Natural Habitat Adventures vs Abercrombie & Kent: which is better for a wildlife trip?

Natural Habitat Adventures has run small-group nature and wildlife trips since 1985, guided by naturalist Expedition Leaders. Abercrombie & Kent plans private trips and runs guided group itineraries, with safaris and voyages that use its own lodges and riverboats.

Natural Habitat Adventures vs Abercrombie & Kent: which is better for a wildlife trip?

Natural Habitat Adventures suits travellers who want small-group nature trips led by naturalist Expedition Leaders, for wildlife such as polar bears, tigers and orangutans; Abercrombie & Kent suits travellers who want private or group journeys using its own lodges and riverboats, including a Wildlife Safari Around the World by Private Jet in 2028 with a US$15,000 non-refundable deposit.

What does each company sell?

What each company's own website says, read 3 November 2026.

• Natural Habitat Adventures: Has run small-group nature and wildlife trips since 1985. Source
• Abercrombie & Kent: Plans private trips through its own experts and runs guided group itineraries, including safaris and voyages that use its own five-star wilderness lodges and riverboats. Source

What wildlife trips do they run?

What each company's own website says, read 3 November 2026.

• Natural Habitat Adventures: Its wildlife trips include polar bears in Churchill, Canada, tigers, rhinos and snow leopards in India, orangutans in Borneo and pandas in China. Source
• Abercrombie & Kent: Runs a Wildlife Safari Around the World by Private Jet from 8 February to 4 March 2028, with its own booking terms. Source

Who leads or plans the trips?

What each company's own website says, read 3 November 2026.

• Natural Habitat Adventures: Its small-group trips are guided by naturalist Expedition Leaders. Source
• Abercrombie & Kent: Its group journeys include the services of an A&K Resident Tour Director, or a suitable guide on pre- and post-tour extensions. Source

What do they cost?

What each company's own website says, read 3 November 2026.

• Natural Habitat Adventures: Its website, read 3 November 2026, does not say.
• Abercrombie & Kent: Its website, read 3 November 2026, does not say.

What is included?

What each company's own website says, read 3 November 2026.

• Natural Habitat Adventures: On its Portugal trip, all the wines served are included in the trip price. Source
• Abercrombie & Kent: All its journeys include accommodation, meals and fully guided sightseeing as noted in the itinerary, park and entrance fees, coffee, tea, soft drinks and water at included meals, bottled water while sightseeing, porterage of up to two bags per person, internet where available, hotel taxes and internal flights where indicated. International airfare unless noted, passports and visas, border fees, excess baggage, other meals and drinks, optional activities and A&K's own travel protection plan are not included. Source

What are the deposit and cancellation terms?

What each company's own website says, read 3 November 2026.

• Natural Habitat Adventures: Custom-designed trips and extensions need a 25% nonrefundable deposit; a private booking of a scheduled trip through Make it Private needs double the listed individual deposit, also nonrefundable. On its standard scale, cancelling 121 days or more before departure costs at least $200 per person, 61 to 120 days 50% of the entire trip price and 60 days or less 100%, including internal air, extensions and extra hotel nights. Source
• Abercrombie & Kent: On the Wildlife Safari Around the World by Private Jet, a non-refundable deposit of US$15,000 per person is due at booking, a second non-refundable payment of US$45,000 by 14 May 2027 and final payment by 12 August 2027. Cancelling costs US$15,000 per person up to 14 May 2027, US$60,000 from 15 May to 12 August 2027 and 100% of the price from 13 August 2027. Source

What terms apply to their other trips?

What each company's own website says, read 3 November 2026.

• Natural Habitat Adventures: On Sailing and Ultimate Antarctica trips the final balance is due 180 days before departure: cancelling before then loses the nonrefundable deposit, 179 to 90 days costs 50% and within 89 days 100%. Expedition cruises follow the ship operator's own payment and cancellation terms. Source
• Abercrombie & Kent: Its other US journeys, not the private jet safari, follow its general US terms. The deposit per person is 10% of the programme price for Small Group Journeys and Private Journeys, 15% for Expedition Cruises, 25% for Small Jet Journeys, Tailormade Journeys, Canal Barge Cruises, Sanctuary Stays and Japan by Luxury Train, with full payment for Educational Study Tours. Cancelling Small Group Journeys, Private Journeys or its Condé Nast escapes costs $500 per person at 121 days or more before departure, 25% at 120 to 91 days, 50% at 90 to 61 days and 100% at 60 days or less; other journey types have their own scales in the same terms. Source

When is the balance due?

What each company's own website says, read 3 November 2026.

• Natural Habitat Adventures: The final balance for most trips is due 120 days before departure; on Sailing Antarctica and Ultimate Antarctica trips it is due 180 days before. Source
• Abercrombie & Kent: Under its US terms, final payment is due 120 days before departure for all journeys except Small Jet Journeys outside Europe and Japan by Luxury Train, at 180 days; the private jet safari has its own date, 12 August 2027. Source

How is my money protected?

What each company's own website says, read 3 November 2026.

• Natural Habitat Adventures: Its website, read 3 November 2026, does not say.
• Abercrombie & Kent: Under its UK tailor-made holiday terms, flight-inclusive packages and ATOL-protected flights have financial security under its Air Travel Organiser's Licence, number 2881, issued by the CAA. Source

What do reviewers say?

Each platform's figure for each company, never added together.

• Natural Habitat Adventures: Google: 4.9 out of 5 from 299 reviews. Read 3 November 2026; each platform's figure stands on its own.
• Abercrombie & Kent: Google: 4.9 out of 5 from 20 reviews; Trustpilot: 4.4 out of 5 from 795 reviews, newest 3 November 2026. Read 3 November 2026; each platform's figure stands on its own.

Richard Jasinski · Uncompromised Travel · written from Valencia · first published 4 November 2026 · updated 4 November 2026