Encompass Africa
- Located In:
-
Australia
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2009)
- Member Of:
- ATTA, CATO & ATAS
- Tour Types:
- Custom luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $227 to $1,948 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Everything that Encompass had booked went perfectly, they were great.
The service, communications and bookings were perfect.
Email Iesha Stewart | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Attention to detail and service was impeccable! Don't think twice, Encompass Africa are FANTASTIC!
Andrew and I just wanted to sincerely thank Encompass Africa (EA) for coordinating an amazing and great fun holiday adventure to Africa.
This was a 50th birthday surprise for my husband Andrew - however as the excitement grew within me after booking the perfect itinerary, I couldn't help but tell him that he was going to Africa. He was stoked! Especially when he was to learn that we were going to one of his bucket list places, the Okavango Delta!
Working with Danica, Laura and the team, it took us 7 x attempts to finalise the itinerary - mainly due to the many options available and for me to try and determine along the way what would be our must-see's and must-do's. I am so grateful for their patience and guidance to ensure that we settled on an itinerary that fitted exactly our taste, interests and budget.
I am fast to admit I am a control freak when it comes to planning our travels. After finalising our itinerary, I spent countless hours on the internet trolling through YouTube videos and travel forum reviews about the places and lodges we were to visit. To some degree I felt I had already traveled the entire trip many times before we left – so I anticipated to not be surprised during the trip (unlike Andrew who was not involved in the planning) – but wow, how wrong I was!
How naive I was to not consider the wondrous and ever changing surprises mother nature can dish out at any given stage! Not to mention that EA and the lodges each had delivered us little surprises along the way to ensure we felt like we were more than just a number in their books.
We were greeted by EA tour representatives at every stop and guided through airport processes with great ease. We were super impressed at how much attention to detail was put into the entire coordination of our trip. Truly, the trip was faultless from beginning to end – and for us, that has to be a FIRST!
I cannot highly enough recommend Encompass Africa to anyone planning a holiday to Africa. EA made our trip not only personal, but extremely stress free as newcomers to Africa.
NZ
Email Nancy and Hugh | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Five stars on most aspects
We chose Encompass to plan our African holiday because it was so highly recommended to us by a couple we met on another trip. We mentioned this on our first contact with Encompass. Unfortunately, they assumed that we wanted the same type of trip as our friends, when in fact we didn't even discuss the trip with the couple at all. The outcome was that we had a month in Africa that was about 2/3 of what we wanted, and 1/3 what we didn't.
We saw some amazing things, stayed at some great places, and had wonderful guides. Most everything went like clockwork. That all deserves 5 stars for the Encompass team, including their attention to my husband's health issues the night before we were to depart for Africa.
So why not 5 stars? We arrived home exhausted, having completed around 25 game drives (and having sat out about 8). We spent 16 nights in total at 5 camps, travelling mostly by safari vehicle between them . We were envious of those who were moving on to other activities and countries for non-safari adventures. Of the 30 nights in Africa, 16 were in camps, 6 were in transit, and one was a day of rest.
When we arrived home, we would have given Encompass 3 stars on this review, but instead we contacted them with our feedback. We have added one star because of the team's sincere response to and disappointment with what we expressed to them. They immediately gathered all the information we gave them along with that from the entire planning process, discussed it, and decided there were some mistakes made. We believe that they learned something from this experience, and that means a lot to us. Although everyone else gave them 5 stars, perhaps now some other couple in the future will not have the problems we experienced and they'll never get below a 5 again.
With over a month having passed since our return, we now look on our African experience in a positive light, enjoying and sharing our photos, talking about the great experiences we did have, and being very pleased with the response from the Encompass team.
We have no hesitation in recommending them to others, with the recommendation that you research Africa yourselves, read review of the places they suggest you stay, have a good understanding of what 3 days in a camp means and how many of these days you are prepared to sign up for, and finding out about all the other activities and adventures there are in Africa.
Email Marggy | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Absolutely Amazing in Every Way
Encompass Africa is the only travel agency that I would recommend with no reservations whatsoever. They were truly amazing in every regard. The trip they organised for us, still remains our best holiday ever.
We dealt mainly with Danica but also had some discussions with Jonathon and the service they both provided far outlived our expectations. When we begun our discussions, we were not really sure of exactly which countries we wanted to visit but Danica was only too happy to discuss different options and send us some ideas. I can still remember that first phone call with Danica and the thing that really stood out was the feeling that at last I had found someone who knew what they were talking about and who had actually visited the countries and camps that she was recommending so could tell me what they were really like.
It took us a lot of phone calls and emails before we decided on what we wanted to do. Here again, we got outstanding service. Not once did we feel rushed or pressured by Danica. Danica (and Jonathon) were exceptional in responding in a timely manner and they always got back to us when they said they would (sometimes it was even before the time they had promised).
We finally decided on a 7 week holiday and did a self-drive in South Africa, visited Victoria Falls, then did safaris in Botswana (including a houseboat), Kenya and Tanzania and finished with a trek with the gorillas in Rwanda.
Our trip was perfect, just the right mix of experiences. There is no doubt that it was because of Danica's and Jonathon's knowledge of Africa that we had such an amazing holiday. The order we did the trip in was perfect.
When we were planning this holiday we believed it would be a once off experience. However, we had such a fantastic time that we are certainly planning to do further safaris and there is no question about who we will book with - it will be straight to Encompass Africa.
I believe that the main reason why Encompass Africa plan such amazing holidays to Africa is because of the their own love of the countries. When talking to them their passion was really evident and it was obvious that they really wanted us to enjoy the holiday and come to love Africa as they do.
Well done Danica and Jonathon and we look forward to planning our next holiday to Africa with you.
Email Ian and Terry | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Staff listened carefully to what we wanted and designed an itinerary that met all our requests.
Encompass Africa is the best travel company we have ever dealt with as they listened carefully, were prompt and excellent with all communication and designed an itinerary that covered all our requests and interests. Being experienced travellers themselves they know the places we wanted to visit well and consequently gave excellent and appropriate advice both verbally and written. They also have an office in Johannesburg with someone always ready to assist if required. We had reason to call their SA office and received immediate and willing assistance with a quick resolution to our query. The overall result was that, thanks to Encompass Africa, we had an amazing holiday experience and have no hesitation in recommending them to anyone planning a holiday to Africa.
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Safari - the easy way
From the first moment we contacted Encompass things were superb. They helped choose where to go based on animals we wanted to see while accommodating specific places we wanted to go as well. All the staff were incredibly knowledgeable & helpful. We booked a 5 week private safari so were constantly travelling (mostly by landcruiser). The guides we had were amazing in finding animals for us. Accommodation was mostly safari tents but extremely well appointed. Food was terrific. We had a superb time & Encompass made it so easy to book & enjoy. Highly recommended
Fantastic & dependable service from Encompass
My partner and I were so impressed with Encompass Africa's service we've already recommended them to a few friends! When we talk about our magnificent three week journey we also talk about that amazing service we received from EA. I'm not kidding! I loved that fact that we dealt with one person pretty much the whole time. She took the time to hear what we wanted to do and see. Every question was answered thoroughly-even the one about costs! I spent nearly 8 hours on the phone with my consultant over a 6 month period, each time receiving more useful info to consider about our impending trip. By the time we left Sydney I felt I knew exactly what was going to happen and I felt very reassured: the mobile app, the PDF itinerary, the on-line interactive itinerary...they were all very very useful. The service providers, the camps, the food, the transport all nearly exceeded our expectations. Our consultant checked in with us whilst we were travelling which was a very nice touch, and reassuring. A last minute change to flights during our time away was dealt with quickly, no fuss, and without a glitch. We will definitely use Encompass Africa again as we plan to return to Africa. I would gladly recommend their services.
Email Russell Pringle | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Planned to Perfection
From the moment of the first phone call I can't speak highly enough of the Encompass Africa team, they were fantastic.
We sent 3 1/2 weeks in Africa through 6 different countries, had 16 different plane flights as well as several road transfers and not one hickup along the way.
From the driver/guides, the hotels and accommodation, the camps and safari experiences were first class.
Jonathon and his team planned everything down to the finest detail. It was amazing.
If your thinking of a trip to Africa don't hesitate to contact Encompass Africa, you won't be disappointed.
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An adventure and experience of a lifetime with memories that will last forever
We knew very little about Africa as a destination but knew we wanted to see the major tourist destinations we had heard people speak about (Cape Town, Kruger, Vic Falls, Chobe, Okavango Delta). Encompass Africa put together our whole holiday based on what little information we gave them. We took advice from their highly experienced staff who had actually lived in the country and had amazing knowledge of the surrounds; we were able to see exactly what was planned through their amazing virtual tour which was emailed to us. Encompass Afrca captured exactly what we wanted to see from amazing safari parks so we could get up close and personal with the big five, seeing Vic Falls and experiencing the culture of the locals. All this was planned around beautiful accomodation which was in itself a memorable experience. We would absolutely book another holiday with Encompass Africa and would definately recommend them to others. We dealt with professional, polite, experienced staff who were able to accomodate and recommend places of interest which gave us an experience of a lifetime.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
First class and completely responsive service.
Everything was excellent. Knowledge of our destinations was great and the experience itself was sensational.