The aardvark is Africa’s most extraordinary and sought-after nocturnal mammal — a bizarre, rabbit-eared creature with a pig-like snout, powerful claws, and a diet consisting almost entirely of termites and ants. Despite being widespread across East Africa, aardvarks are among the most difficult animals to see on safari, their strictly nocturnal habits and solitary nature making every sighting a genuine achievement. Whether you are planning a Tanzania safari or Kenya safari, this guide covers everything you need to know about finding this remarkable creature.
Key Highlights
- Weight: 40 to 65 kg; length: 1.0 to 1.3 m
- Diet: 50,000+ termites per night
- Nocturnal: emerges after sunset, returns before dawn
- Powerful claws: excavates 60 cm in 15 seconds
- Best locations: Tarangire, Samburu, Laikipia
- Best viewing: night drives in dry season
Why Aardvarks Are Special
The aardvark (Orycteropus afer) is one of Africa’s most unusual mammals. Its name comes from the Afrikaans for “earth pig,” reflecting its pig-like snout and burrowing habits. Yet the aardvark is not related to pigs, anteaters, or armadillos — it occupies its own unique order, Tubulidentata, and is the sole surviving member of this ancient lineage. Its most distinctive features include large rabbit-like ears that provide exceptional hearing, a long tubular snout used to sniff out termite mounds, powerful shovel-shaped claws for excavating, and a thick kangaroo-like tail. Aardvarks can dig through hard termite mound soil at astonishing speed — up to 60 centimetres in 15 seconds — and their burrows can be 3 metres deep and 6 metres long. They are perfectly adapted to their nocturnal, subterranean lifestyle.
Behaviour and Ecology
Aardvarks are strictly nocturnal, emerging from their burrows after sunset and returning before dawn. They feed exclusively on termites and ants, consuming up to 50,000 insects in a single night. Their feeding technique is remarkable: they locate termite mounds by smell, excavate with powerful claws, and then use their 30-centimetre sticky tongue to lap up insects. The tongue is attached to the sternum and can extend far beyond the mouth. Aardvarks have specialised teeth made of modified dentine tubes without enamel, which continuously grow and wear down. They do not chew their food but swallow it whole, relying on a muscular gizzard to grind the insects. Aardvarks are solitary animals, occupying home ranges of 2 to 5 square kilometres. They dig a new burrow almost every night for sleeping, creating extensive burrow systems that are used by numerous other species including warthogs, porcupines, and wild dogs.
Where to See Aardvarks
Aardvarks are widespread across East Africa but notoriously difficult to see. The best locations for aardvark viewing are areas with high termite densities and night-drive programmes. Tarangire National Park in Tanzania is widely regarded as the best place to see aardvarks, with sightings on approximately 30 to 40 percent of night drives during the dry season. The park’s extensive termite mounds and open acacia woodland provide ideal habitat. In Kenya, Samburu National Reserve and the adjacent Buffalo Springs offer reliable aardvark sightings on night drives, particularly along the riverine areas. Laikipia’s private conservancies, including Ol Pejeta and Lewa, also support healthy aardvark populations. The key to seeing aardvarks is patience, a knowledgeable guide who knows active feeding areas, and multiple night drives. Aardvarks are most active in the first three hours after sunset and the final two hours before dawn.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does an aardvark eat?
Aardvarks feed almost exclusively on termites and ants. An adult aardvark consumes 50,000 or more insects per night, lapping them up with a 30-centimetre sticky tongue. They prefer termites of the genus Macrotermes, which build large above-ground mounds. Aardvarks locate termite mounds by smell, using their sensitive snout to detect the insects from considerable distances. They excavate the mound with powerful claws and then insert their tongue into the tunnels to collect the insects. During the dry season, when termites retreat deeper into their mounds, aardvarks may dig up to 3 metres to reach them. They rarely drink water, obtaining sufficient moisture from their insect prey. This specialised diet makes aardvarks entirely dependent on healthy termite populations.
Where is the best place to see aardvarks?
Tarangire National Park in Tanzania is the best place to see aardvarks in East Africa, with sightings on 30 to 40 percent of night drives during the dry season. The park’s combination of extensive termite mounds, open woodland, and night-drive programmes creates ideal viewing conditions. In Kenya, Samburu and Buffalo Springs National Reserves offer reliable sightings, particularly along riverine areas. Laikipia’s private conservancies including Ol Pejeta and Lewa also support healthy populations. Night drives are essential — aardvarks are strictly nocturnal and virtually impossible to see during daylight. The best strategy is to book multiple night drives with an experienced guide who knows active aardvark feeding areas. The first three hours after sunset and the final two hours before dawn are the peak activity periods.
Are aardvarks endangered?
Aardvarks are currently classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, with stable populations across most of their range. However, they face localised threats from habitat loss, pesticide use that reduces termite populations, and hunting for bushmeat in some areas. Their dependence on termites makes them vulnerable to any factor affecting insect populations, including climate change and agricultural chemicals. Aardvarks are also killed by vehicles on roads at night. Within protected areas, populations are generally healthy. Because aardvarks are so difficult to study due to their nocturnal habits, population trends are poorly understood in many areas. Conservation efforts focus on protecting termite habitats and reducing human-wildlife conflict in areas where aardvarks raid crops.
How do aardvarks dig so fast?
Aardvarks are among the fastest diggers in the animal kingdom, capable of excavating 60 centimetres of hard soil in just 15 seconds. This extraordinary ability comes from their powerful forelimbs and specialised claws. Each front foot has four toes with large, flattened, shovel-shaped claws up to 5 centimetres long. The claws are strong enough to break through concrete-hard termite mound soil. Aardvarks dig with a rapid back-and-forth motion, using their powerful shoulder muscles to drive the claws into the soil. They can excavate a 3-metre-deep burrow in less than 15 minutes. When threatened, an aardvark can dig a temporary escape burrow in seconds, backing in and using its thick tail to block the entrance. This digging prowess makes them ecosystem engineers — their abandoned burrows provide shelter for dozens of other species.
When is the best time to see aardvarks?
The best time to see aardvarks is during the dry season from June to October, when termites are concentrated in accessible mounds and night-drive programmes operate reliably. Aardvarks are strictly nocturnal, so night drives are essential. The peak activity periods are the first three hours after sunset and the final two hours before dawn. During the wet season, termites disperse and aardvarks may travel further between feeding sites, making them harder to locate. However, wet-season sightings are still possible with patience. Full moon nights can improve visibility but may also make aardvarks more cautious. Cool, clear nights are ideal. For the best chance of success, plan multiple night drives and work with an experienced guide who knows active aardvark areas. Even under optimal conditions, aardvark sightings are never guaranteed — which makes each encounter all the more special.
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