New leadership at Aardvark Safaris
UK based independent operator Aardvark Safaris has unveiled a new ownership structure.
Founder Richard Smith has retired and current co-owner Alice Gully will remain at the helm as Managing Director.
Gully takes on sole ownership of the company.
Richard Smith originally set up Aardvark Safaris in 1999 with co-founder John Spence, creating tailor-made safaris across Africa.
Alice Gully joined in 2004, becoming co-owner and running the business with Richard supported by a team of 16 safari consultants.
Now in its 24th year of business, the tour operator organises up to 600 trips per year.
“The company has the right team in place and supplier relationships to continue to plan great holidays for clients;” said Richard Smith
“I can step away knowing that Aardvark Safaris is in very good hands.”
The company remains committed to providing independent advice from experts with first-hand experience in Africa.
The specialist tour operator has seen a resurgence of interest in tours to Africa post pandemic, with 2023 on track to be the best year yet.
Towards the end of 2020, Gully led the Open Africa Travel campaign, speaking out against the UK Foreign Office’s post lockdown blanket travel ban on Africa.
Post-Covid, travel to Africa from the UK took longer to recover than from other inbound markets, however that is changing this year.
Aardvark’s numbers in 2023 has surpassed those of 2019.
Approximately 45% of Aardvark Safari’s customers are repeat clients, with 10 – 15% percent visiting Africa annually or bi-annually.
All the camps and lodges that Aardvark Safaris works with support conservation and community projects.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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