Happy safari guides from Aardvark Expeditions
Aardvark Expeditions
- Office 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)
for a custom tour
Your request will be sent directly to the operator
If preferred, you can contact the operator directly
Reviews
US
Email Adam W | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Absolutely the best operator in Tanzania!
I can unequivocally say that Aardvark Expeditions is the BEST Safari option money can buy! We just finished a 7 day safari with a group of 17 family members! The trip was absolutely amazing from the pick-up at the airport to the final dropoff! The guides (Moses, Uriel, Brayson) were fantastic guides. They were super friendly, courteous, and knowledgeable. Their knowledge extended much beyond the wildlife and included geology, history and politics. All three of them spoke fantastic English. They were SUPER patient with our group of 17 which included 9 kids! I am convinced these guys are some of the safest drivers in Tanzania! Many of the other tour companies had drivers that were clearly driving way too fast and out of control. We saw the ENTIRE big 5 including multiple leopards, hunting cheetahs, and even 4 Black Rhinos! Before I booked with Philemon , I researched many tour companies and got quotes from at least 5 different companies. The price was unbeatable compared to the US and European based travel agents that apparently DOUBLE the price of the tour for their commission. The booking process was super easy! The lodges we stayed at were top tier lodges with unbelievable service, food, professionalism and views! We stayed at Mawe Mawe, Embalakai, Rhino Lodge, And Marera Valley Lodge. I want to personally thank Philemon and the Aardvark team for the most fantastic family trip of a lifetime!
US
Email LarryW | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Multigenerational family of 17 enjoyed a 7 day safari complements of Aardvark Expeditions.
Being together with our three children and 15 grandchildren for the adventure of a lifetime! Seeing another part of God's world in a safe multigenerational environment. We had 3 safari outfitted Land cruisers operated by 3 extremely competent and courteous guides. We ranged in age from 76 down to 4 years old. We covered hundreds of miles. Had great accommodations every night with gourmet dinners and hearty breakfasts every morning and enjoyed picnic style box lunches every day for lunch. We saw everything there was to see (the big 7) the cats, the wildebeests on their caving grounds! We were well satisfied with the value of our 7 day expedition. our nightly accommodations all offered WIFI and cold beers to wash down the trail dust. Everything about our expedition went like clock work, from the time Philemon picked us up at JRO until he returned us there 9 days later.
US
Email DBW | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Philemon is a professional that provides all services in safari contract , extremely likable.
You will get your money value, plus so much more in the amazing safari that Philemon provides. Our family group of 17, ages 4-76! have a lifetime of 7 days of amazing animal drives with Aardvark Expeditions, elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos, Cape buffalo, zebras, baboons, Dik diks, ostrich, elands, antelope, crocodile, hippos, many birds, and lush plants and trees!
Aardvark Expedition’s provided 3 large vehicles and 3 outstanding guides for our family group, all guides were well equipped to find the animals and full of information about their habits.
The lodge accommodations were perfect in comfort, scenic views, and well trained staff to provide good meal choices, Including attentive needs for a gluten intolerant child.
Aardvark Expeditions accommodated airport transportation to and from the airport, they were trustworthy in the services provided, and flexible with family requests.
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.
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.
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!
RU
Email Ivan & mama Ivan | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very good for first time in Tanzania. From Russia with best wishes.
Our first trip to Tanzania. I really wanted to visit a Safari, see animals in their natural habitat, not in a zoo! Safari tour was booked at the last moment, having received preliminary information from the site SafariBookings.com. several companies responded Promptly, one of them Aardvark Expeditions. Head Philemon Joel (Philemon) immediately contacted us on WatsApp, we discussed the details of the tour and accommodation options. Philemon went to meet us without taking an advance payment, because to make a payment through the Bank did not have time, as well as experience of such payments. Upon arrival in Arusha, Philemon and driver Urio met us at the airport and took us to our hotel! By the way, the transfer from the airport to the hotel and back Philemon organized absolutely free. The next three days we spent in the company of Urio, following the program of our tour. The first day at Tarangire National Park was amazing with stunning views of the African Savannah, with majestic baobabs. We watched as herds of zebras and Wildebeest steadily go to water and back, not paying attention to the passing cars of tourists. At noon they watched a group of elephants hiding from the sun in the shade of trees. Another group of young elephants were looking for water in the bed of a dry river. Baboons strolled along the road in their large family, and surprised ostriches peered warily into our faces) at noon Urio carefully arranged for us to have lunch in a special area. We refreshed ourselves and continued our acquaintance with the territory of this beautiful Park. Urio told us about animals, their habits, embellishing their stories with ancient legends. In the evening we stayed overnight at Eileen's Trees Inn.
On the second day our way lay in the crater Ngorongoro. The territory of the crater is represented by habitats of different animals. Here we managed to see a pride of lions resting by the stream at noon. Very impressed hyenas and warthogs, which in the wild look even more bizarre than on TV) Vast territory of the crater, which during the day move thousands of different animals. The views are breathtaking. Unfortunately, our car was not equipped with a radio and we had to circle around a huge area in the hope of seeing a Rhino and giraffes. At the same time, some cars were equipped with walkie-talkies and could more quickly come to the location of the animals. At noon there was lunch again, and unfortunately it was not different variety from the previous day: sad dry chicken, fruit and dessert. Very upset by the lack of a thermos with hot tea or coffee( the question of food is worth considering for the future, because the whole day on dry rations, not everyone can stand.
On the final day we visited Lake Manyara. Here at last we were fortunate enough to see giraffes and huge herds of elephants going to drink. Surprisingly, this small Park struck most of all, because here it was possible to observe the animals in close proximity to the car. The roof of our car tilted up and it was possible to establish direct visual contact with animals passing by. It was the same sad lunch…
In General, the tour was very pleasant, except for small comments on the organization. Aardvark Expeditions has the potential for growth and quality improvement, but in a highly competitive environment, the service provided and the price look very attractive.
Don't be afraid to go to Tanzania, friends! And we are already planning another trip at the end of the rainy season to visit Serengeti…)
/mr. Ivan & mama Ivan
