Q1 When did you first come face to face with an elephant? The first time I met an elephant was when I was a babe in arms at six weeks old, when my mother introduced me, on foot to a very special elephant in Manyara, Tanzania, called Virgo. She was ... Read more
Namibia is a country of astonishing contrasts, named after the Namib – the oldest desert on the planet which creates a sea of red sand along the Atlantic coastline. Celebrated for its vast open landscapes, remote tribes and desert dwelling wildlife, it offers a safari experience like no other. Namibia's ... Read more
Whenever I used to hear someone talk about Botswana there were two things that would immediately spring to mind. The first was the vivacious character of Mma Ramotswe, from Alexander McCall-Smith’s ‘Number 1 Ladies' Detective Agency’. The second being the image of African elephants wading through the luscious green flood ... Read more
Many of the lodges we work with will have small shops on site selling anything from safari clothing to beaded jewellery. If you are driving from lodge to lodge you’re very likely to pass roadside traders selling metallic animals, basket ware and other goods. And there are some hidden gems ... Read more
Four nights at this wonderful luxury tented camp will allow you time to immerse yourself in all on offer here. You can visit Iain Douglas-Hamilton’s Save the Elephants research centre, enjoy an elephant safari and wildlife drives, bush picnics and sundowners, manyatta (homestead) and school visits. If you’re feeling energetic you can ... Read more
As I spend my days helping to plan safari holidays, I'm on the receiving end of countless emails with links to safari camp newsletters and blogs. In general they’re an interesting mix of staffing news, updates on property renovations, wildlife sightings, and conservation information. There are plenty I skim, or ... Read more
It is hard not to fall in love with Kenya: most visitors, after their first holiday, want to return to further explore secret places in Kenya. These off the beaten path regions each have their own merits with unsurpassed wildlife, easy access, and diversity of holiday accommodation. They are great for ... Read more
Madagascar’s extraordinary diversity has been wonderfully captured on BBC2’s current Sunday night series. Narrated by David Attenborough, the three episodes explore the unique wildlife and distinct scenery of this ecologically distinct island. Aardvark Safaris has been planning holidays to Madagascar for over 16 years and our travel experts have visited ... Read more
Ibo Island, part of the Quirimbas archipelago in the Indian Ocean off northern Mozambique, is so remote it took me three separate planes and the best part of a day to get there from the UK. Originally a Muslim trading port, the island was fortified by the colonising Portuguese in ... Read more
Victoria Langmead finds Namibia a surprising and unexpected delight self driving in Namibia – even if she has to drive around with her boss as a passenger. How easy is it to self drive Namibia? I’d never driven in Africa before so was unsure what to expect but I soon ... Read more