We love to hear from our clients on their return from Africa and here is a selection of recent comments. Let us know if you would like to talk to someone who has already traveled with us, it's something we'd happily organize.

What a trip! The climb to Kilimanjaro was difficult, but would have been impossible without the Aardvark Team. Our guides were knowledgeable, helpful and above all else patient. There was not a single question that could not be answered by our main guide Ake. He was knowledgeable about the economic structure of the country, the wildlife, plants, and geology. The food was also very good, we never went hungry that's for sure. We asked for quite a few special accommodations and they were willing to help anyway they could. Even when we were hit with 12 inches of snow overnight they sprang into action to help us at 4am. We could not have asked for a better trip and I am sure the Aardvark Team was the reason we all made it to the peak.

The Overby Expedition, Wisconsin, USA

Dear Tracy,

I am ready to write to share with you some of the extraordinary experiences our family of 9 had on our Aardvark Zambia adventure. With 4 children, ages 9 to 12 and 5 adults it was one amazing day after another, beginning with Livingstone and the beautiful Tongabezi Lodge. It had the absolute right blend of luxury and African ambiance plus cultural and physical activities which delighted the children. Visits to Victoria Falls, the Tujutane School where our 9 year old Luke was awarded with a special rendition of Happy Birthday by all the students, boat rides on the mighty Zambezi river and jumping off the rocks into the natural swimming pool at the Lodge.

Relunctantly we left Tongabezi convinced that nothing could top it and flew down to the Lower Zambezi area and the magical Chongwe River Camp. We couldnt have chosen a better set of circumstances to enter this world, so different from our own. The staff, the setting, the weather, the game viewing, visits to the local village and our kids playing soccer with the African children....all so perfect that again, when it was time to leave, we were assured that nothing could be better.

Until we got to Luangwa House in southern Zambia. What an amazing place. Our group fit perfectly in this 4 bedroom wonder and the services of Val, our "housemother" and her staff plus Jacob, guide extraordinaire just made this stop on our trip the best. Here we continued to learn more about the wildlife and saw more variety including giraffes and zebras and lions ..did walking safaris, a first for me and quite a nice change from riding in the big safari vehicles. We had a wonderful breakfast in the bush complete with a performance by a group of actors who pantomined life in the bush in the most clever and entertaining manner.

Two single engine 6 seater aircraft were necessary to take us on a 2 hour flight to Malawi and an exquisite resort on the island of Likoma in Lake Malawi. We could see Africa from above and that was a wonder, particularly as we approached the Kaya Mawa resort, tucked in a little bay on the island. It was here that we were able to just wind down after all the travel and swim and snorkel and revel in the beauty and natural setting. It was just a wonderful way to end the trip.

I can only say that the thought and planning that created our trip to Zambia was executed with great care and regard to the multigenerations that were travelling...the result was truly a trip of a lifetime and one that none of us will ever forget.

Thanks to you Tracy and your team for doing such an outstanding job.

Joanne Bjork, San Rafael, USA

Dear John and Tor,

Well, my kids are back safe and sound and LOVED, LOVED, LOVED it!  Every single bit of it exceeded their expectations -- they saw everything, went to the village, thought the staff and guide and spotter and everyone at the camp was superb, the food wonderful, the scenery fabulous, etc.  And they said that Hogmead was gorgeous and wonderful, plus they adopted an elephant and went to the giraffe sanctuary, and are wondering what they were so worried about -- they said they felt totally safe the entire time.

For me, I was just so glad they loved it as we did, and got back safely.  I never expected them NOT to, but still -- it's a mom thing, I guess.  And their babies did great too.

But the best thing was that my kids, who are not experienced travelers, will now see how wonderful it is to explore different cultures and countries, and want to see the world and how the people in it live. they say it was the best thing they've ever done!

So thank you BOTH for putting up with all our nonsense, and for planning, once again, a perfect trip.

Barbara Green & the McDaniel Family, California, USA

For Lindsay and I, it was a trip of a lifetime. We felt like family wherever we stayed, the animals were truly amazing, we loved every moment of our trip.

Your ears had to have been burning. We sang your praises and complimented the information booklets and concise paperwork that we received from Aardvark. After sending these photos to some of our friends, many have asked who planned this wonderful trip for us! Towards the end of our incredible journey, we already started to say that we want to return with our kids and their spouses.

We cannot thank you enough for everything that you and your team at Aardvark Safaris did to make this trip so magical for us both.

Kristy and Lindsay Brehm, California, USA

My riding safari in Kenya was everything I'd signed up for and more. I'm grateful to John for his diligence in helping me consider various options and his persuasiveness over making me pick the right one to meet my high expectations of adventure. And they were certainly met!

The rides were exhilarating, the company was delightfully boisterous and the interaction with animals was extraordinary and expertly navigated by Tristan.

Should you ever confront scenarios that might include getting charged at by elephants and hippos, running off lionesses from their hiding places or having some extraordinary encounters with exotic animals in their habitat, you should seriously consider having Tristan by your side, just to even the odds a bit! He's a rare surviving specimen of the 'old school' and well worth a trip to Aftica for. His combination of courage and kindness can only be described as any good swiss chocolate should - hard on the outside and soft on the inside.

Pro Bose, New York

Wait a Little was great! Gerti and Philip run the place really nicely. I was impressed with the horses. Well kept and well trained!

I loved Gerti's food and it was just amazing how close Philip got us to the wildlife - he really is a fantastic guide! We felt safe and enjoyed every moment of it!

A big thank you to Charlie for recommending this to us.

Andrea Sellner and Nina Buschmann, Austria

Greetings John,

I just wanted to write you a note to say how AMAZING my Aardvark-planned safari was. Tracy helped me plan a Kenyan safari that was everything I dreamed a safari would be and more! It was my first trip to Africa as well as my first safari and I fell in love! It's been just under a month since I returned and I still think about the trip numerous times per day. I stayed at Lewa Safari Camp and Offbeat Mara and it was the absolute best trip I have ever taken (and I've travelled a lot!) I was able to see ALL the animals there were to see, even a huge herd of wildebeests crossing the Mara River! I was beyond thrilled.

I also wanted to mention how great Tracy was from the moment I first talked to her. She asked me a bunch of questions and was able to plan the safari of my dreams (I've wanted to go on a safari since I was a child). I can't say enough great things about her - she was super-knowledgeable, friendly, and would return my phone calls/emails within minutes! I couldn't have asked for anything more...She was beyond fabulous!

I've already started saving for my next safari which will hopefully be in 2012 (and which will of course be booked through Aardvark!).

All the best,

Lucy Suran, Boston, MA

Dear John, Tracy and All:

Just wanted to let you know that our trip to Johannesburg and Zambia, from beginning to end, was just amazing.

Before contacting Aardvark, I had interviewed safari companies all over the world and what I got back was standard stock safari packages emailed or mailed to me. But, from my first contact with Aardvark, you took the time to get to know me and find out what I wanted. Thank you for spending so much time with me, holding my hand, answering my thousand questions and planning a trip that was totally personalized to exactly what I wanted. The variety of the places you booked us, and the order in which we visited each place, was absolutely perfect.

Our two days in Johannesburg with Robin Binckes (Spear of the Nation), were very emotional and thought provoking. Robin is an amazing historian and an incredible story teller. Anyone transiting through Johannesburg should consider spending at least one day with Robin. Tongabezi at Vic Falls, in Honeymoon House, was four days of magic. The Norman Carr camps, Nsolo and Kakuli, were like visiting an old friend who happened to own a safari bush camp. At Nsolo and Kakuli, I discovered where “no where” really is, but I also discovered the beauty of the night sky with a million stars, going to sleep to the sounds of hippos and frogs and experiencing the “hands on” Africa that I had hoped for. And lastly our four nights at Sausage Tree were the ultimate in bush luxury.

Again thank you. Your expert first hand knowledge of each place made this the “trip of a lifetime”.

Kathy Robinson, San Diego, CA

I want to thank you again for helping us plan our Southern African adventure. We had an amazing time! You did a great job of making the best of our budget and 2 week time frame. Constantia Stables was a really nice B&B with great service and an amazing breakfast! Lola treated us like family and our room next to the pool was absolutely beautiful. All of the sights in Cape Town, wine tasting, and shark diving/whale watching made for an amazing trip.

Vic Falls are stunning and are an absolute must-see and much more grand than what I expected (especially after seeing Niagara Falls several times already). Linyati was the best camp that we stayed at. The level of service, quality of food, and attention to detail was unmatched! We saw over 50 species of land mammals including a lot of elephants, leopard, lion, zebra, buffalo, giraffe, etc. Finally, Xakanaka was a great camp as well.

Best wishes and thanks for the wonderful planning! We look forward to working with you soon on our next safari adventure. Please don't hesitate to e-mail us if other clients need a referral or have questions.

Best wishes,

Sonia & Chintan, Woodridge, IL

Just a note of thanks for putting up with me and ultimately booking a wonderful and exciting trip. As you might recall our trip from Argentina to New York goes through Chile, Easter Island, the Society Islands and nearby atolls, Australia, Africa and the UK and Ireland, but our stay in Africa was, as our kids repeatedly said, insane.

As in insanely good, insanely beautiful, exciting, fun and unforgettable. The lodge in Livingstone was wonderful and the daredevil activities we did were crazy. At the end of the day, though, it was our safari with Brent Reed that blew us away, just as you predicted. He, his staff, the camps, the drives, the baseball (yes baseball) at lunch, the flyfishing (yup), and the non-stop game action made for the apex of a trip of a lifetime. And when Brent jumped out of the truck, dove into a bush and came out with an 8 foot python, well, I thought that only happened in movies.

So, thanks.

GM O'Connell and family, Argentina

We put together a fantastic safari combing three branches of the same family, East Coast and West. The boys particularly enjoyed their US vs Masai soccer game.

Dear John and Tracy,

I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for putting together the most amazing trip for all of us. It was truly an extraordinary adventure - one that none of us will ever forget. We all fell deeply in love with the land, people and wildlife. It was fun, challenging and adventuresome at every turn. Each location was unique and fascinating in different ways. We left feeling thrilled and wanting more. Thank you for helping us design this most beautiful journey.

Julie McAlpine, Corona Del Mar, CA

It takes a lot for anything to live up to "the experience of a lifetime" The safari that Aardvark built for us certainly fulfilled that promise.

We presented them with 9 people ranging in age from 10-70 .They were given a basic idea of what we wanted: an opportunity to see a safari through the eyes of of our children and grandchildren. We also hoped that it would give everyone a chance to put aside busy schedules and disparate lifestyles and to just be a family again.

What we had were two weeks of amazing experiences, together time,alone time,and the opportunity to become a family under new dynamics. Safe, fun, exciting, extraordinary sights, wonderful coordination between the US tean and those on the ground in Kenya.

Many thanks,

Rita Sharma and family, Williamsport, IN

A visit to Zanzibar was a wonderful way to celebrate and relax after our Kilimanjaro climb and work in local villages with the San Diego based non-profit Plant With Purpose. The Breezes Beach Club and Spa offered beautiful accommodations, excellent service and was perfect for our 6-family group. Thank you Aardvark Safaris for paying attention to every detail and making our trip a success.

Cindy Outlaw and family, San Diego, CA

John, Tracy, the rest of Aardvark staff,

Just wanted to write a quick note to say thank you for the amazing job you did helping to plan our recent trip to Kenya. The service you gave us was first class. We really appreciate the individual attention and the genuine interest you showed in figuring out what we wanted in a trip...and then you made it all come together, seamlessly for us.

We have a lot of experience traveling and this was, by far ,one of the very best trips we have ever had. The game lodges/camps were amazing. We saw so many animals, and the kids have a ton of stories and memories that will stay with them forever. They are still talking about the gazelle we saw being born, in the Mara, the cheetahs hunting, and the lions "making baby lions"! We lost count of the number of giraffes we saw. The morning we spent at a Massai school was also an unforgettable experience to add to the list.The whole trip was an amazing family experience for us. Thanks again for all your work.

Mark and Mary, London, Ontario, Canada

We had the most fantastic time from start to finish.

As it turned out we were the only two on our camping safari! All the accommodation was first class and the guys looking after us couldn’t be better. Our guide Mompati had such incredible knowledge that we learnt so much everyday. Thank you for helping us find such a memorable holiday. We shall recommend Aardvark to as many friends and family as possible.

Marion and Ian Tibbitt, Somerset, England

This is Meredith's second trip with Aardvark. Last year, she went to Rwanda and Uganda with us and this year, returned to show her brother Kenya. 

Well, you scored once again. We had a great time on the Mara. The camp was just right for us and we saw tons of animals. Plus Penny [the camp manager] is my new best friend. I loved her. And Ethiopia was magic.

Thanks again John...You're the best!

Meredith Fisher, Venice, CA 

Thanks for pulling together a fantastic trip to Southern Africa. Your staff did a fantastic job of integrating our eclectic needs on budget. While diverse, you managed to address our interests around the tourist draws of Cape Town, a rewarding safari at Kruger, and a cherished experience at Victoria Falls.

The Victoria & Alfred Hotel in Cape Town was a perfect place to adjust from our travels and be within walking distance of Cape Town’s highlights.

Kapama at Kruger hit the trifecta, providing us a top-notch personalized safari experience (we saw every animal on our list), at a great price, and still was able to shoot me into town to watch the rugby matches among local fans.

Lastly, the rustic Chundukwa River Lodge near Victoria Falls was a great launching point to see the falls in Zambia and Zimbabwe, facilitate an exciting day-safari at Chobe Park in Botswana, and provided a great window for us to experience local life at a nearby village and school.

Thank you again for catering to our eclectic -borderline erratic- interests, providing us a genuinely unforgettable experience.

Paul Schrimpf and Melinda Tyndall, Chicago, IL

We just returned from our wonderful African safari adventure! Thanks to John Spence and Aardvark for all their help in planning and organizing the trip. Everything went so smoothly!

We loved the lodges and camps we visited, where the hosts always welcomed us more like guests than tourists. The local guides were fun and knowledgeable and shared many stories and much information. Even the wildlife cooperated.

A favorite experience was hearing a hippo splash in the river while still in bed inside our tent. We saw elephant families, lion and cubs, big and small giraffe, hippo, crocodile cheetah, leopard... and more almost every day. And then there was the most amazing wildebeest migration across the Mara River! Thousands of animals thundering past. We will always treasure the memories of this special trip. Thanks again John and Aardvark!

Jeanne and George Wagle, Granger, IN