Kruger National Park
Limpopo · Best Apr to Sep
8 places
Wildlife
Aardvark
Orycteropus afer
The aardvark is a medium-sized, burrowing, nocturnal mammal native to Africa.
Species insights
When to visit
Recorded year-round
Recorded in every month, so no month is the wrong month to look. We would rather say that than invent a best time.
Best monthsAny month
Records1,040 records
Curve from 1,040 national iNaturalist observations, not from one property. Single-month spikes are discarded as upload artefacts, and below 50 records we show no curve at all.
Where you'll find it
Western Cape and beyond
Provinces where Aardvark is most recorded. Tap one to find places to stay.
1,040 records, iNaturalist
Parks where hosts record the Aardvark
Stays that give back
Across South Africa
Zwartberg View Mountain Lodge
Oudtshoorn
Aardvark recorded here · Fynbos biome · Gemsbok · Greater kudu
Gives back to Wolwekraal Nature Reserve
From R 5,060 a night
Hutwini Walking Camp by RETURN Africa
Kruger National Park
Aardvark recorded here · Savanna biome · Leopard · Spotted hyena
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 11,820 a night
Heritage View Birding Retreat
Delareyville
Aardvark recorded here · Grassland biome · Brown hyena · Black backed jackal
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 1,000 a night
Jaci's Private Lodge
Madikwe
Aardvark recorded here · Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
Gives back to Jaci's Lodge Trust
From R 31,500 a night
Gecko Rock Private Nature Reserve
Touws River
Aardvark recorded here · Fynbos biome · Gemsbok · Aardvark
Gives back to Pietersfontein Conservancy
From R 360 a night
Tanda Tula Safari Camp
Timbavati Private Nature Reserve
Aardvark recorded here · Savanna biome · Lion · Leopard
Price on request
Drie Kuilen Nature Reserve
Montagu
Aardvark recorded here · Fynbos biome · Bontebok · Gemsbok
Gives back to Cape Leopard Trust
From R 350 a night
Montusi Mountain Lodge
Drakensberg, Bergville
Aardvark recorded here · Grassland biome · Bushbuck · Common eland
Gives back to Royal Drakensberg Education Trust and 1 other
From R 6,800 a night
Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park
Aardvark recorded here · Savanna biome · African wild dog · Spotted hyena
Gives back to Isibindi Foundation
Price on request
Mdluli Safari Lodge
Kruger National Park
Aardvark recorded here · Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
From R 10,670 a night
Kruger Shalati: The Train on the Bridge
Kruger National Park
Aardvark recorded here · Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
Gives back to Endangered Wildlife Trust
From R 17,400 a night
Lion Sands Ivory Lodge
Sabi Sand Game Reserve
Aardvark recorded here · Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
Price on request
Quatermain's Camp
Paterson
Aardvark recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Black wildebeest · Blesbok
Gives back to Endangered Wildlife Trust
From R 11,592 a night
Kruger Untamed - Satara Plains Camp
Kruger National Park
Aardvark recorded here · Savanna biome · Impala · Spotted hyena
Gives back to Endangered Wildlife Trust
From R 11,980 a night
Lion Sands Tinga Lodge
Kruger National Park
Aardvark recorded here · Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
Price on request
Kruger Untamed - Tshokwane River Camp
Kruger National Park
Aardvark recorded here · Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
Gives back to Endangered Wildlife Trust
From R 17,500 a night
Hlosi Game Lodge
Amakhala Game Reserve
Aardvark recorded here · Albany Thicket biome · Lion · Spekboom
Gives back to Endangered Wildlife Trust
From R 4,000 a night
Lion Sands Narina Lodge
Kruger National Park
Aardvark recorded here · Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
Price on request
Ouberg Private Nature Reserve
Montagu
Aardvark recorded here · Succulent Karoo biome · Black backed jackal · Honey badger
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 350 a night
Bloukrans Off-Grid Cabin
Montagu
Aardvark recorded here · Fynbos biome · Black backed jackal · Honey badger
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 1,500 a night
Hinkwenu Villa, Lion Sands
Kruger National Park
Aardvark recorded here · Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
Price on request
Tandweni Villa
Mkuze
Aardvark recorded here · Savanna biome · African elephant · Cape buffalo
Gives back to BirdLife South Africa
From R 14,000 a night
Grootkolk Wilderness Camp
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Aardvark recorded here · Savanna biome · Gemsbok · Springbok
From R 2,634 a night
Lion Sands River Lodge
Sabi Sand Game Reserve
Aardvark recorded here · Savanna biome · Leopard · Lion
Price on request
The Midlands
Next stop
Rolling green hills, dairy farms, and pottery studios
See places that give backPlanning a trip
When and where to find the Aardvark
Hosts have recorded the Aardvark at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and Kwandwe Private Game Reserve.
When to go, park by park
Here all yearEasiest viewing
| Park | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kruger | Here | Here | Here | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Here | Here | Here |
| Kgalagadi | Here | Here | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing | Easiest viewing |
Darker months are each park's own best season, when thinner bush or scarce water makes viewing easier. A sighting is never guaranteed.
Best hours of the day
- After dark and around dawn. The Aardvark is mostly active at night, so a night drive gives the best chance.
- Daytime, resting. Usually out of sight in cover, a burrow or water.
Where to base yourself
Limpopo
Kruger · Timbavati · Welgevonden
LimpopoBig FiveSelf-driveGuided drivesStays in Limpopo
Eastern Cape
Kwandwe · Amakhala
Eastern CapeBig FiveGuided drivesMalaria-freeStays in Eastern Cape
Northern Cape
Kgalagadi
Northern CapeSelf-driveMalaria-freeStays in Northern CapeKwaZulu-Natal
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi · Ithala
KwaZulu-NatalBig FiveStays in KwaZulu-Natal
Ways to look
Species
Orycteropus afer
Records
1,040
iNaturalist observations
Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.
Questions travellers ask
A record means a host has seen the Aardvark on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.
Which parks and reserves are best for the Aardvark in South Africa?
Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Aardvark at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park, Sabi Sand Game Reserve and Timbavati Private Nature Reserve and other reserves. A record means a host has seen it on the property or nearby, which makes these the places to base yourself; it is never a guarantee of a sighting on any given day.
Where can you see the Aardvark in South Africa?
The Aardvark is most recorded in Western Cape (28% of records), Northern Cape (25% of records), Gauteng (17% of records), based on 1,040 iNaturalist observations. 50 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Aardvark on site or nearby.
When is the best time to see the Aardvark?
The Aardvark is recorded throughout the year, so no month is the wrong month to look for it. For the parks where hosts record it most, these are the best seasons they give. Kruger National Park: Apr-Sep; Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park: Aug-Oct, flowers, Mar-May; Kwandwe Private Game Reserve: year-round, best Mar-May, Sep-Nov; Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park: year-round, dry season May-Sep. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.
What is the Aardvark?
The aardvark is a medium-sized, burrowing, nocturnal mammal native to Africa. It is the only living species of the order Tubulidentata, although other prehistoric species and genera of Tubulidentata are known. Unlike other insectivores, it has a long pig-like snout, which is used to sniff out food.