adult supervision recommended, especially with younger kids.

Ice Excavation Dig

A cool (literally!) science-meets-play activity that's perfect for a hot summer day.

Materials:

• Muffin tin
• Plastic safari animals
• Water
• Salt
• Small mallets or wooden hammers
• Warm water (for melting)

Instructions:

1. The night before, place one plastic animal in each cup of a muffin tin, fill with water, and freeze.
2. Once frozen, pop the animal-filled ice pieces out of the tin.
3. Give each child an ice piece along with a small mallet.
4. Kids gently tap and chip away at the ice to excavate their animal — sprinkling salt on the ice helps speed up melting.
5. Use warm water for an extra melting boost if needed.

Safari Week Story Time: Books to Read Aloud

Pair your safari day with a story time break! This is great way to cool down between activities and get kids even more excited about the animals they're exploring.

• "You Are a Lion! And Other Fun Yoga Poses" by Taeeun Yoo — A playful introduction to animal-inspired yoga poses, perfect for a movement break between crafts.
• "Giraffes Can't Dance" by Giles Andreae — A sweet, rhyming story about a giraffe who learns that everyone can dance in their own way, once they find the right music.
• "Honey... Honey... Lion!" by Jan Brett — A richly illustrated tale set on the African savanna, following a honeyguide bird, a badger, and a lion as their choices catch up with them.

Set out a cozy blanket or shady spot for reading, and let kids act out their favorite animal poses or sounds after each story!

Have your own safari day activity to add? Share it in the comments below!

Safari Day Activity Plan

Want a Printable Safari Day Activity Plan to use as you plan your own camp?

RELATED: Love a good themed activity plan? Grab a year's worth of simple themed activity plans for toddlers and preschoolers here.