Species guide · Rarity
Where to see an aardvark on safari
Common but almost never seen, the aardvark is a nocturnal burrower with rabbit ears, a pig-like snout and powerful digging claws. Many guides go years without a sighting, but in the right place and season your odds improve dramatically.
Quick answer
The southern Kalahari and the Karoo in South Africa give the best chances of seeing an aardvark, especially in winter, June to August, when they often come out in the late afternoon. The Makgadikgadi Pans in Botswana are another good option. Choose reserves with night drives and research teams.
Best regionSouthern Kalahari and the Karoo
Best timeJune to August
Suggested stayFour nights or more
The best places to look
South Africa
Southern Kalahari
Private reserves with research programmes, where aardvarks are sometimes seen in daylight in winter.
South Africa
The Karoo
Open semi-desert where aardvark, aardwolf and bat-eared fox can all be seen on night drives.
Botswana
Makgadikgadi Pans
Grasslands and pans with good night-drive sightings, alongside brown hyena and meerkats.
When to go
| Months | Chances | Why |
|---|---|---|
| June to August | Best | Winter: cold nights push aardvarks to feed in the warmer late afternoon, so daylight sightings are possible. |
| September to May | Possible | Hotter months: aardvarks come out only late at night, so a sighting needs night drives and luck. |
Tips from the field
- Pick a reserve that runs night drives and tracks aardvark burrows.
- Stay four nights or more, and add pangolin and aardwolf to the same wishlist.
- Wrap up warmly. Winter evenings in the Kalahari and Karoo are cold.
Questions travellers ask
Why are aardvarks so hard to see?
They are nocturnal, shy and spend the day in deep burrows, emerging only to feed on ants and termites.
What does an aardvark eat?
Mainly ants and termites, which it digs out with its claws and catches with a long, sticky tongue.
Is an aardvark related to an anteater?
No. Despite the similar diet, the aardvark is the only living member of its own group of mammals.
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