Aardvark Safaris Review 2026: Is It Worth It, What It Costs, and Who Runs It
By Richard Jasinski·Updated 16 October 2026
Company record · opened 24 September 2026 · every fact dated and sourced · Is this your company? Correct a fact
Aardvark Safaris, the Tidworth and Edinburgh-area safari specialist founded in 1999, scores 72/100 on our six-criterion review of safari planners: full marks for destination breadth, 20 of 25 for first-hand African expertise, and 10 of 20 for independent reviews. It sells 13 African countries and islands, backs flight-inclusive trips with ATOL 5356 and other trips with an IPP insolvency policy, and says all of its sales team have lived and worked in Africa. What holds the score back is evidence a buyer can check: seven independent reviews, the newest from October 2022; one priced itinerary, from 2015; no phone number or opening hours that could be read on its site; and a change of controlling owner in December 2025 that its site does not mention.
Verified 24 September 2026 · re-verified 29 September 2026 · Aardvark Safaris' own pages and booking conditions · Companies House records 03800138 and 16664502 · SafariBookings, Travelstride and Trustpilot · AITO directory · Endole
Aardvark Safaris at a glance: the company record
Aardvark Safaris is Aardvark Safaris Limited, company 03800138, incorporated on 2 July 1999, with offices in Tidworth, on the Hampshire and Wiltshire border, and Musselburgh, outside Edinburgh. Every row below links to its source and was checked on the date shown.
| Field | Fact | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trading name | Aardvark Safaris (aardvarksafaris.com and aardvarksafaris.co.uk) | Aardvark Safaris homepage | 29 Sep 2026 |
| Legal entity | Aardvark Safaris Limited, company 03800138, active, registered as a tour operator; named Sandringham Solutions Limited until 21 Sep 1999 | Companies House | 29 Sep 2026 |
| Founded | 1999, when John Spence and Richard Smith 'set up business in a one room office' | About Aardvark Safaris | 29 Sep 2026 |
| Registered office | Royal British Legion Training Centre, Ordnance Road, Tidworth SP9 7QD (map); its booking conditions give Aspire Business Centre on the same road | Companies House | 29 Sep 2026 |
| Offices | Tidworth, 'on the Hampshire/Wiltshire border' and Musselburgh, 'on the outskirts of Edinburgh' | Aardvark careers page | 29 Sep 2026 |
| Owner, per its site | 'Alice is now sole owner of the business' | About Aardvark Safaris | 29 Sep 2026 |
| Significant control, per the register | Aardvark Trustee Company Limited: 75% or more of the shares and votes, and the right to appoint directors, since 19 Dec 2025; Alice Gully ceased the same day | Companies House PSC register | 29 Sep 2026 |
| Trustee company | Aardvark Trustee Company Limited, 16664502, limited by guarantee without share capital, incorporated 21 Aug 2025, registered as a holding company at the same Tidworth address | Companies House | 29 Sep 2026 |
| Directors | Alice Gully (since Apr 2012), Joanna Ainscough and Richard Preston (both since Dec 2024); Margaret McPherson, a director from Oct 2024, left on 17 Dec 2025 | Companies House officers | 29 Sep 2026 |
| Founders on the register | Richard Smith, director Aug 1999 to 23 Jun 2023; John Spence, director Nov 1999 to 1 Apr 2016 | Companies House officers | 29 Sep 2026 |
| Latest accounts | Small-company accounts to 30 Jun 2025, filed 17 Dec 2025; 18 employees in the accounts to 30 Jun 2024 | Endole, from Companies House | 29 Sep 2026 |
| Money protection | ATOL 5356 for flights and flight-inclusive holidays; IPP financial protection for holidays without flights 'should we cease trading' | Booking conditions and guarantee page | 29 Sep 2026 |
| Currency guarantee | 'The price of your holiday stays the same even if there are currency movements before you travel' | Aardvark guarantee page | 29 Sep 2026 |
| Deposit and balance | 30% deposit; balance at least 13 weeks before departure (bookings from 1 Dec 2022) | Booking conditions | 29 Sep 2026 |
| Cancellation | To 92 days: deposit only; 91 to 61 days: 60%; 60 days or less: 100% | Booking conditions | 29 Sep 2026 |
| Amendments | An administration charge of GBP 50 per person, plus 'any additional costs arising from the alteration' | Booking conditions | 29 Sep 2026 |
| In-trip support | '24 hours 7 days a week emergency phone cover' | Aardvark guarantee page | 29 Sep 2026 |
| Phones and hours | Not found: the homepage says 'Call us now to plan your next safari' but gives no number, hours or response time, and its contact page returned an error to automated checks on 24 Sep | Aardvark homepage | 29 Sep 2026 |
| Destinations | 13 African countries and islands with their own pages | Aardvark destination pages | 29 Sep 2026 |
| Published prices | One itinerary: GBP 4,500 per person sharing, 7 nights, posted 10 Oct 2015; guidance of GBP 5,000 to 30,000 on an undated page | Safari pricing page | 29 Sep 2026 |
| Independent reviews | SafariBookings 5.0 from 7, newest Oct 2022; Trustpilot none (24 Sep); no Feefo listing. Travelstride shows 5/5 from 76, marked as provided by Aardvark, newest Nov 2019 | SafariBookings and Travelstride | 29 Sep 2026 |
| Awards | A '4* award' from AITO for responsible tourism, no year given | Responsible tourism page | 29 Sep 2026 |
| Team | 14 named; Katy Duncan, Head of Marketing | Meet the team | 29 Sep 2026 |
| Track record | 'over 3,000 holidays since 1999' 'over 80% of our bookings come from word of mouth or repeat business' | 10 facts page | 29 Sep 2026 |
Is Aardvark Safaris worth it?
Aardvark Safaris scores 72/100: a long-established, protected UK specialist with a wide range, whose public record has not kept pace with the business. Co-founder Richard Smith was a raft guide and kayaker at Victoria Falls and made promotional films for safari companies in Botswana and Zimbabwe before the company began; owner Alice Gully has been involved in African travel since 1995; and Francis Naumann spent nearly six years guiding overland safaris in 22 African countries. Its site says six of the team have been with it for over ten years and that all of its sales team have lived and worked in Africa. Against that, a buyer checking it online finds seven independent reviews, the newest from October 2022, and one priced trip, from 2015.
How the score works (100 points, the six criteria used on this site's older safari planner reviews)
First-hand African expertise 25: founders and specialists with stated time living, guiding or working in Africa, a base on the continent, years specialising.
Independent review evidence 20: ratings and volume on platforms the company does not host, a second platform, and how recent the newest review is; reviews marked as supplied by the company count as its own.
Destination breadth 15: African countries with their own pages or itineraries.
Pricing transparency 15: itineraries with a published per-person price, inclusions, currency and season.
Service model and support hours 15: offices or phone lines in the UK or US, published hours, 24-hour in-trip support, one named specialist.
Ownership transparency 10: owners named, legal entity and number published, and a registry check. Scores are ours; the inputs are linked and dated.
| Criterion | Score | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-hand African expertise | 20/25 | Co-founder Richard Smith was a raft guide and kayaker at Victoria Falls and made safari films in Botswana and Zimbabwe; its site says all of its sales team have lived and worked in Africa; no office in Africa; trading since 1999. |
| Independent review evidence | 10/20 | SafariBookings shows 5.0 from seven reviews, the newest from October 2022. Travelstride's 76 (5/5, to November 2019) are marked as provided by Aardvark, so they count as its own. Google shows 5.0 from 286 reviews (read 12 October 2026), the 100-to-499 band, the date of the newest not recorded; Trustpilot had none and no Feefo listing was found. |
| Destination breadth | 15/15 | 13 African countries and islands have their own pages, from Kenya and Rwanda to Malawi, Madagascar and the Republic of the Congo. |
| Pricing transparency | 10/15 | One priced itinerary, posted October 2015, with inclusions; its undated pricing page adds guidance of GBP 5,000 for a good safari and an average spend of just over GBP 7,500. |
| Service model and support hours | 9/15 | Offices in Tidworth and Musselburgh and 24-hour emergency phone cover; no phone number, hours or response time could be read on its site. |
| Ownership transparency | 8/10 | The site names Alice Gully as sole owner and gives company number 3800138; the register's directors match its team, but since December 2025 a trustee company holds control. |
| Total | 72/100 | Unchanged on the 29 September re-read; see What changed. |
Where Aardvark Safaris stands on Uncompromised Travel
Aardvark Safaris' score on this site is the 72/100 above, on the six review criteria. Every other operator's score sits on its own review or company record, with the criteria it was scored on and the date, and is not reprinted here, so a re-score elsewhere cannot leave a stale number on this page. Aardvark also appears on four of our indexes, each scored on its own criteria: the safari planner index and the payment terms index, and, assessed but not ranked, the UK and US operator comparison and the safari price comparison, which held it back because pages on its site returned errors to automated checks. The payment terms index could not reach Aardvark's booking conditions on 10 September and read them on 7 October; they are set out below.
Other safari operators with a review or record on this site
- Abercrombie & Kent
- andBeyond
- Expert Africa
- Extraordinary Journeys Partner
- Go2Africa
- Ker & Downey Africa
- Micato Safaris
- Natural Habitat Adventures
- Roar Africa
- Rothschild Safaris
- Scott Dunn
- Yellow Zebra Safaris
How much does an Aardvark Safaris holiday cost?
Aardvark Safaris says a good safari costs from GBP 5,000 per person, with economy international flights, accommodation, meals and activities included; that its average client spent just over GBP 7,500 per person "last year" and that trips with club-class flights and exclusive or remote camps reach GBP 30,000. Those figures are on its safari pricing page, which carries no date, so "last year" cannot be placed. The only itinerary with a price found is a seven-night Zambezi Queen and Okavango Delta safari at GBP 4,500 per person sharing, posted in October 2015, which included accommodation and safari activities but not international or regional flights. Aardvark says the price of a holiday stays the same even if currencies move before travel. Our safari cost by budget guide shows what these budgets buy.
| Price point | What Aardvark says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Entry point | 'It is possible to do a good safari for £5,000 per person' economy international flights, accommodation, meals and activities 'are all included in the price' | Safari pricing page |
| Average | 'the average amount clients spent with us last year was just over £7,500 per person' the page is undated | Safari pricing page |
| Top end | 'trips that cost £30,000 per person, to include club class flights and combinations of camps with high costs either due to exclusivity or remoteness' | Safari pricing page |
| Priced itinerary | Royal Livingstone Hotel, the Zambezi Queen and Kwara Camp, 7 nights, £4,500 per person sharing, posted October 2015; excludes international and regional flights | Itinerary page |
Test the figure before you commit. Ask for the same camps, nights and room categories elsewhere.
What do Aardvark Safaris reviews say?
Aardvark Safaris' independent review record is thin: SafariBookings shows 5.0 from seven reviews, the newest from October 2022. Travelstride shows 5/5 from 76 reviews, but the reviews shown there are marked "Provided by Aardvark Safaris" and the newest is from November 2019, so this record counts them as the company's own; the newest begins "It was our first experience in Africa and we loved it". Its Trustpilot listing, under aardvarksafaris.co.uk, had no reviews when checked on 24 September, and no Feefo listing was found. Its own feedback page says it is "rated 5 stars on Google Reviews" without giving a count (Google itself showed 5.0 from 286 on 12 October 2026), and quotes clients such as "Their deep expertise and the time and effort they invest understanding and meeting customer needs is second to none." Our safari operator review index explains how we weigh platforms.
| Platform | Rating | Reviews | Newest |
|---|---|---|---|
| SafariBookings, Aardvark Safaris (UK) | 5.0/5 | 7 | 3 Oct 2022 |
| Travelstride, marked as provided by Aardvark | 5/5 | 76 | Nov 2019 |
| Trustpilot, aardvarksafaris.co.uk | None | 0 (24 Sep) | n/a |
| Feefo | No listing found | 0 | n/a |
| Google (business listing, read 12 Oct 2026) | 5.0 | 286 | Not recorded |
Aardvark Safaris' awards
The one recognition Aardvark Safaris lists is a "4* award" from the Association of Independent Tour Operators for responsible tourism, with no year given. Its responsible tourism page says it is donating a proportion of its profit to the Kivuli Trust in Kenya, which supports children with mental and physical disabilities, and that it contributed to a guide and ranger training programme at Saruni Rhino camp in the Sera Community Conservancy, northern Kenya. AITO's member directory, as it loaded on 24 September, did not list Aardvark, so its membership could not be confirmed there. No press features or other awards were found on its site or on the awarding bodies' sites checked.
Where Aardvark Safaris travels, and its journey styles
Aardvark Safaris has pages for 13 African countries and islands, from the safari mainstream to Malawi, Madagascar, São Tomé and Príncipe and the Republic of the Congo, and sells nothing outside Africa and the Indian Ocean. Its styles include family, honeymoon, primate, riding, beach, migration, mobile and small-group safaris; it says over 200 of its clients have reached the top of Kilimanjaro and that it has organised weddings on an island in the middle of the Zambezi. Its .co.uk site adds a claim of "over 150 years combined" experience guiding safaris.
| Region | Countries and islands with their own Aardvark pages |
|---|---|
| East Africa | Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda |
| Southern Africa | Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe |
| Central Africa | Republic of the Congo |
| Islands | Madagascar, São Tomé and Príncipe |
Who owns Aardvark Safaris?
Aardvark Safaris' site says Alice Gully is now its sole owner; since 19 December 2025, Companies House has recorded Aardvark Trustee Company Limited as holding 75% or more of the shares and votes, with Alice Gully ceasing to be a person with significant control that day. The trustee company is a company limited by guarantee without share capital, registered as a holding company and incorporated on 21 August 2025 at the same Tidworth address. Two days before the change, on 17 December 2025, Margaret McPherson, a director since October 2024, left the board. In January 2026 the company filed purchases of its own shares and share cancellations, the cancellations relating to purchases made in 2004 and 2006, and new articles of association; the filing history lists them. The register does not say whom the trustee company holds the shares for. Co-founder Richard Smith, who held more than 50% but less than 75% until 23 June 2023, stepped down as a director that day and still appears on the company's team page; John Spence left the board in 2016.
| Date | Event | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Jul 1999 | Incorporated as Sandringham Solutions Limited; renamed Aardvark Safaris Limited on 21 Sep 1999 | Companies House |
| 1999 | John Spence and Richard Smith 'set up business in a one room office' | Aardvark Safaris |
| 2004 | Alice Gully joins the management | Aardvark Safaris |
| 24 Apr 2012 | Alice Gully appointed a director | Companies House |
| 1 Apr 2016 | John Spence resigns as a director | Companies House |
| 23 Jun 2023 | Richard Smith resigns as a director and ceases to hold more than 50% | Companies House |
| 30 Nov 2024 | James Gully, a director since 2015, resigns | Companies House |
| 1 Dec 2024 | Joanna Ainscough and Richard Preston appointed directors | Companies House |
| 21 Aug 2025 | Aardvark Trustee Company Limited incorporated | Companies House |
| 17 Dec 2025 | Margaret McPherson, a director since 1 Oct 2024, resigns | Companies House |
| 19 Dec 2025 | The trustee company is notified as holding 75% or more; Alice Gully ceases as a person with significant control | Companies House |
| 8 and 9 Jan 2026 | Filings: purchases of own shares, share cancellations for purchases made in 2004 and 2006, and new articles of association | Companies House |
Aardvark Safaris' booking terms and financial protection
For bookings made since 1 December 2022, Aardvark Safaris takes a 30% deposit and the balance at least 13 weeks before departure; cancelling up to 92 days out costs the deposit, 91 to 61 days costs 60%, and inside 60 days costs everything. Its booking conditions give ATOL 5356 for flights and flight-inclusive holidays and say a booking cannot be accepted until insurance arrangements have been made, and its guarantee page adds IPP financial protection for holidays without flights, 24-hour emergency phone cover and a promise that the price stays the same if currencies move. The terms carry no version date beyond the December 2022 change. Our guide to safari deposits and payment terms compares these with the market.
| Term | Aardvark Safaris |
|---|---|
| Deposit | 30% (25% for bookings before 1 Dec 2022) |
| Balance | At least 13 weeks before departure (ten weeks before 1 Dec 2022) |
| Cancel to 92 days ahead | Deposit only |
| Cancel 91 to 61 days ahead | 60% |
| Cancel 60 days or fewer ahead | 100% |
| Amendments | GBP 50 per person plus any costs the change causes |
| Financial protection | ATOL 5356 (flights); IPP policy (holidays without flights) |
| Insurance | Required before a booking is accepted |
What the public record does not show
Nine things a buyer might look for could not be found or did not match when checked. Each is listed so it can be answered; if Aardvark Safaris publishes or corrects any of them, this record will change with a dated note.
- The change of control: the site still calls Alice Gully sole owner, while the register has recorded a trustee company as controlling since December 2025.
- Whom the trustee company holds the shares for.
- Phone numbers, office hours and a response time: none on the homepage, and the contact page returned a 401 error to automated checks on 24 September.
- Pages that load for automated checks: on 24 September about half of the pages tried returned 401 errors, which kept Aardvark off parts of two of our indexes; on 29 September most loaded, but the Tanzania and Botswana pages still did not.
- An independent review newer than October 2022, or more than seven in all.
- A current priced itinerary; the only one found dates from October 2015.
- One registered address: its terms say Aspire Business Centre, the register says Royal British Legion Training Centre, both on Ordnance Road, Tidworth.
- A listing in AITO's member directory to match the AITO award it cites (checked 24 September).
- A named specialist from enquiry to return.
Aardvark Safaris vs Expert Africa, Yellow Zebra Safaris and Scott Dunn
Against three UK safari specialists with pages on this site, Aardvark holds the same kind of money protection and falls furthest behind on independent reviews. Each company's score is on its own page, linked in the table; Scott Dunn's is a company record scored on different criteria, so none of the three is ranked against Aardvark's 68 here.
| Compared | Aardvark Safaris | Expert Africa | Yellow Zebra Safaris | Scott Dunn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Its page | This review | Expert Africa review | Yellow Zebra review | Scott Dunn record |
| Base, founded | Tidworth and Musselburgh; 1999 | Richmond, London, with offices in Cape Town and Windhoek; 1994 | Kingston upon Thames; 2012 | London; 1986; owned by Flight Centre since 2023 |
| Best independent reviews | SafariBookings 5.0 from 7, to Oct 2022 | AITO 511, 99% excellent or good | Trustpilot 4.9 from 1,710 | Trustpilot 4.6 from 274 |
| Money protection | ATOL 5356 and IPP | ATOL 5206 | ATOL 10614 | ATOL 2471 and ABTOT 5222 |
The other three as published on their pages on this site: Expert Africa verified 22 September, Yellow Zebra 7 September and Scott Dunn 25 September 2026.
How to price a comparable safari
The fair test of any quote from Aardvark Safaris is a like-for-like quote for the same camps, nights and season from a second specialist and a comparison platform. Ask each for the same lodges by name, the same room category and the same inclusions, then compare the per-person total with international flights taken out, since Aardvark's guidance figures include them and its one priced itinerary did not.
What changed
Five dated changes shape Aardvark Safaris today, most of them in the last three years; the two entries after them are changes to this record.
1 December 2022. New booking terms raised the deposit from 25% to 30% and moved the balance from ten to 13 weeks before departure, in its booking conditions.
23 June 2023. Co-founder Richard Smith stepped down as a director.
1 December 2024. Joanna Ainscough and Richard Preston joined the board, the day after James Gully left it.
17 December 2025. Director Margaret McPherson left the board.
19 December 2025. Aardvark Trustee Company Limited took control of 75% or more of the shares and votes.
24 September 2026. This record opened with a score of 68/100.
29 September 2026. Record re-verified. Two corrections, pulling in opposite directions: a SafariBookings listing with seven reviews at 5.0, the newest from October 2022, had been missed; and the 76 reviews on Travelstride are marked as provided by Aardvark, so they now count as its own. The independent-review score stays at 6 of 20 and the total at 68. Also added: the director who left in December 2025, the January 2026 filings and the pricing page's inclusions. Other operators' scores and index positions were taken off this page; each is on its own page.
15 October 2026. Re-read against our 12 October 2026 planner database. Google 5.0 from 286 reviews added (read by hand), which moves independent review evidence from 6 to 10 of 20 and the score from 68 to 72.
Aardvark Safaris: the facts on record, read 12 October 2026
53 facts about Aardvark Safaris were read from its own website, the award publishers and the review platforms on 12 October 2026, and every one below says who stated it, where it was read and when. “Not stated on their website” means the right page was read and the fact is not there; “Could not access” means the page would not open; “No profile found” means the platform has no listing. None of the three means the company does not have it. The same form is kept for every safari planner on this site, so each line can be set beside any other company’s. Where a line here differs from an older line on this page, this one, read later, is the current reading.
Who they are
Trading name and legal entity
Aardvark Safaris Limited, trading as 'Aardvark Safaris'; Company No. 03800138; Aspire Business Centre, Ordnance Road, Tidworth, Hampshire SP9 7QD
Source: Company · booking conditions · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Where it is based
UK offices in Tidworth, Hampshire and Musselburgh (Edinburgh), Scotland. No single 'head office' named; booking conditions give the Tidworth, Hampshire address as the company address. Managing Director Alice Gully is based in the Scottish office
Source: Company · about · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Year founded
1999 (John Spence and Richard Smith set up in a one-room office); 'over 27 years on'
Source: Company · about · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Owner or parent
Alice Gully joined management in 2004 and was sole owner until 2025, when the business transitioned to an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT). No parent company named
Source: Company · about · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
What it is
Tailor-made safari planner. Uses third-party camps and lodges; no own camps stated. Occasionally partners with local experts for set-departure small-group safaris
Source: Company · small group · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Team
Could not access: count not determinable: the saved Meet the team page is cut off after the third entry. Named there: Alice Gully (Managing Director), Jo Ainscough (Sales Director), Alex Grose (Director of Growth & Productivity). Other named staff in blog author boxes/pages: Francis Naumann (Senior Travel Expert and Portfolio Manager), Lucinda Crawford (Senior Travel Expert), Robyn Wauchope (Senior Travel Expert), Tansy Shingleton (Travel Expert)
Source: Company · meet the team · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Where it sells
UK only. Phone: Hampshire 01980 849160; Scottish office 0131 297 6229 (+44 131 297 6229); Mon-Fri 09:00-17:30 GMT; email [email protected]. Offices: Tidworth, Hampshire and Musselburgh, East Lothian (Stuart House, Station Rd, EH21 7PB). Prices quoted in GBP (£). No US phone line, US office or other currencies stated. Brochures posted only within UK and Europe
Source: Company · contact us · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
In its own words
'Experts in tailor-made travel since 1999 - Africa and the Indian Ocean.' Mission: bespoke holidays to Africa and the Indian Ocean, a 'little black book' of contacts, small owner-run camps and lodges, 'you won't pay more for our expertise than if you booked the safari yourself'
Source: Company · home page · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Response time and named planner
No reply-time commitment stated. Says it will match each client with 'the best person for your trip' from the team, with named consultants and individual phone/email on team pages; call-back request form on contact page (day/time chosen by client)
Source: Company · planning a safari · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Reviews, by platform
5.0 from 286 reviews (listing: Aardvark Safaris, tour operator in Tidworth, England)
Source: Independent source · Google business listing · by hand · 12 Oct 2026
Trustpilot
No profile found: trustpilot page for aardvarksafaris.com returned a 404 in the crawl
Source: Independent source · Trustpilot · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Tripadvisor
Could not access: to be read by hand
Source: Independent source · Not read · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Trustindex
No profile found: trustindex page for aardvarksafaris.com returned a 404 in the crawl
Source: Independent source · Trustindex · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Where it asks clients to leave reviews
Not stated: no review-platform link found in the saved pages. Site shows its own client testimonials (dated Aug-Oct 2026, names given) and says it contacts clients for feedback on return; the 'Feedback we loved' page is not in the saved pages
Source: Company · home page · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Awards and recognition, read from the publishers
Every award, 2024 to 2026
Read from the publishers (Independent source): Condé Nast Traveller (UK), The top travel specialists to know right now: listed, best for "lesser-known Africa" (hand-picked by the UK editors; published 7 Nov 2025)
Source: Independent source · travelandleisure.com World's Best Awards 2026 and A-List, cntraveler.com/travel-specialists, cntraveller.com top travel specialists · by hand · 12 Oct 2026
Advisors on named lists
Not stated: no named-list advisor counts in the saved pages
Source: Company · home page · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Certifications
AITO (Association of Independent Tour Operators) 4-star award for responsible tourism work in the UK and Africa; no date given. No B Corp or similar certification stated. (Employee Ownership Trust since 2025 is an ownership structure, not a certification)
Source: Company · aardvark guarantee · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Money and booking terms
Prices published
Could not access: itinerary pages are not in the saved pages, so yes/no and count cannot be read. Prices appear only in blog posts (see F23); hosted-trip and experience pages in the file show no prices
Source: Company · hosted trips · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Priced example trips
Two riding examples from the riding FAQ blog (not itinerary pages): Horizon's African Explorer ride, from about £2,700 per person sharing, 7 nights; Offbeat Riding Safaris Masai Mara ride, £8,400 per person sharing, 7 nights, peak season. Meals and drinks are included on riding safaris per the same page. Season for first example not stated
Source: Company · african riding safaris faqs · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Price per person per day
Not stated in the saved pages; the 'Safari Pricing' page and itinerary pages are not in the file
Source: Company · home page · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Minimum spend
Not stated on their website: no minimum spend stated. Contact form asks for approximate budget (per person or total, with or without international flights). 'Safari Pricing' page is not in the saved pages
Source: Company · contact us · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
What the price includes
Only found for individual examples: hosted Kenya elephant safari price includes nine nights' accommodation, all meals, house drinks, park and conservation fees, private activities and Kenya domestic flights, not international flights; riding safaris include meals and drinks. Itinerary pages not in saved pages. Booking conditions: prices are per person based on two sharing a twin or double unless stated
Source: Company · elephant safari with saba douglas hamilton faqs · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Deposit
30% of total holiday cost, plus any costs payable in full at booking (e.g. gorilla permits, certain flight costs). Provisional booking held 24 hours pending cleared funds
Source: Company · booking conditions · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Balance due
No later than 13 weeks before departure; bookings made within 13 weeks pay full cost at booking
Source: Company · booking conditions · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Cancellation charges
92 days or more: loss of deposit plus additional upfront costs (e.g. gorilla permits, certain flight costs); 91 to 61 days: 60% of total tour cost (or loss of deposit if greater); 60 days to departure: 100%. Flights, gorilla permits and other advance purchases may be 100% regardless of notice. Changes: £50 per person administration charge
Source: Company · booking conditions · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
How client payments are protected
Own wording: 'fully bonded' by the CAA under ATOL 5356 (protection mainly for customers who book and pay in the UK for flight-inclusive holidays); non-flight packages protected through ABTOT insurance (membership number 5704); ABTOT cover only applies to bookings made outside the UK when bought directly from Aardvark Safaris Ltd; ATOL Certificate issued for ATOL-protected flights. Two pages differ: the Guarantee page says all flights and flight-inclusive holidays on the website are ATOL protected and claims '100% financial protection', whereas booking conditions say not all flights will be ATOL-protected. Registers not read
Source: Company · booking conditions · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Currencies and card fees
Payment by bank transfer, debit card or cheque (credit card not listed). Amounts quoted in £. No card surcharge stated. Guarantee page: no charge for currency fluctuations once a trip is confirmed. Billing currency otherwise not explicitly stated
Source: Company · booking conditions · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
24-hour contact while travelling
24/7 emergency phone cover stated (with local representatives on the ground), but no operational number printed in the saved pages. The only 24/7 number printed is ABTOT's helpline 01702 811397 (01702 811 397) for use if the company fails financially
Source: Company · aardvark guarantee · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
How the company is paid
Own wording: suppliers pay Aardvark a commission on each booking, which is how it makes its profit; no planning fee mentioned. Same page also says no one at Aardvark Safaris works on commission (staff advice is impartial)
Source: Company · aardvark guarantee · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Price against booking direct
States clients pay no more than booking direct ('typically no additional costs'); in some instances it can plan trips more cheaply; if a client finds accommodation or services cheaper direct, it will look at the difference. Does not guarantee competitive flight prices. Passing on lodge offers not stated
Source: Company · aardvark guarantee · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Licences and registrations
ATOL 5356 (CAA); ABTOT membership number 5704; Companies House number 03800138. Not checked on registers
Source: Company · booking conditions · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Where it goes and how it works on the ground
African countries it plans
Destinations page lists: Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe (plus Zanzibar; Indian Ocean: Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles). Brochure page says 18 destinations
Source: Company · destinations · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Own offices or staff in Africa
Not stated on their website: no own offices or staff in Africa stated. Mentions 'local representatives on the ground' and local emergency back-up, unnamed
Source: Company · aardvark guarantee · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
How it books on the ground
Not explicit. Says it contracts suppliers (camps, transfer companies, airlines, hotels) and has local representatives on the ground; small-group departures run via local partner experts (e.g. Letaka, Offbeat, Horizon). No statement of direct vs partner booking per trip
Source: Company · privacy · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Own camps or vehicles
Not stated on their website: no own camps or vehicles stated; pages describe tried-and-tested third-party camps and lodges
Source: Company · why aardvark · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Gorilla and chimpanzee trekking
Gorilla trekking: Rwanda (Volcanoes NP) and Uganda (Bwindi, Mgahinga); western lowland gorillas in the Republic of the Congo. Chimpanzee tracking: Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania (Mahale). Minimum two gorilla permits recommended
Source: Company · primate safaris · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Beach add-ons
Beach pages list Zanzibar, Seychelles, Mauritius, Mozambique, plus Maldives, Madagascar, Kenya coast (Lamu), Tanzania, South Africa, Malawi (lake) and Sao Tome and Principe
Source: Company · beach holidays · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Africa only, or other regions too
Africa and the Indian Ocean only (Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles, Zanzibar, Madagascar); 'only operates in Africa and the Indian Ocean'
Source: Company · destinations · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Who it suits and how it travels
Family trips
Family Safaris page offers itinerary ideas by email form; linked 8-day Kenya family and 8-day malaria-free South Africa sample itineraries are not in the saved pages; blog report of a two-week South Africa family safari. No prices found. Added: October half-term family blog (20 May 2025, by Jo Ainscough) gives unpriced destination ideas: ages 6-12 suggested Kenya (House in the Wild, El Karama, Manda Bay) or South Africa (Madikwe Safari Lodge, Ant's Nest, malaria-free); ages 13+ suggested Tanzania (Ikuka, Sand Rivers, Fanjove) or Botswana (Camp Kalahari, Shinde, Tongabezi). No prices given
Source: Company · where is best for a family safari during the october half te · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Minimum child age
No general minimum age stated. Gorilla tracking: families with children older than 15 (half-term guide); mobile riding safaris typically around 14; lodge-based riding often no age limit; some riding safaris 16+. Kilimanjaro minimum-age page not in saved pages. Added: half-term blog groups children as 'younger (6-12)' and 'older (13 and over)' for planning, but states no minimum age; a 10 Best Family Riding Safaris blog teaser (22 May 2024) says many famous riding safaris cater for experienced riders aged 16 and over
Source: Company · where is best for a family safari during the october half te, walking safaris · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Teenagers and multigenerational trips
Stated: advises on multi-generational family holidays; blog teasers on a 70th-birthday three-generation Kenya trip and a post-GCSE teen trip (April 2026); private safari houses for groups. Added: October half-term blog has a section 'Older children (13 and over)' with Tanzania and Botswana teenager itineraries (balloon ride, walking, mokoro, Victoria Falls rafting/bungee); a reader comment describes a 16-year-old with two older adults
Source: Company · where is best for a family safari during the october half te · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Honeymoon trips
Could not access: weddings & Honeymoons page is not in the saved pages. Nearby: Kenya, Rwanda and Seychelles pages list 'Honeymoons' highlights; blog on weddings/honeymoon wedding-list service; client honeymoon testimonials. No itineraries seen
Source: Company · experiences · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Solo travellers
Could not access: single-supplements content is not in the saved pages (Single Travellers page links to it). Nearby: hosted Kenya elephant safari has a limited number of single rooms at additional cost; booking conditions say single room supplements may apply if party members cancel; small groups of typically no more than eight for solo travellers
Source: Company · single travellers 9 · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Older travellers and limited mobility
Not stated on their website: nothing aimed at older travellers or limited mobility. Nearby: medical conditions and disabilities must be disclosed; 3-night delayed-return limit does not apply to persons with reduced mobility; hosted elephant safari 'generally not physically demanding'
Source: Company · booking conditions · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
First safari
No itinerary marked as a first safari. Planning page says first-timers get as long as needed to design an itinerary; about page says 'whether this is your first or fifth safari'; recommends at least 7 days on the ground, 10 or more ideal
Source: Company · planning a safari · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Private guide and vehicle
Optional: luxury page tells clients to 'take a private guide to accompany you throughout your safari'; private mobile safaris and private riding options mentioned. Not guaranteed (a client testimonial mentions a private guide at one camp only)
Source: Company · luxury safari · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Exclusive-use camps and villas
Offered: 'book a camp exclusively, take a private house, or even a private island'; examples named: Tanda Tula Field Camp (exclusive-use), Ndomo House at Kaya Mawa, Morukuru Ocean House, Vamizi villas, Azura Benguerra villas
Source: Company · luxury safari · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Small-group departures
Yes: set-departure small-group safaris via local partners, typically no more than eight people; hosted trips limited to 8-10 guests (Kenya elephant safari); examples include Letaka Northern Highlights (10 days), Essence of Tanzania (7 days), Ultimate Namibia (10 days), Kilimanjaro climbs
Source: Company · small group · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Who guides the trip
Mix, as stated: camp/lodge guides (it picks camps with experienced guides), private guides optional, partner operators' guides on small-group departures and Kilimanjaro, and Aardvark staff hosting named hosted trips (Robyn, Lucinda, Jo). No Aardvark employed guides stated
Source: Company · why aardvark · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Self-drive
Yes: Self Drive Adventures listed in site menu; Namibia self-drive highlight; testimonial for a self-drive photographic trip to South Africa. Self Drive page not in saved pages. Single Travellers page does not recommend self-drive to solo travellers
Source: Company · single travellers 9 · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Photography trips
Yes: 'Specialist Photographic Safaris' in site menu (page not in saved pages); photography guide by David Murray, professional photographer, available for advice; blog cites Pangolin Safaris specialist photographic boat on the Chobe River. No specialist vehicle/guide detail. Added from the Specialist Photographic Safaris page: tailor-made photography trips built with partner photographic experts, advice on equipment, style, tuition and seasons; some lodges have resident photographic tutors (example video at Jaci's Safari Lodge, South Africa, tutor Andrew Aveley); suggests a private vehicle for flexibility, boats for bird and hippo/elephant shots, camps with photographic hides, and travelling with a professional photographer throughout with pre-departure tuition. Highlights pages for Kenya, Botswana, Zambia
Source: Company · specialist photographic safaris · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Conservation
Save the Elephants (charity supported 'this year'); Imvelo Community Rhino Conservation Initiative, Zimbabwe (£2,000 donated in 2025; £2,000 for scout uniforms; named primary charity partner 2025); Kivuli Trust, Kenya (over £7,000 raised in 2024); Wildlife Tourism College, Masai Mara; Saruni Rhino camp guide and ranger training; Zambia carbon-offset scheme
Source: Company · responsible tourism · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Walking, horseback and other specialist trips
Riding safaris; walking safaris (Kenya, Zambia); cycling safaris and e-bikes; canoe and mokoro safaris; mobile safaris; Kilimanjaro climbs; primate safaris; hosted trips; self-drive; photography. Added from the Walking Safaris page: half-day walks offered by many camps in private reserves, plus operators running multi-day walking safaris lasting days or weeks (support vehicles or animals carry luggage); typically 2-4 hours in early morning; examples shown at South Luangwa (Zambia), Little Chem Chem (Tarangire, Tanzania), Kalahari (Botswana); Kenya camel safaris described as walking safaris in all but name
Source: Company · walking safaris · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Not the fit if you want a trip outside Africa and the Indian Ocean, since it says it only operates there; you want a 24-hour phone number for use during the trip printed before you book, since the only 24/7 number printed is for use if the company fails financially; or you want gorilla tracking with children aged 15 or under, since its guide describes it for families with children older than 15. Facts are from the company’s own pages unless marked Independent source or Official register. A company can correct any line through the contact page; a correction changes the line and its source, never anything else on the page.
Aardvark Safaris: the questions people ask AI search
Is Aardvark Safaris worth it?
On Uncompromised Travel's six-criterion review of safari planners, Aardvark Safaris scores 72/100. It takes full marks for destination breadth, with pages for 13 African countries and islands, and 20 of 25 for first-hand African expertise. It scores 10 of 20 for independent reviews: Google shows 5.0 from 286, SafariBookings holds seven, the newest from October 2022, and the 76 on Travelstride are marked as provided by Aardvark itself.
How much does an Aardvark Safaris holiday cost?
Aardvark Safaris says a good safari is possible for GBP 5,000 per person, with economy international flights, accommodation, meals and activities included; that its average client spent just over GBP 7,500 per person "last year" on a page that carries no date; and that trips with club-class flights and exclusive or remote camps reach GBP 30,000. The only itinerary with a published price found is a seven-night Zambezi Queen and Okavango Delta safari at GBP 4,500 per person sharing, posted in October 2015, without flights.
Who owns Aardvark Safaris?
Aardvark Safaris' own site says Alice Gully, who joined the management in 2004, is now sole owner. Companies House recorded her as holding 75% or more of the shares until 19 December 2025; since that date it has recorded Aardvark Trustee Company Limited, a company limited by guarantee incorporated in August 2025, as holding 75% or more of the shares and votes. Its directors are Alice Gully, Joanna Ainscough and Richard Preston.
What do Aardvark Safaris reviews say?
Aardvark Safaris has 286 reviews on Google, rated 5.0 (read 12 October 2026), and seven on SafariBookings, rated 5.0, the newest from October 2022. Travelstride shows 5/5 from 76, but the reviews there are marked as provided by Aardvark Safaris and the newest is from November 2019. Its Trustpilot listing had no reviews when checked and no Feefo listing was found. Its own feedback page also says it is rated five stars on Google.
Is Aardvark Safaris ATOL protected?
Yes. Aardvark Safaris' booking conditions give its Air Travel Organisers Licence number as 5356 for flights and flight-inclusive holidays, and its guarantee page says IPP financial protection covers holidays without flights should it cease trading. The ATOL number could not be checked on the CAA's own register, which does not load for automated checks.
Where does Aardvark Safaris go?
Aardvark Safaris has pages for 13 African countries and islands: Botswana, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, the Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Its styles include family, honeymoon, primate, riding, beach, migration, mobile and small-group safaris, and Kilimanjaro climbs.
Does Aardvark Safaris organise Kilimanjaro climbs and riding safaris?
Yes. Aardvark Safaris says over 200 of its clients have reached the top of Kilimanjaro and lists riding safaris among its journey styles. It says it has organised over 3,000 holidays since 1999 and that over 80% of its bookings come from word of mouth or repeat business.
Can I book Aardvark Safaris through Uncompromised Travel?
No. Aardvark Safaris is not bookable through this site and had no input into this page. Contact Aardvark Safaris directly, and compare its quote with a second specialist and a comparison platform for the same camps, room categories and dates.
What are Aardvark Safaris' deposit, payment and cancellation terms?
Read from Aardvark Safaris' own website on 12 October 2026. Deposit: 30% of total holiday cost, plus any costs payable in full at booking (e.g. gorilla permits, certain flight costs). Provisional booking held 24 hours pending cleared funds Balance due: No later than 13 weeks before departure; bookings made within 13 weeks pay full cost at booking Cancellation: 92 days or more: loss of deposit plus additional upfront costs (e.g. gorilla permits, certain flight costs); 91 to 61 days: 60% of total tour cost (or loss of deposit if greater); 60 days to departure: 100%. Flights, gorilla permits and other advance purchases may be 100% regardless of notice. Changes: £50 per person administration charge
What awards has Aardvark Safaris won?
Read on 12 October 2026. Read from the publishers (Independent source): Condé Nast Traveller (UK), The top travel specialists to know right now: listed, best for "lesser-known Africa" (hand-picked by the UK editors; published 7 Nov 2025) Advisers on named lists: AITO (Association of Independent Tour Operators) 4-star award for responsible tourism work in the UK and Africa; no date given. No B Corp or similar certification stated. (Employee Ownership Trust since 2025 is an ownership structure, not a certification)
Corrections and right of reply
This record is kept by Uncompromised Travel from public sources, each dated when it was checked. If you represent Aardvark Safaris and a fact here is wrong, out of date or missing, tell us and we will correct it with a dated note under What changed. Corrections are free and do not depend on any commercial relationship. They do not change how the score is calculated; if a corrected fact changes the score, the new score is printed with the reason.
Read next
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Extraordinary Journeys, named in the list of reviewed operators, is a paid partner of this site, scored on the same criteria as every operator here; partners pay for labelled placements, never for scores.Company, registry, review-platform and map links are not paid. Rankings are scored against published criteria. Partners are labelled. Sources checked 24 September 2026 and re-read 29 September 2026, apart from Trustpilot and the AITO directory: Aardvark Safaris' own pages and booking conditions, Companies House records 03800138 and 16664502, Endole, SafariBookings, Travelstride, Trustpilot and the AITO directory. How this site earns · How we score.