Happy safari guides from Aardvark Expeditions
Aardvark Expeditions
- Located In:
- Size:
- 20-50 employees (Founded in 2008)
- Member Of:
- TATO & TTB
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $180 to $650 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
Mount Meru and Uhuru Peak 5,896 masl in mid December 2021.
Mount Meru and Uhuru Peak 5,896 masl in mid December 2021.
Because i had a short timeframe i decided to do Mount Meru for acclimatization and then Mount Kilimanjaro via the Umbwe Route.
I chose Aardvark Expeditions because it is a local Trekking and Safari Specialists operator based in Arushavand I was more than happy to use their services. In fact Philemon Joel organized everything in a short timeframe with many special wishes from my side, and they have the Headquarters in Arusha which is shown on the company's website.
As i am from Switzerland, i am used to hike on the Alps and climb the mountains. So Mt Meru for me was just the perfect warm up peak, but more important, it helped a lot to acclimatise to the altitude. So, it is what it is, just study the mountain...for regular hikers it will be a very pleasant peak, for others, make sure you're fit enough for this challenge.
Mount Kilimanjaro via the Umbwe Route is the shortest trail to the peak of the mountain. It is also the hardest. I was more than happy to pick this route because it fitted my fitness level and was a pure adventure for me. I didn't see any climber on this route for the first two days with a very step track through beautiful mother earth. And here, in the middle of nowhere, are the little things that matters, and it is reassuring to have the right and experienced tour operator. Just to have a waterproof tent, hot coffee and a warm meal gives you the power for the next days...
In this environment everything takes time and you will have plenty of it between the activities. So make sure to bring your favorite book or something else you like to do. Also, hiking up is just the first part and do not underestimate the part of killing the meters by walking down.
I had ten days for both peaks, and it was just perfect for me. Next time i will climb Kilimanjaro via Marangu Route, the most comfortable
IT
Email Claudio | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great experience
Philemonn from AARDVARK Expeditions LTD organized a beautiful six day Safari for us following exactly our specific whishes. The Tour took us to Tarangire NP which in our opinion should not be overlooked, to the exceptional Serengeti NP as well as to the Ngorongoro crater. Finally, there was also an excursion to the beautiful forest of Lake Manyara. The organization and realisation of the Tour took place in an absolutely professional manner. Our driver and guide Donatus won us with his exceptional ability to find not only, in many cases repeatedly, the "Big Five" (lions, buffaloes, rhinos, leopards and elephants) but also a multitude of other species of fauna and flora of the region. His notions on the matter as well as on the geography of the places and the customs and culture of the peoples of the area, as well as his incredible visual ability, which allowed him to notice animals even at a very long distances and while driving the vehicle, was extremly precious. His friendliness, kindness and his sense of duty aimed at guaranteeing us a unique experience at all costs and his ability to read our wishes from our lips many times even before we had expressed them made this experience truly unforgettable. In this sense we highly recommend Aarkvard expeditions and especially the guide Donatus.
GA
Email Zelia | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Very good experience !
A very good experience with Aardvark Expeditions, which is a very attentive and professional company. Philemon is someone very available, who responds quickly to messages and who helped us a lot to organize our visit. The guide (Judicate) was very knowledgeable and very kind. The cook was very knowledgeable too, we had a blast! We were able to see a lot of animals in the different parks of northern Tanzania, especially in Ngorongoro, which is a fabulous crater to discover. Do not hesitate to contact Philemon to organize your stay.
FR
Email Ludovic | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
excellent safari, great organization, the guides do their best for our well-being
we were able to see a lot of wild animals and multitudes of birds with splendid colors.
this safari is a great emotion.
the organization and the friendliness of the guides are perfect.
And the meals were very good
I highly recommend Aardvark-Expeditions.
CH
Email Mäx | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
The booking, pick-up at the airport, the Safari (7 days), transfer to airport > all was perfect !
I made the 7 days Safari and I was super happy after this tour.
My driver / guide „Donatus“ was a safe driver and he knows a lot about wild animals, plants, people and country.
In this days he get my friend.
All booked Hotels, Lodges or Camps were clean, the staff very friendly and the food great.
I saw tausends of wild animals and the most very near, I will never forget this amazing time.
I can warmly recommend Aardvark to all to do one of the Safari they offer.
Thank you very much for this great time.
Email Karen | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent Safari with a personal touch
We decided to arrange our Safari in Arusha, as we wanted to make sure the Company we used was reliable, reputable and honest. We visited the office of Aardvark and found the owner to be very professional, knowledgable and flexible for our needs. He gave us a very good price, an excellent very well informed guide who knew the Serengeti well and a great cook who prepared tasty meals. The campsites we used were great and we even got to hear Lions roaring and Buffalo and Elephants in the campsites as well. The mattresses and sleeping bags were also good quality and warm, especially important on the Crater rim of Ngorogoro which is very cold at night. The jeep provided was clean and even had a fridge and charging sockets for your camera's phones etc. Every little detail had been thought of. I would highly recommend Aardvark as being well organised and trustworthy. We would definitely use them again on further trips.The owner even visited us after we got back to make sure we'd enjoyed our time away. A lovely personal touch.
BE
Email Jerome | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent Safari of five days
I highly recommend to choose Philomen's company. Very professional team. Excellent guide who knows very well flora and fauna and who is able to detect and recognize each and every animals, including birds. The cook was an excellent chef, always ready to help and flexible to accommodate our needs. This is an excellent choice. You will never regret it. We had a marvelous time with Philomen's agency.
FR
Email P.a | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Philemon has been attentive and very flexible in building a journey that reflects our request.
Philemon was attentive and very flexible to build a course that reflects our demand for sites of interest and type of accommodation. He is a man of confidence and it was a beautiful stay.
Remember to ask the driver to stop to benefit more, he adapts to the marathon pace does not suit you. Flat: shame about half a day in a park without seeing anything ...
(automatic translation from French)
FR
Email Nat. | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent service
We booked a safari for the Arusha National Park at the last minute. Philemon was very accomodating and managed to fullfil all our requests (such as drop off of some of us at the airport and others in Arusha). The driver was extremely friendly and knowledgeable. In addition to having a beautiful visit throughout the park, we also learnt about plants, local culture, and many other.
Highly recommended
Email Ian (and Jenny) | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Glad we chose Aardvark!
My wife and I considered dozens of tour companies. Glad we went with Aardvark! We told the Manager (Philemon) our budget and preferences, and within hours he replied with a customised itinerary that met our needs. He provided a great, well-stocked Landcruiser with lots of space. Our driver (Donatus) was very friendly, professional, and was honestly masterful at spotting wildlife we otherwise would have missed. He genuinely wanted us to have the best possible safari experience and really went out of his way (and off the beaten track) to achieve that. Also, the hotels they arranged looked good on TripAdvisor, but were even better in person, and the “budget” tented lodges in the parks seemed pretty luxurious to us! One recommendation would be for the driver to share more information at the start of the journey and at the start of each day, so we’d know more about driving durations and what routes in the parks we was planning. The distances are vast, and if you’re not careful you can get pretty wiped out, but if you proactively ask for this, I’m sure Aardvark would accommodate. Thanks for the memories!
