“We were lucky enough on our trip up Kilimanjaro to be accompanied by Victoria, an Aardvark staff member, who was doing her research on the area the best way possible, by doing it herself! The guides, the porters, and the crew at the base camp were without exception incredible. The organisation was impeccable and we felt tremendously well looked after for our entire time on the mountain. Walking into the fully prepared camp shortly before dusk after a hard day’s trekking it was a wonderful boost to the spirits to see the entire group of guides and porters standing waiting for us and singing as we arrived. The omnipresent cup of tea was also greatly appreciated! We really can’t say enough good things about the entire team. When we return to Africa for our next big adventure we will undoubtedly be using Aardvark Safaris who looked after us amazingly well before, during and after our trip.”  Jon and Allison Beer, New York

A number of the Aardvark Safaris team have climbed the mountain so can offer impartial advice and like all those that have climbed it to date, believe that the exhilaration combined with overwhelming sense of achievement, liberating feeling of being without the luxuries of modern day life (mobile phone for one) and the kudos of climbing the highest mountain in Africa makes Kilimanjaro a trip of a life time.

Although more of a trek than a climb, climbers should be in good physical health; to date we’ve arranged single travellers as well as mothers and daughters to join a small group, honeymoon climbs as well as private climbs for groups of friends to celebrate a milestone birthday.

There are various routes and climb specifications but safety is always our number one concern. We believe the secret to a successful summit bid is to choose the right climbing operator and to be aware that you get what you pay for in terms of professionalism and equipment.

The cost (exclusive of international flights) based on two people sharing a luxury specification tent on a Machame Route small group climb is from $3,650 per person to include all accommodation, tents and camping equipment, guiding and meals.
 
For more information ring Toll Free on 1 888 776-0888, or info@aardvarksafaris.com or visit www.aardvarksafaris.com .

Charlotte Deans in Kenya

Author Charlotte Deans, 10 years old, lives in the United Kingdom

Ten-year-old Charlotte Deans went to Kenya with her family in July. Her mother thought we might like to see the email she wrote to her friends on their return. Bits of it made us laugh – walking being boring, Mum ‘scared’ to body board – but it was also interesting to see the reaction of a child to her first safari. Apart from sorting out a few spelling mistakes we’ve left the rest un-edited so you can see at first hand how she enjoyed the trip.

“Hi guys
I got back yesterday from Kenya but mum said I couldn’t go on the computer! Kenya was brilliant we saw loads of animals.
We saw…dick dicks (rude name!), giraffe, leopard, elephants, impala, african hare, spring hare, serval cat, lion, jackle, spotted hyena, eland, cheetah, and loads more we also saw loads of different birds we saw eagles and parrots and drongos and weavers and loads more exotic birds!
We went to a place called Sarara first and we stayed in this sort of marke (I don’t know how to spell it) and guess what we saw leopard 4 out of 5 times there which was brilliant! We also went to a Samburu village and Josh tried to milk some goats but he didn’t succeed!!!!! We then went in a private plane to the Masai Mara and went on a mobile safari with Alex Hunter we stayed in these tiny tents which was a bit of a shock because they were mini compared to the tents at Sarara! But we managed. The first three days at the Masai Mara we went walking it was sooo boring I hate walking!!! But we saw lots of animals and lion on foot which is really special so it kind of made up for it!!!

We them moved camps to somewhere else in the Mara and we saw loads more animals again. In the evening before it went dark we had a night drive but when it was starting to get dark we had to head back to the camp because in the Mara you aren’t allowed to stay out in the dark looking for animals because most animals hunt at night and your spoiling their hunting time if you get in the way!! When we were heading back to the airstrip to get a plane which was going to take us to Lamu we saw a cheetah and it was soo cool! We saw it really close up in the car well it was walking next to us basically! It was amazing!!!
We then got a plane to Lamu which was where we were going to spend the last part of our vacation relaxing by the beach! We helped turtles down to the sea bed into the sea they were tiny and we were able to pick them up and help them into the sea it was soo cool! We swam in the Indian Ocean, body boarding was so cool and Josh, Dad and I did it but mum just wanted to relax on the beach for some reason,(she was probably scared) and guess what we also went water skiing !!!!!!! It was soo cool Josh and I did it and we actually stood up and skied for a bit!!!!!!!!
The food was brilliant in Kenya but the time was 2 hours before us so it took a bit of time to get used to. I mean when in Kenya we got up a half six in England it was half four!!!! that is early!!!
Well there is all about Kenya, I hope you enjoyed reading the big long e-mail!!!”

So it was a surprise to us to hear from Jarrod, the manager at Kicheche Camp in the Masai Mara Kenya, of a caracal and cub having been spotted during the day.

Jarrod’s report:

Hearing a report from guests that a caracal and cub had been spotted at Bishop’s Lugga, I cancelled my plans for the afternoon, jumped in a vehicle and drove to the spot where the sighting was made. Bishop’s Lugga is only ten minutes from camp but the journey seemed much longer as I contemplated the possibility of seeing a cat I had never before encountered.

The anticipation was in reality short-lived as I spotted both mum and cub immediately upon arrival. The cub is probably no more than two months old and immediately dived for cover and effortlessly disappeared in the tall grass.

Her mother however seemed more than happy to stay in view, and given precious minutes to study her, I can say without question she is the most striking cat I have ever seen. With perfectly angled features and exquisite facial markings she had the appearance and manner of a giant Siamese cat as she sashayed through the short-grass. Her sharp, almond eyes shone like freshly minted gold sovereigns and allied with her large, distinctive black tipped ears made her hyper sensitive to the slightest movement around her. She may not posses the superior strength of the leopard or the blistering pace of the cheetah but in appearance the caracal is the embodiment of feline grace and beauty.

As the mother moved into the safety of some croton I spotted the tips of the cub’s ears twitching nervously just above the the tall grass where she was hiding. Chastised by mum for her sloppy camouflage, the pair slinked into the heart of the bush and out of sight.

Our vacation combined Peponi Hotel on the beach with safari activities at Lewa and Rekero. The highlight of the whole trip was finding Acacia House which is owned by the Beatons (of Rekero fame). This stunning private house, complete with its own swimming pool, offers comfortable accommodation for up to six guests in an exclusive corner of the Masai Mara and comes with its own staff, and a private guide and vehicle. The cost per person per night is from as little as $275 (based on six sharing and including all meals and drinks) which is very reasonable for a safari camp, especially when you look at its exclusivity, location and quality of guiding. Whether for two or six people this offers excellent value and would be difficult to beat using the small safari camps we usually recommend which start at around $430 per person.

Richard chose a multi-country vacation through Africa.

I wanted to show Jo and the children some real variety so chose the contrasting destinations of Kenya, Malawi, Zambia and South Africa. Putting myself in my clients’ shoes was an interesting experience, but I’m pleased to report that the whole trip was a great success. What struck me most was how great food and good service didn’t cost an arm and a leg. There are lots of wonderful restaurants in and around Cape Town with stunning views and waiting staff who are pleased to look after you. We found it very easy to eat lunches and dinners in different places throughout our stay and didn’t have a bad meal anywhere, with meals for four of us averaging $35 for the family. For a vacation with variety, great accommodation and incredible value I think South Africa is virtually impossible to beat.’

OFFERS THAT HAVE CAUGHT OUR ATTENTION RECENTLY INCLUDE:
Chongwe – one of our favourite camps in Zambia is offering reduced prices for all bookings made in May and June.

Selous Safari Company in Tanzania is offering free flights between its various properties for stays of four nights or more. Camps included in this offer are Selous Safari Camp, Jongomero and Ras Kutani.

For a classic Kenyan beach and safari combination Shela Houses in Lamu combined with Acacia House in the Masai Mara offers great value for families or groups of friends travelling together.

Acacia House in the Masai Mara Kenya

Before I left cold and wet Edinburgh, I had visions of experiencing an outrageously hot and even wetter Botswana.I was wrong. I spent a couple of weeks in December (their summer) exploring parts of this large, under-populated country, and even though I went in the supposed rainy season, it was a magical time of year to visit.The temperature is hot but not scorching, it rains often, but just enough to clear the air, the game is outstanding and the land gloriously green. The young impala had just been born, I saw the elusive aardwolf, bat-eared foxes, wild dog and brown hyena, not to mention an abundance of lion, leopard and cheetah.

Botswana’s Okavango Delta could well be called a modern day Garden of Eden. We were well looked after in comfortable, attractive small camps, met extraordinary people, saw incredible sights, and did not have to share the joy with hordes of other people.

What about the camps?
Such quality and exclusivity usually warrants a high price, but the Aardvark team found some excellent camps
offering genuinely good value together with high standards of accommodation, excellent food and interesting activities.

African Horseback Safaris’ Macatoo Camp is such a place. We spent two days riding good horses at speed over the floodplains and through the woodlands of the Delta. We were even able to ride to the airstrip to join our flight to Maun on the day we left. Awesome.

Mokolwane Camp is a great option for those who like to ride occasionally but as part of a mix of other activities which include guided walks, game drives, fishing and boat trips, and traditional mokoro canoe excursions.

Camp Kalahari on the edge of the Makgadikgadi Pans, offers all the activities that this area is known for including quad biking, walking with Bushmen, meerkat watching, and game drives to see the intriguing desert adapted wildlife. We spent an afternoon with a couple of knowledgeable ornithologists watching huge numbers of migrant waders and water birds in one of the temporary waterholes that arise when the rains come. It was an extraordinary feeling to see so many water birds in a desert.

Footsteps is a delightful semi-permanent camp with just three tents on the northern edge of the Moremi Game Reserve. It offers a real wilderness experience, focusing its activities on walking and learning about the bush and all that lives in it.

The little visited Central Kalahari Game Reserve is one of the largest protected areas in Africa. Year-round game includes a number of desert adapted species while the wet season brings in huge herds of migratory game.

Kalahari Plains Camp and Tau Pan Camp, both excellent new properties, offer a different perspective on Botswana’s wildlife to that of the wetland Delta areas.

The Mashatu Game Reserve on the banks of the Limpopo River in the south east of Botswana offers fantastic game viewing in a rugged and remote wilderness setting. A couple of excellent camps here provide authentic safari
accommodation, good food and great guiding. Value does not just apply to what you pay for something – it applies even more to what you get for the money. Botswana will never be a cheap destination, but it will always be great value for what it offers – the supreme safari, habitat, ecology and activity destination, providing privacy, low numbers of fellow visitors, wonderful hospitality in very small camps, and outstanding people. It’s worth every penny. available in this country make it suitable for any person of any age to visit.

I think this was the first time in Africa that I really felt emotion when taking off from the runway in Maun to leave Botswana and there is no doubt that I would jump at the chance to return.

We nervously swam in the Delta, hoping not to come face to face with a crocodile or hippo, despite the fact that our guide had assured us there was nothing to worry about.

When to go
January to March: Spectacular wildlife viewing in Kenya, Tanzania – wildebeest calving in the southern Serengeti – and South Africa.

April to June: Wonderfully lush and green in the classic safari destinations of Botswana and Zambia. The Victoria Falls are at their most spectacular around April/May.

July to September: Excellent throughout Southern and East Africa. The wildebeest migration is in full swing in Kenya’s Masai Mara, while the waters of Botswana’s Okavango Delta are at their peak. A good time to track mountain gorillas in Uganda and Rwanda.

October to December – Zambia’s peak game viewing season is October with huge numbers of elephant and good chances of leopard sightings. Whale watching season in South Africa and the wildebeest herds are crossing back into Tanzania’s Serengeti.

What to see
The Big Five: lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino. You can see the Big Five in Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa, but only a few parks and reserves offer all five at the same time. These include the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, Masai Mara Game Reserve in Kenya, Kruger National Park in South Africa

What to do
Traditional game drives are the best way to see the Big Five, usually in a sturdy 4×4 jeep. Other types of game drives include riding on camels, walking on foot, in a boat or canoe, by hot-air balloon and on horseback.

Where to stay
You can choose from classic camps where comfortable tents have proper beds, showers and toilets; thatched-roof lodges with viewing platforms and open air dining, or luxury lodges with private plunge pools and personal butlers. Your choice will depend on your budget and the type of vacation you want to experience. Prices range from $350 to $1,400 per person per night.

What To Pack
-Anti-malaria pills
- Sunblock – spf 50
- Sunglasses
- Thick-soled walking boots
- Sandals
- Binoculars, camera and accessories (remember spare batteries)
- Casual lightweight cotton, khaki or neutral-colored clothes
- Sweater, light jacket or windbreaker, just in case it gets cool at night.
- Swimsuits and shorts and a few T-shirts for lounging by the pool
- Wide brimmed hat; baseball caps won’t do; think Indiana Jones’ hat

Mobile communication is opening up Africa’s wilderness regions. Once going on safari meant disappearing from contact for days on end, but now it is easy to stay in touch. Most of the 50 or so countries that make up the African continent are increasingly abandoning wired telephone systems and switching to mobile phone networks. Less sophisticated mobile phones won’t immediately work in Africa – you’ll need a triband phone to ensure you receive mobile phone calls in the bush – but with triband your phone will ring just as if you were around the block from your home or office.

Even in the most remote safari regions you can still stay in touch. John Spence of Aardvark Safaris says lodges and camps that used to rely on weak radio signals now have internet access, and their speeds often rival what you’ll get back home. You won’t know there’s a computer there – it’ll be hidden away in a back office – but if you need to get online you can. This is especially good news for businessmen and women, who crave a vacation, but don’t necessarily want to be out of touch for 10 days or longer.

It’s also now possible to rent a satellite phone for just $15 per day – and that will work even in the middle of the Sahara. Spence advises organizing that before you leave home.

“You want to make sure you’re up and running with your rental satellite phone while you can still easily sort out any problems. The middle of the African bush is not the place to realize your phone isn’t set up correctly.”

Some think it’s sad that modern communications have now filtered through to Africa’s great wildlife regions. But for businessmen and women who do not want to surf through hundreds of emails upon their return to work, or return dozens of missed phone calls, increasing communication across Africa is good news.