11 Steps to Hosting the Most Wild Safari Themed Birthday Party

A safari or jungle themed birthday party is one of the best party themes for kids aged 1-3. It not only offers the cutest party setup but more importantly at this age toddlers love animals, the outdoors, sounds and movement. All of these translate into one perfect theme - the jungle theme. There can't be a more perfect way to celebrate your little one's birthday than to make it fun and vibrant and of course wild just like your little one. 

I'm going to walk you through every idea you need to host the most amazing safari themed birthday party from sending out invitations, to planning games and activities, finding the right decorations and everything else in between. 

Grab my FREE party planning checklist to keep you on track of all the important details!

Step 1: Decide Tones and Props for the Jungle Theme

A classic safari birthday is perfect for both boys and girls because it's so gender neutral. I love using greens, beige tones, browns and whites to create the colors of the jungle theme. Include lions, elephants, giraffes and monkeys to bring the wilderness to life. Finally, focus on natural textures like leaves and woody earthy tones. By using these colors, animals and textures you can bring the jungle to any venue - that's right even your home. However, if you want to make it exclusively for a girl, with pink as the base tone - I have a whole blog post on that coming soon. 

Step 2: Setting a Budget

First things first, start your party planning by setting a budget for the party. Some of the main costs that you'll need to consider are the venue (if it won't be at home), number of guests, equipment hire (tables and chairs), food and drinks, birthday cake, decorations for the venue, party favors, and finally how you will entertain your guests - think party games and activities!

Step 3: Choosing the Right Venue

When it comes to children's birthday parties there are so many options to choose from that fit into all sorts of budgets. So without further ado, let's explore all of our venue options to host an amazing safari birthday. 

Option 1: Hosting at home is a fantastic option. It's convenient, budget-friendly and works perfectly if you're hosting a small to medium sized group. Also, just remember back in the day most birthday parties were hosted conveniently at home. I mean that was the thing. My parents and grandparents were big on hosting in their backyards and honestly we all loved it. The warmth of those parties is hard to beat.

Option 2: Indoor play and activity spaces work great especially for little ones and are ideal in the colder and hotter months when hosting outdoors isn't an option. You'll find that most of them have party rooms or packages so it makes it a great choice for having a themed safari party - so you'll really only really need to take care of the decor and food and the entertainment is taken care of by the venue. 

Option 3: If you can't host at home or prefer not to event and party rooms are an excellent choice. You can choose a package that works with your budget and number of guests. These are perfect because they are made for children's parties so all you'll really need to do is either outsource the party hire yourself or some venues will even provide you with decor services or connect you with their partner services who can do that for you. I personally like to shop around because I'm pretty good at that by now. I personally like to hire the bulky equipment like chairs and tables to match my theme and then i'll get the one-time use items like balloon garlands and other small decor from Amazon or Dollar Tree. 

Option 4: Zoos and animal locations - I love this option for older kids and when the weather is nice. This gives kids the perfect safari vibes by allowing kids to have a real safari adventure. You'll be able to incorporate animal viewing into your party schedule. The great thing is that zoos usually have party packages or rentable spaces where you can have your private safari party setup so kids get the best of both worlds - they get to have the traditional party experience and wild animal adventure combined in one. 

Step 4: Decorating the Venue

I find it easiest to divide my party decorations into four main categories by grouping all the decor by visual function and not by item type. That way you'll make everything look intentional and you won't end up overspending either. Focus on - the main decor, table decor, photo zones and finishing details. When you do this, you'll create a wow statement. 

The main decor should be your focal point that draws attention the moment your guests enter the venue. This is what should set the stage for your party theme and scream the jungle vibe. 

Focal point:

• Safari backdrop
• Arches (Stick to solid colors from your theme)
• Balloon garlands (safari themed)
  
• Welcome sign

When planning a jungle themed party you never want to ignore the table decor. This is where your tiny guests will be seated and spend a good chunk of their time. By adding those little matching details you match the table decor to the theme and everything looks styled.  

Table Decor:

• Earthy toned table runners
• Large leaves like monstera 
• Jungle animal figurines
• Jungle animal plates/ leafy plates 
• Kraft napkins
• Gold cutlery 
• Table signs 

Photo zones add a lot of fun and amazing photo opportunities. Here are some fun safari themed photo booth ideas you can choose from to add to your jungle party and make your guests feels like they stepped into a safari adventure. 

Photo Booths and Prop Ideas: 

• Jungle animal face cutout board (excellent for group photos)
• Safari height chart
• Safari truck/jeep booth
• Safari animal adventure booth (use a safari backdrop and use animal masks, safari hats, binocular and camouflaging vests as props)

Finishing Details: 

• Jungle themed signage 
• Safari themed favor tags
• Themed name tags
• Jungle themed elements (Leaves, wood, jungle animals)

Step 5: Birthday Outfit

Deciding on the perfect birthday outfit can be a daunting task especially when you want a themed outfit that looks picture-perfect. I'm going to share with you what I've learned over the years based on popular trends. But before delving into the details some basic rules I go by are putting the child's comfort first. Make sure the child can play and move around comfortably in the outfit. For little ones I usually have a second pair of clothing as a backup in case of spill-ups or leaks. My second rule is keeping the outfit somewhat neutral because they always look so much better in pictures.

Here are a few suggestions:

Option 1: For a classic safari look go with a khaki or beige overall or a short set. Pair the romper with a safari button-up shirt or a vest if going for the short set. Finish off the look with brown sandals or soft sneakers. 

Styling tip: Roll up the button-up shirt sleeves for a more styled look. Have a pair of binoculars and safari explorer hats as fun props for pictures. 

Option 2: For a cute safari look opt for an animal-print romper (lion, giraffe, zebra) and contrast it with a soft neutral base like beige, tan or cream. Go barefoot or finish off the look with soft moccasins. 

Styling tip: Use animal ear headbands as props for fun and whimsical photo-shoots. 

Option 3: For a simple yet modern and insta-worthy look choose a linen romper in sage, beige, or ivory and pair it with a neutral head wrap or hat. 

Option 3: For a more personalized but still casual look go with a "wild one" shirt with a white or neutral base. Pair it with neutral bottoms like beige or tan or jeans and complete the look with white sneakers. You can even design your own personalized t-shirt or romper and have it printed and shipped to you by companies like Vistaprint after you upload your design on their site. 

Step 6: Games and Activities

The second best part about a birthday party after cutting the cake is the games and activities. They bring all the fun and draw the good kind of chaos to the party. Kids get a chance to move around, interact with each other and make friends. I highly recommend planning 2-3 activities and games. Try to differentiate the games by making one a creative activity, one an active game and one a quiet game/activity that kids can do after a high energy game. This combination always works incredibly well at my kids parties because there's always something for everyone. I love creating an activity station where kids can do the activity such as the craft activity. Even if you won't be needing a station for kids to be using actively like for an outdoor game - I still love dedicating a designated space where kids can collect the props and instructions needed for the game. It comes across as organized and creates an incredible party vibe by doubling as decor when it's themed.  

Jungle Themed Birthday Games and Activities:

Active:

• Safari Scavenger Hunt: Hide jungle animal figurines and kids use binoculars to find them
• Feed the hippo/lion: Make a large animal face with a mouth opening and have kids toss beanbags or balls (food) into it
• Jungle obstacle course: Include jumping through hoops, crawling through tunnels (cardboard boxes), balancing on "rocks" (pillows/bowls) across "quicksand" (tarp/grass/sand)

Creative:

• Binocular Craft: Kids decorate toilet paper rolls to make wearable binoculars
• Face Painting: Paint your little guests into tigers, monkeys, or zebras
• Safari Bingo: Use printable bingo cards with jungle animals

Calm-down Activities:

• Coloring Corner: Have a stack of jungle themed coloring sheets kids can use to color in after high energy games
• Jungle Themed Puzzles: Display some of these on your activity station for quiet play
• Story-time Corner: Designate a quiet corner with soft seating, pillows, and a few jungle-themed books or animal puppets. A trusted adult can read stories like "Rumble in the Jungle" or other animal-focused tales

Step 7: Birthday Cake

Birthday cakes don't have to be as difficult as most people make them. And buying a custom cake is not the only option out there. You can easily pull off a great birthday cake yourself or order a custom cake if that suits your budget. 

Here are 3 birthday cake options and they are all my favorites. It really just depends on what will work best for you. 

Option 1: You can make a cupcake safari stand by either baking your favorite cupcake flavors at home or getting store-bought ones. Frost them yourself or buy frosted ones - that's totally up to you. Here's the fun part - decorate them with safari themed cupcake toppers, edible green sprinkles as the jungle "grass." Scatter jungle animal figurines around the tiers. The Great thing about this is the convenience for both you and the kids. They're so easy to distribute and hand out to kids. I especially love this option for school and day care birthday celebrations.  

Option 2: This one is my favorite option for when I want a birthday cake on a budget. Buy your favorite frosted sheet cake or bake your own. You can either frost the cake green. Or if you prefer a more neutral cake add green sprinkles instead. Top with a few jungle animal figurines and a “Welcome to the Jungle” banner. 

Option 3: This option is definitely the more premium option but if you truly want a showstopper then this is the way to go. A tiered themed custom cake starts at $150 and upto $300 for most standard custom cakes. If the custom cake options sounds like an overspend you can still get a themed safari cake for a fraction of the cost of a custom cake from places like Sam's Club for just $64 for a two tiered safari birthday cake. 

Step 8: Planning the Party Menu

Whenever i'm hosting for little kids aged 1-3 I make sure the menu is toddler-friendly. Keep the items yummy, familiar and bite-sized. I find that my toddlers never liked their foods mixed up - I'm guessing it's a toddler thing. A tip for you - keep the foods separated as much as possible. Another very important one which is something you would consider when sending out invites is asking parents about any food allergies or special dietary requirements that you should be aware of so you can cater to that when deciding the menu. 

Here are some menu options that work well. Pick as many or as little to suit your budget but these finger foods work well at kids birthday parties while still catering to the adults at the party. 

Savory

• Mini burgers (Hawaiian rolls work perfectly!)
• Mini sandwiches (Cut them up in fours)
• Pizza (Choose cheese for the kids and have a few other flavors like pepperoni and veg)
• Nuggets (Animal shapes if you can!)
• Fries (because they're always a favorite)

Sides

• Veggie sticks (Steamed if required)
• Fruit cups 
• Hummus and dippers 

Drinks/Beverages

• Water
• Milk
• Diluted juice

Optional: Candy Bar

• Zebra-striped pretzels
• Animal-printed Oreo cookie pops
• Cupcakes with safari-themed toppers
• Animal crackers
• Popcorn (for adults!)
• Trail mix

Have safari-themed names for the snacks like "jungle popcorn", and "monkey munch" for the trail mix. Display signage and name the station "wild treats" for a jungle-spin on the traditional candy bar. 

Step 9: Picking Party Favors

Party favors are such a cute way to surprise your little guests at any birthday party. They look beautiful when displayed (they add to the decor of the party especially when they are themed) and are so exciting for little kids. Something I've learned about favors over the years is that parents appreciate them as long as they are useful, no-mess and easy to take home. 

Here are some cute favor ideas for a jungle themed birthday that are parent-approved:

• Small plush animals
• Board books with animals
• Reusable snack cups
• Animal masks (soft, no elastic)

Step 10: Birthday Stationery

Ever wondered how Pinterest and Instagram parties always look so perfect and as if a professional was hired because everything always looks so cohesive and designer? The secret lies in a few basic tricks and you'll achieve the same results on a budget without spending an arm and a leg to hire a professional. They always adhere to select color tones. By doing that you'll ensure that everything meshes perfectly together and doesn't look mismatched or tacky. Another extra detail they add which takes everything to the next level is by adding birthday stationery. Starting from the invitation to the "Thank You" notes they'll use templates from a safari themed bundle. That way when guests enter they're met with a "Welcome Sign" that already sets the tone to the party and also comes across as thoughtful and intentional. Then guests will see matching templates like "Wild Treats" at the food station, cute favor tags, adorable cupcake toppers and matching place cards all around the venue. This not only makes everything look organized and informative to your guests but also adds to the overall decor, taking it to the next level. Surprisingly, printable party templates don't cost a lot and if you get the entire bundle it turns out way cheaper (You can get an entire party bundle for as little as $15). Plus, you can easily customize and edit the templates and print them from your preferred print shop. I recommend Prints of Love. 

Step 11: Extras

If you want to take your party to the next level, I highly recommend adding these cool rentals. Here are some popular add-ons parents love. 

• Jungle-themed bounce house
• Ball pit with or without a slide 
• Favor shelf 
• Candy bar cart

My final tip to go the extra mile is not to skip the "Thank You" cards. Many people host a great party but leave this tiny gesture out. Not realizing how warming it is for guests when they receive one from the host. You can print them out and attach the notes to wrapped cookies or the favors that you've prepared or simply send out a digital version after the party. It doesn't really matter how you do it. It's the gesture that counts and will surely leave a lasting impression. 

So that's it from me. I hope my 11 steps help you in throwing the most amazing jungle inspired party. 

I would love to know, what is your preferred venue type for kiddy birthdays and why? Also, I'm so curious about how you all go about birthday cakes and what's most important to you? Custom, store-bought or homemade? Let me know in the comments below!