Drumbeat Newsletter Autumn 2025

Aadvark (theough the very patient Robyn) co-ordinated a complicated 2 week family tour through Uganda and into Rwanda during the Ebola outbreak - not only was the tour a huge and memorable success (trip of a lifetime) but we felt confident in the assurances / checks / research conducted by Aadvark regarding our safety. The lodges we stayed in and our guide for the 2 weeks (Milton) cannot be faulted and if we go again, I would request Milton as our guide. He has contacts everywhere and we felt safe in his care. We have used Aadvark a few times now (including incredible Kilimanjaro trek) and would not hesitate to do so again - they have real local experience and knowledge and I trust their judgement and recommendations.

From the first time I contacted Aardvark two years ago they were efficient, organised, polite, knowledgeable and very friendly. We had an amazing family safari and Lucinda was fantastic in everything she organised, I couldn't fault a thing. Drumbeat Safaris were fabulous, Anna-lise is so welcoming and professional and the guide, Option, was very informative, patient and understanding. He took time to ensure our safety, and we all felt privileged to spend time with him in Botswana. We also adored Waterberry Lodge, the food was incredible, especially as we were joined on the last night by a hippo on the lawn! An unforgettable bucket list trip ticked off. Thankyou to all at Aardvark , we WILL tell all our friends and we WILL be back!!

Aardvark Safaris are exceptional at tailoring holidays of a lifetime. We couldn’t and wouldn’t have done this without them, every minute of our trip was incredible and we are so grateful to the staff Robyn and Adelie for the planning and service and dedication to our trip!

Fabulous expert safari planning- highly recommended

Maddy and the Aardvark team are fantastic. We used them to book a safari in Kenya recently and from the first interaction with them, they were informative, helpful, and proactive. Everything from picking different locations and lodging to helping us through pre-departure requirements like vaccines, visas, and packing was done thoughtfully and clearly. The actual logistics of the trip, which included multiple flights, locations, and activities, were experienced flawlessly. I will definitely use them again and highly recommend.

We have visited virtually all of the Southern African countries either as a couple or with our two boys. Alice and the team at Aardvark are truly exceptional at putting together the perfect bespoke package be it ultra luxury or totally remote and low impact. We travel extensively and for virtually everywhere I put my own tours together but not Africa where you need real local knowledge to get the right blend of wildlife, accommodation and security

A fantastic trip, brilliantly organised by Jo at Aardvark. 4 locations across 2 countries, the itinerary worked really well with lots of variety, and the logisics worked like clockwork. The service from the agents on the ground was great.

Aardvark Safaris was an absolute dream to work with from start to finish.

Tansy at Aardvark took the time to truly get to know me personally and planned a wonderful trip for our family, taking into account our specific requests for traveling with active and curious teens. I was nervous the kids wouldn't find the trip active enough, but boy, was I wrong. Tansy was thoughtful in her recommendations and helped plan many unique activities for us to experience Kenya beyond the game drives (though the game drives were awesome)!

Everything was exactly as described, and as extensive travelers we felt everything was well-planned and turnkey. We highly recommend your services and will definitely be back for future trips.

Thank you Tansy and Aardvark for a wonderful family safari! Our whole family, but especially our teens LOVED it!

We had a superb safari holiday with Aardvark Safaris, which was very competently organised, we were well looked after throughout. Both lodges, Kicheche Valley Camp in the Masai Mara Conservancy, and Lewa House in Laikipia, were fantastic stays, with friendly, competent, welcoming Staff, very knowledgeable guides, great food, lovely tents/lodges.

My journey through Botswana and Zambia was one of the most extraordinary experiences of my life, filled with unforgettable moments, breathtaking scenery, fascinating wildlife, meaningful cultural encounters, and adventures that constantly reminded me how incredible the world truly is. From watching hundreds of wildebeest stretch across the horizon and seeing lions, elephants, cheetahs, leopards, wild dogs, giraffes, hippos, and the rare brown hyena in their natural habitats to riding safari vehicles through deep water, sleeping beneath the stars on the Ntwetwe Pan, flying over the Okavango Delta in a helicopter, fishing on the Zambezi River, and experiencing the immense power of Victoria Falls, I enjoyed every moment. My favorite experience was meeting the San people because learning about their traditions, history, connection with nature, music, language, and way of life gave me a completely different perspective on happiness and what truly matters in life. Throughout the journey, I found myself slowing down and appreciating things I often overlook, from a beautiful sunrise or sunset to a quiet breeze in a hammock, a conversation with someone from another part of the world, or simply watching animals live freely in their natural environment. I had never experienced nature on such a magnificent scale, and the vast landscapes of Africa taught me that life is not a race and that taking time to pause, recover, explore, and enjoy the world around me is just as important as working toward the future. I returned home with countless memories, a deeper appreciation for nature and different cultures, a greater understanding of the world, and a renewed sense of excitement about life and everything still ahead of me.