Simple stays with essential amenities. Typically guesthouses, hostels or hotels rated below 3 stars — clean, no-frills, and great for value-conscious travelers.
Comfortable and reliable 3-star stays. Expect private rooms, en-suite bathrooms, and solid amenities — a great balance between comfort and cost.
Upscale 4-5 star hotels and lodges. Enjoy high-end service, refined comfort, and premium locations — ideal for travelers seeking extra indulgence.
A group of 4 climbers from India, along with 3 friends from the UK, completed an arduous climb via the 7-day Machame Route with Aardvark Expeditions, and they exceeded our every expectation along the way.
The first impression we had of Aardvark Expeditions (Philemon Joel) was one of speed in responding to our requests, providing clear directions, and making truthful declarations about what to expect when we booked. Booking our climb was made easy due to the assistance provided by the sales team.
During the actual climb, the guiding team of Bariki and Jonathan performed exceptionally well. They were vigilant in their monitoring of climbers, supported us when altitude sickness hit, and continuously provided motivation throughout our trek on the mountain.
The summit day was incredibly emotional, and all Aardvark Expeditions staff were there at the summit to celebrate with us for achieving our goal. This is a company that genuinely cares about every person who climbs for them. A five-star rating does not do enough justice for the value provided by the staff at Aardvark Expeditions.
Let me be upfront, this wasn’t a glamorous vacation. It was muddy. It was dusty. We had early mornings, long drives, and a few mosquito bites. But will I want to experiemce this again? Yes!
The tour was well organized, and the guide was a legend! Quite funny, patient, and ridiculously sharp-eyed. Samburu was our first real dive into the wild, and it delivered. We saw elephants on day one, and from there it just kept coming, leopards, hyenas, even a rare kudu.
One afternoon near Lake Nakuru, our vehicle got stuck in a patch of thick mud. Instead of getting annoyed, our group jumped out (after checking for nearby buffalo, obviously) and helped push. That’s the moment I’ll remember, complete strangers working together in the middle of Kenya. What impressed me most was how fast the team coordinated with support. Another vehicle was ready to assist if needed and our guide handled it all with total calm. You could tell they’ve got experience.
The boat ride at Naivasha was another highlight. There’s something eerie and beautiful about hippos watching you from the waterline. Then came Masai Mara, which just floored me. We saw a lion cub playing with its sibling and a herd of wildebeest thundering past. It’s a feeling out of the world.
The accommodations were decent, nothing fancy, but clean, comfortable, and always ready with a warm meal. And I appreciated how the team kept things running smoothly from behind the scenes. Airport pickup was seamless, the group size was just right, and every transition from lodge to lodge was effortless for such a packed itinerary.
If you want pristine perfection maybe look elsewhere. But if you want raw beauty, real moments, and a sense of the world beyond your bubble, this is it. Hats off to the team for making it all flow.
Wildlife safaris and game drives
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Lodge
Age Range
8-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Nairobi, Maasai Mara National Re
Nairobi, Maasai Mara National Reserve, Samburu Game Reserve, Nyahururu, Lake Naivasha, Masai Mara National Reserve
My trip exceeded my expectation. the only negative was my flights, I had too long a layover both ways in Frankfurt. I would have paid an additional amount for a better travel itinerary.
Wildlife safaris and game drives
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Lodge
Age Range
8-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Nairobi, Amboseli National Park
Nairobi, Amboseli National Park, Kajiado, Masai Mara National Reserve, Lake Elementaita
I’m an amateur wildlife photographer and booked this safari mainly to shoot the “Big Five.” I wasn’t disappointed.
The 4x4 vehicles had pop-up roofs which made it super easy to get clear shots. The guides were patient and even repositioned the vehicle to help me get better angles. I got shots of a male lion at golden hour, a herd of elephants with dust clouds swirling, and flamingos creating a pink blanket over Lake Nakuru.
Even beyond the animals, Kenya is photogenic as heck—acacia trees silhouetted against the sunset, Maasai people in their beautiful red garments, and of course, Mount Kilimanjaro standing quietly in the background at Amboseli.
This wasn’t just a vacation—it was a creative recharge. I’m already editing my portfolio to include a “Kenya” section!
Wildlife safaris and game drives
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Lodge
Age Range
8-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Nairobi, Amboseli National Park
Nairobi, Amboseli National Park, Kajiado, Masai Mara National Reserve, Lake Nakuru National Park
Thank you for making our Kilimanjaro climb a success. We were well taken care of, and everything was well thought out and planned. Our guides, Richard, Nelson, and Eric, were wonderful. Would not be possible without such extraordinary guides who even provided motivation and encouragement when needed. Could not be more grateful for a wonderful team! Highly recommended.
This safari exceeded all my expectations. We departed from Dar es Salaam and enjoyed a cross-country drive where we got to soak in the Tanzanian wilderness. Arriving in Selous was like going back in time, everything was so wild and beautiful. Completely off-grid. We stayed at Hippo camp which was a nice little collection of wooden lodges on the river side with a great view. All meals (even the packed lunches) were of a high quality.
My favourite wildlife moment was feeding the bush babies at night in Hippo camp - wish I could have taken one home. On the third day we woke up before sunrise for a jungle walk with an incredible guide who entertained us and told us 'bush' stories wish were certainly unforgettable! The wildlife in Selous was definitely up to scratch and it was so enjoyable to cruise through the varying and outstandingly beautiful wilderness. Book it now!
Really enjoyed our time on this safari. Wonderful guide and cook, very caring. They accommodated dietary needs and were very patient with everyone in the group. The safari was beyond amazing. Absolutely loved it.
Wildlife safaris and game drives
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Camping, Hotel, Tent
Age Range
5-79 yrs
Operated in
english, french, german, italian, spanish
Destinations
Arusha, Lake Manyara National Pa
Arusha, Lake Manyara National Park, Serengeti National Park, Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro Crater
Trip overall was terrific. Changes that could be made to future safaris. Game drives should only go out early morning, return to camp by 11am. 2nd game drive should start about 3pm until sunset. Rest at camp from 11am to 3pm. Boxed lunches should be deleted as they were well below standard & not terrible. Rift Valley Photographic Lodge was below standard & one night is plenty. The road in & out of the Lodge was absolutely terrible. My room had a terrible smell from shower drain & I was moved. The next room had no hot water until I chased it up. Swimming pools were all empty. Cut out long village walk as too hot & drive onto next lodge. You need at least 2 full days in the fantastic Ambroseli park. Masai Mara should be 2 full days experience & 2 full days in Ngorongoro Crater. Completely drop day 8 cultural experience etc from itinerary. We were all charged USD20 to visit Masia village but found out later Masai visit was free in initerary. The jeep in Kenya was old & very uncomfortable. The jeep in Tanzania was modern, a good ride & very uncomfortable. That part of the tour needs to be looked due to jeep travelling time.
Wildlife safaris and game drives
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Lodge
Age Range
18-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Arusha, Nairobi, Tarangire Natio
Arusha, Nairobi, Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, Masai Village, Serengeti, Lake Victoria, Masai Mara National Reserve, Amboseli National Park