Go on a Safari at Home
In Kenya, Luna takes the kids to Nairobi National Park. They embark on a safari photo tour in search of an elusive rhinoceros. They learn that going on safari is all about observing animals in their natural habitat. Their patience and keen eyes pay off when they discover new things about other amazing animals along the way.
Luna and her friends learn that observing wildlife sometimes requires patience and trying again. In this activity, help your child practice observation skills by taking them on a “safari-at-home” photo tour!
Materials
Directions
Ask your child what kind of animals they would expect to find in Nairobi National Park. Research online together to find out what animals live there. Did you and your child identify any of the animals correctly? Invite your child to join you on a photo safari at home.
Work together to create 3 to 5 safari animals out of toilet paper tubes. Start by cutting a few slits into one tube to make two pairs of legs.
Next, cut another toilet paper tube to create a head. Attach this piece to the front of the body with tape or a stapler.
Use animal print templates, paint, markers or other decorating supplies to add details to the animals.
Toilet paper safari animals can be as simple or as detailed as your imagination allows! Create a few animals with your child so that you’ll have plenty to search for while on safari at home.
To achieve the full effect of being on safari, start by discreetly placing your animals in the “wild.” Place the toilet paper tube animals in unexpected but highly visible places like countertops or hiding amongst clothes in a drawer.
Time to start the safari! Start by deciding who will be the Guide and who will be the Photographer. Gather a camera (or smartphone) and embark on a tour to see the local wildlife at home. The Guide can carry a pair of DIY binoculars made from additional toilet paper tubes.
It’s time to go! When someone spots an animal, ask your child to imagine what the animal would be doing in the wild. Are they hunting? What do they eat? Are they nocturnal? Be sure to take lots of pictures before moving on to the next animal!
For additional time on safari, switch roles! Allow your child to place animals and lead you or siblings on a photo safari of their own making!
Explore Further
Give older kids a list of animals to turn their safari into a scavenger hunt! Send them off with a camera to find household items that have similar shapes, patterns and colors as the animals on their list. You may be surprised by what they find!
We hope you had fun together! Snap a photo of you and your child doing the activity and share it with us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. We’d love to see how it turned out!
Want more “Let’s Go Luna” activities? Check out the Make a Mosaic craft and the Build an Aqueduct activity to continue the fun!
Literacy
Science