The beaches and exotic islands found along Africa’s glorious Indian Ocean coast are among the best in the world and offer everything from five star luxury to barefoot escapism.
Photo : Maldives, One&Only Reethi Rah
Beach Holidays
The beaches and exotic islands found along Africa’s glorious Indian Ocean coast are among the best in the world and offer everything from five star luxury to bare foot escapism.
Photo : Kaya Mawa, Lake Malawi
Beach Holidays
The beaches and exotic islands found along Africa’s glorious Indian Ocean coast are among the best in the world and offer everything from five star luxury to bare foot escapism.
Photo : Belle Mere Plage, Mauritius
Beach Holidays
Beach Holidays
Barefoot escapism and a water lovers’ paradise
Explore Africa’s massive Indian Ocean and Atlantic coastline from São Tomé and Príncipe and South Africa, through to Mozambique, Tanzania, and on to Lamu in Kenya. The Indian Ocean’s beaches and exotic islands are among the best in the world, while the Namibia coast offers something wild and spectacular. They provide barefoot escapism to five-star luxury and pure relaxation, with activities and adventures to entertain the adrenaline seeker.
The Seychelles, Maldives, Mauritius, Madagascar, and Zanzibar are probably the best known for sophisticated luxury, with elegant lodges sitting alongside glamorous private island retreats. Explore marine parks with guides, learn to dive, join a kitesurfing course for a week, or island hop in the Seychelles for the ultimate tailored holiday.
Experience the tranquillity of a private island in this video of Denis Island, Seychelles perfect for honeymoon beach holidays.
A few days on the beach complement a safari perfectly. It’s a nice way to prepare for, or recover from, the early morning safari starts.
Many African beach destinations work well as a standalone holiday too, not simply as a safari add-on.
The enormous variety in accommodation style along the African coastline – from Robinson Crusoe hideaways to resort-style hotels – means there really is something to suit everyone.
Activities are not limited to watersports; there is mountain biking, horse riding, cultural visits and plenty more.
The Indian Ocean can be visited year-round making it the perfect destination for some winter sun or relaxing after a summer safari.
Take the opportunity to enjoy some wonderful snorkelling and diving, an African underwater safari is just as exciting as the land based version.
Some of our Beach Holidays Highlights Click on an image to find out more
After reading lots of reviews we chose Aardvark Safaris for our recent Kenya holiday and Jo put together for us an amazing two centre holiday, we flew into Niarobi, were met at the airport and then the first four days we flew out and stayed in the Olare Conservancy in the Masai Mara and the wonderful Kitcheche Bush Camp. The superb large tent we had right in the bush was superb, the food was fantastic and staff and guides you could not better. Staying in the conservancy we saw so many animals, so close and quiet with out all the large number of vehicles you so often get on the main reserve. We then flew to Lewa and into the foothills of Mount Kenya to stay at the beautiful and stunning Borland Lodge, another brilliantly run conservancy where we stayed in a gorgeous thatched stone cottage, again the staff and guides were so wonderful with amazing views and so many animals, this time including Rhino which was the only animal we had not seen in the Mara. Whilst here we rode horses daily from their nearby stables where again the people were lovely with really nice horses. To ride in such and amazing place with great guides, with such amazing views, among the animals created fantastic memories that we will never forget. A truly amazing holiday so cleverly put together by Jo at Aardvark after listening to our wish list. Superb accommodation, amazing lovely people, fantastic food, unbelievable wild life and every flight, driver, guide was there to meet you, the holiday ran like clockwork and as i said earlier has made the most unforgettable memories that will last a lifetime time. Aardvark Safaries were totally superb in everyway and created for us the most amazing holiday experience with so many memories that will truly last a life time.
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10/27/2026
Dr Bee
Aardvark Safaris created an exceptional journey for us. Every part of the holiday felt carefully considered, with a real respect for wildlife, local communities and the landscapes we were travelling through. We were particularly impressed by the environmental awareness of the camps and lodges chosen for us, where sustainability was clearly part of everyday practice rather than an afterthought.
The attention to detail throughout was outstanding. Lucinda Crawford, in particular, supported us at every stage with patience, warmth and remarkable efficiency. Every transfer, camp and experience seemed to fit together effortlessly, which allowed us simply to enjoy the adventure.
Most importantly, the whole trip felt rooted in a genuine respect for the natural world. We returned with extraordinary memories of wildlife, wild places and people, and would highly recommend Aardvark Safaris without any hesitation whatsoever.
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10/21/2026
Iain Dun
My first safari, spoke to Lucinda at Badminton 2 years ago & signed up for a 6 night hosted trip in the Mara. What an amazing adventure we had, well worth the wait! Organisation was impeccable, flights, an initial night in Nairobi before our flight into the Mara the following morning. What a fantastic group of 13 we were, all with a story to tell, or sing. My bucket list of baby elephants & cantering with giraffes was ticked on that first afternoon, as well as seeing lions en route to camp! And it just got better & better! Simon our guide was brilliant, Nettie our Masai spotter was incredible, how he saw the leopard snoozing up the tree was unbelievable. They truly went the extra mile to show us the very best of Kenya’s wildlife. We were perfectly matched up to our horses, no one requested a change, they were fit & so sure footed across wide & varied terrain. The camp did completely pack up & move with us, from riverbank to escarpment, four camps, all incredible! The food was absolutely delicious, amazing what was produced from a charcoal oven & a BBQ. The staff were brilliant, little touches like hot water bottles in our camp beds every night, coffee or tea brought to your tent in the mornings, ,our boots cleaned every night or extra bucket of hot water for your shower. Sundowners by campfire, under the stars, with elephants close by , hippos in the river & lions not that far away! It was a true adventure, my bucket list well & truly ticked, until the next time!
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10/20/2026
Anna Layfield
The most amazing trip! Thank you Lucinda for organising so professionally. Fast track through the arrivals and private transfers to hotels was certainly a great way to get the trip started even quicker! The most friendly team and 6 nights riding through the Mara seeing so many animals was a once in a lifetime experience with a lovely group! We were well looked after with delicious food and drink throughout our week! I’d not hesitate to book through Aardvark Safaris again! Thank you
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10/20/2026
Diana Hill
Just returned from trip to Kenya and Victoria Falls in Zambia organised for us by Robyn at Aardvark- we couldn’t have had a better time! All the advice in the planning and booking of this trip of a lifetime was invaluable and Aardark’s partners on the ground handled the transfers smoothly even when flight connections tight. We loved the intimacy of the Kicheche tented camps we selected in Kenya with Robyn’s help - exactly what I’d hoped for and the wildlife guiding and viewing was amazing. Waterberry Lodge in Zambia peaceful location and so lovely to hear the hippos close by. Robyn very good at accommodating our last minute request to experience the Devil’s pools at Victoria falls - spectacular! Would happily recommend Aardvark to anyone considering booking a safari.
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10/13/2026
Kate Thomson
Robyn organised our honeymoon to Kenya, visiting Ol Seki in the Naboisho Conservancy followed by rest and relaxation at Chale Island near Diani. Our safari was simply amazing, the camp was beautiful and the wildlife was spectacular, a truly special experience. All the logistics were organised seamlessly with fantastic and friendly on-the-ground service from Bush and Beyond. Thank you Robyn and the Aardvark team!
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10/12/2026
Helena Hurley
4 of us joined a group last week on a trip to Kenya with Aardvark safaris on a horse riding holiday in the Masai Mara. This did NOT disappoint in any way! Lucinda was our planner and she brought her A game for sure. This was our 4th safari with Aardvark and you think things couldn’t possibly get better but you’d be wrong. It totally can and it was exceptional, the horses were foot perfect, the camps, the guides just everything all together made for an awesome weeks entertainment and, oh, the food was also fantastic!! What these guys can produce out of a tent is pretty spectacular. So if you’re reading this far just stop and book the holiday you won’t be disappointed!!
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10/08/2026
Amy O’Connor
We have just got back from the trip of a lifetime!! A 6 night riding safari in the Masai Mara, Kenya completely organised from beginning to end by Lucinda Crawford at Aardvark Safaris. The attention to detail was phenomenal from sending us a wonderful book telling us the story behind Offbeat and lovely luggage tags, to being greeted at the airport with branded caps, to being whisked through Kenyan immigration and then a comfortable nights sleep in a hotel close to the airport, which gave us the perfect opportunity to meet the group before our safari adventure began.
This is our third holiday through Aarkvark and many other friends have used them too and it honestly makes all the difference and takes all the stress out of it! I couldn’t recommend them as a company more highly. Each and every-time we’ve listened to their recommendations and Lucinda has found us hidden gems that I never would have come across and she’s been spot on! We can’t wait for our next trip to SA in December 🙏🙏
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10/07/2026
Al Knable
Our trip was fantastic; expert and honest details were provided as to what to expect. Great follow-through... no (unpleasant) surprises.
Would definitely recommend and would use again!
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10/02/2026
Julia Robson
To return the third time to a safari experience is a real treat, but to use the same company, Aardvark to create that experience tells you something else. A superb company, who listen, just tell them what you dream of, and they will do everything in their power to make those dreams come true. Dont ever forget a Safari is not a drive through a zoo, its a real wild experience, dont go to tick boxes, just enjoy real wild life encounters.
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9/28/2026
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