A carnival of colour
With their bright and vibrant plumage and loud chirping calls, these social birds gather in large colonies (several hundred) during the breeding season. They are known for their impressive aerial displays, synchronised flying and courtship rituals making them a favourite among birdwatchers and wildlife enthusiasts. The best time to witness these spectacular birds in action is from August to November.
A photographer’s dream
Africa is a top destination for any aspiring photographer. Whether it’s capturing the iconic African sun setting over the Zambezi River or witnessing the action down by the waterhole, the opportunities are endless. To elevate your photography experience and bring you closer to nature, Great Plains Conservation camps are offering guests complimentary access to the latest professional-quality Canon cameras with telephoto lenses and high-grade binoculars to help make your memories last a lifetime. Dereck Joubert, a pioneer in filmmaking and conservation, shares his top tips to level up your photography skills in our latest blog.
aardvarksafaris.com/top-10-safari-photography-tips/
#africa #wildlife #safari #visitafrica #travelafrica #africansafari #thisisafrica #wildaboutafrica #photography #photographysafari #wildlifephotography
Escape into the wild
A doors-off helicopter ride on safari must be up there as one of the most incredible experiences whether that’s a one-hour scenic flight to enjoy a sundowner, breakfast picnic, or a full-day expedition. Ol Malo House is perched on the edge of a cliff with spectacular views over the Laikipia Plateau, built with natural stone and a thatched roof in luxury ranch style. Andrew who helps his parents run Ol Malo, is a highly trained and experienced pilot who loves nothing more than taking guests to explore the far reaches of the Suguta Valley. Enjoy a full day excursion to the sand dunes of the Great Rift Valley or Lake Turkana to view flamingos from above, a thrill like no other.
#kenya #whyilovekenya #magicalkenya #beautifulkenya #onlyinkenya #kenyatravel #kenyatourism #discoverkenya #thisisafrica #thisismykenya #visitkenya #africanwildlife #visitafrica #helicoptersafari #safari #africansafari #bushbreakfast
The grass is greener on the other side
Each year, over two million wildebeest, zebra, and other herbivores travel from the southern Serengeti to the lush green grasses of the Masai Mara. Known as one of the seven wonders of the world, The Great Migration is an iconic safari must-see and one of the greatest shows on earth.
Our expert team will put you in the heart of the action, contact us now for front row seats.
#thegreatmigration #safari #africansafari #kenya #masaimaranationalpark #tanzania #serengetinationalpark #elewanacollection
A bird’s eye view
There’s nothing more breath taking than floating above the world in a hot air balloon, watching the sun light up the sky and the wildlife below basking in the warm orange morning glow. Waking up at the crack of dawn is well worth the effort and is an experience everyone should try at least once. Serengeti Balloon Safaris in Tanzania offer excellent hot air balloon rides over the Serengeti, Ruaha and most recently Tarangire National Parks. Ask our sales experts how you can combine this in your Tanzania safari.
International Family Day
We have been taking our own children to Africa for years, so we really do know what works when planning a family safari. Alice (Managing Director and Owner of Aardvark Safaris) has three daughters fortunate enough to have experienced a taste of Africa from the age of two. Now teenagers, they have been to Malawi, South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar, and the Seychelles. This footage was taken during their stay at Sirikoi Lodge in the wildlife-rich Lewa Conservancy in Kenya where they were lucky enough to be joined by one of the locals for breakfast.
Dive into the protected marine waters around Miavana. From ring-tailed lemurs and a rich and diverse culture to epic landscapes and deserted beaches, a trip to Madagascar is a unique and fascinating experience. Miavana is a magnificent lodge on Nosy Ankao, a private tropical island in the north east of Madagascar surrounded by sparkling turquoise waters with prolific marine and terrestrial wildlife. A perfect spot for water lovers with excellent diving, snorkelling, kite surfing, and saltwater fishing, Miavana offers the perfect balance of exclusivity and adventure.
Celebrating the fearless spirit and determination of women
This International Women’s Day we celebrate the women who are the driving force behind many of the camps and conservation success stories in Africa. For many years, the safari industry has been dominated by males however camps like Kicheche are leading the way by providing women with the skills, education, and support to grow professionally. Strong female leaders play a pivotal role in shaping aspirations for the next generation, hearing their stories and creating a network of role models all help highlight the limitless possibilities for women to transcend barriers, challenge convention and rewrite an outdated narrative.
Kicheche Camps share inspiring stories from their female team.
🎬@kicheche_
#womensday #internationalwomensday #women #womenempowerment #womensupportingwomen #womenpower #happywomensday #iwd #girlpower #womeninbusiness #woman #march #feminism #strongwomen #fashion #womenstyle #womenempoweringwomen #womeninspiringwomen #motivation #inspiration #feminist #instagood #womensmarch #art #womensrights #instagram #equality
Meet Toby, Denis Island’s oldest resident and an absolute favourite among guests, both young and old. Aladabra tortoises are deeply intertwined with the history of Seychellois culture. It was tradition, at the birth of a baby girl, for families to be gifted a baby Giant Tortoise. The two would grow up together until her wedding day when (sadly) the tortoise would be slaughtered for food. Luckily for Toby, this tradition is no longer practiced allowing him to make it to the staggering age of 126. This short video clip is from Alice’s family trip to Denis Island in December.
Lucinda recently spent some time at Laikipia Wilderness during her trip to Kenya last November. She was lucky enough to see Giza, the infamous black leopard on an evening wildlife drive, and even luckier to have timed it whilst she was hunting a dik-dik. The guides were respectful upon approach, turning all headlights and torches off so as not to give away her position to the unfortunate prey and allowing the majestic cat to carry out her mission. This was a truly incredible and unique safari experience, and a tale Lucinda will tell for years to come.
#aardvarksontour 2023 Round Up
The devil is in the details and as a team, we pride ourselves on going the extra mile (or 8,000) to ensure we have the most up-to-date knowledge enabling us to create unique tailored experiences for our clients. This year we’ve been busy exploring and experiencing the incredible destinations, properties and activities, and as 2023 comes to an end we reflect on some of our key highlights.
Alice (owner of Aardvark Safaris) has just returned from her hosted riding safari in Botswana. “Phenomenal wildlife, horses and guides in the Okavango Delta. We enjoyed 7 nights of safari at its best with lots of activity as well as sleeping out in tree houses, fishing, walks and wildlife drives to get closer to lions and buffalo than from horses.“ Ask us about our 2024 riding safaris.
Incredible Encounters
Donna and Robert recently returned from an action-packed holiday in Uganda and were blown away by the incredible wildlife experiences they encountered.
It’s not every day a silverback gorilla hangs out in the forest canopy in front of your lodge.
“We had just returned from our first trek and had not even changed out of our walking boots. We watched them all afternoon making their way through the camp up the stairs where they ended up in front of our tent. All 10 guests made their way to our balcony where we all watched the silverback eat his way through a tree. When he descended from the tree, we all went to get ready for dinner. While having a bath we heard noises outside and couldn't believe it when a female and juvenile gorilla nested down for the night outside our bathroom. We could see them through the mesh. They stayed all night, and we watched them get up and move off with the silverback and others at 8am trackers in tow. AMAZING”
All our holidays are tailor-made, but we’ve created this 8-day itinerary to give you a taste and offer some inspiration for your next holiday.
https://bit.ly/3ZQK9HH
Goosebumps guaranteed!
This piece of cinematography beautifully showcases the intensity, tenderness, and affection of the incredible wildlife you can experience on an African Safari.
🎬Great Plains Conservation
#WorldAnimalDay
It’s a balancing act, but you’ve got to choose the right tree.
Leopards are skilled climbers, using trees as vantage points for hunting, to store their food and escape predators, or to rest and conserve energy. Their climbing abilities also provide them with access to a wider range of prey in their habitats, making them versatile and successful predators.
But choose the wrong tree and, as this footage from Anabezi Camp Zambia shows, all the balance in the world won’t help you.
🎥Anabezi Camp