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:
- $228 to $1,953 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
Email Ron | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Awesome Africa Adventure - Triple A Rating!!!
This adventure was our first to Africa - and it certainly will not be our last. Our accommodation was first class and the food was simply delightful (we all put on a few kilos :)). We were impressed with the hospitality of all our hosts and receptionists.
Our tour guides with Ilios Travel were just the best. We'd like to put a big plug in for Walter: prompt, courteous, caring, informative and, a lot of laughs. The guides who took us on the one day excursions - including the National Parks - were all delightful and informative. We'd like to compliment Megan who handled the situation extremely competently when, on three separate occasions, we were charged by bull elephants. I'd do that again coz it was nature at its raw best. Our guides ensured that we were well catered for at all the attractions and their professionalism coupled with their sense of humour ensured that we had "the best of times at all times!"
We wanted an excursion that combined excursions into nature, a taste of some of the local cultures and, a feel for the complex history of the Rainbow Nation. We got all of this and more. Our tour began with a half day in the Apartheid Museum and a half day through Soweto (we could easily have had a full day for each) and ended with two relaxing days at Victoria Falls. These were two great bookends for our Awesome Africa Adventure which included some historic stops on our way to Swaziland, breathtaking glimpses of magnificent landscapes and, exhilarating encounters with "the big five" in the Kruger National Park and again in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve in Zululand. Our drive from Port Elizabeth (Nelson Mandela Bay) through the Garden Route to Capetown was dotted with memorable stops at the Cango Caves, Oudsthoorn, Knysna and Stellenbosch. We just loved being blown off the southern-most tip of the African continent at the Cape of Good Hope. Of course, we encountered the shadow of all humanity in our visit to Robben Island. Our visit through the Langa Township in Capetown helped us to appreciate our good fortune as Aussies!
Encompass Africa kept track of us from the moment we landed at Jo'burg. Their South African Representative helped us with a particularly difficult; she was respectful and attentive! Bravo!
We so enjoyed our tour we are planning our next excursion for '17
Email Tony P. | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Obsolutely fantastic
Having travelled to many parts of the world, Africa was probably one on the most memorable. From the greeting at the airport to the tour guides, from the hotels and accommodation to the food I was pleasantly surprised. The manners, service, and general knowledge shown was impressive.
Email barbara | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Better than you can imagine!
Having travelled twice using Encompass Africa this really speaks for itself. Everything fell into place seamlessly on both occassions contributing to wonderful holidays with unforgettable memories to last a lifetime. We cannot speak highly enough of Encompass Africa and all those involved in organising our incredible holiday experiences. Our love affair with Africa began when we chose Encompass!
A very profesional and friendly travel agency
Matthew and I spent five weeks in South Africa , Namibia, Botswana,Zambia, Livingston,Zambia and Kenya so you can imagine we saw a lot of animals,the big five,the wildebeest migration and much more than one could have imagined ,to see these animals in their natural habitat was a wonderful experience .The camps were or first class quality and comfort while the itinerary organised through Encompass from flights to pickup at airports and no problems getting over borders.I have no hesitation in recommending you to anybody thinking of doing an Africa holiday outside the big tour companies . Everything first class .Thank you once again.
Email robert | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
very efficient and great local knowledge about the parks visited and accommodation available
couldn't recommend Encompass Africa highly enough. First class service ,very prompt in returning emails and phone calls with answers to any questions you may have in regard to your safari. Great locations to visit ,superb game viewing and great accommodation
Email Kerri | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Knowledgeable, Informative, caring and an effortless process to plan our trip to Africa
Although we planned where we wanted to go in Africa, it was Encompass Africa that put together the trip, with their knowledge and expertise making this a memorable and fuss free process. We were always well informed and all staff were helpful and efficient. Our trip was amazing, from being welcomed at the airport to all our accommodation, food, service and onward transport. We always felt warmly welcomed. Even receiving an email whilst we were away to make sure all was going well was a lovely touch.
We had an amazing holiday. Spending time at Amboseli National Park, Samburu National Park, Masai Mara, Northern Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, and Tarangire National Park, all different and all offering diversity. We espeicially loved Elephant Bedroom Camp at Samburu, stunning country. We look forward to returning to Africa and when we do, we look forward to dealing with Encompass Africa again.
CA
Email Meg Carter | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Our best vacation/adventure yet!
From our first encounter with Encompass Africa to after we returned home from our vacation, everything went perfectly and above and beyond our expectations. Our agent with Encompass Africa was Bronwen. We cannot give her enough positive feedback. She was extremely attentive , thorough and dedicated to making our vacation perfect for us. After much deliberation, and back and forth between Bronwen and ourselves we decided on a safari in Tanzania. Bronwen was always readily available and very flexible and accommodating to our ever changing itinerary. She was able to guide us and give us the information we needed to successfully choose our first Safari. After booking our trip and arriving in Tanzania, Bronwen and Encompass Africa remained very much part of our adventure. They were readily available if we needed anything and ensured our special occasions that we were celebrating were recognized. We had our best vacation to date thanks to Bronwen and everyone at Encompass Africa.
I happened upon Encompass Africa by chance on the internet and we are both so happy that I did. We cannot give this company enough praise. Their knowledge, expertise and professionalism went above and beyond our expectations. We have and will continue to recommend Encompass Africa to our friends and family! Thank you for such a wonderful vacation. Encompass Africa made, what could have been a very stressful and difficult vacation to book, extremely easy and effortless on our part. Thank you!
Email Sarah | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Magical Madagascar with Encompass Africa
This trip to Madagascar which we organised with Encompass Africa was quite a complicated one and very bespoke. Danica and the rest of the team were fantastic. They really listened to our ideas about where we wanted to go, accommodation we liked the look of and things we were not so keen on and then gave us honest and excellent advice about what to do, how much we could fit in, travel times, road conditions, accommodation etc. This was greatly appreciated and important as Madagascar is not a simple place to organise travel and their excellent and honest feedback on our ideas was incredibly valuable. After our discussions they came back to us with a number of possible itineraries from which we picked the one we wanted and they went ahead and organised everything from flights, accommodation, guide, driver, vehicle, park entry fees and guides etc. This all went very smoothly and we were kept up to date with changes during the months after we had booked and before we left. Danica even let us know when a room became available at a place we wanted to stay but which had been fully booked when we tried to book it and changed us into the one we had wanted.
As can happen with Madagascar there were issues beyond their and our control with the Air Madagascar flights as the airline staff went on strike and all our internal flights were cancelled. Danica and the team swung into action and reorganised our trip just a few days before we left so that we were able to do everything despite the flight cancellations which was amazing and we were so grateful!
The trip itself was incredible, wonderful in every way. The places we visited, wildlife we saw, our guide and driver, accommodation and the food were all even more amazing than we had imagined and everything went very well.
We visited Zombitse National Park, Isalo National Park, Anja Reserve, Ranomafana National Park, Morondava, Baobab Alley, Kirindy National Park, the Grand and Petit Tsingy, Andasibe National Park, Antananarivo, Fianarantsoa, Antsirabe, and a heap of other places on the way. This was simply an awesome trip and we absolutely loved it.
We were meant to finish in Masoala National Park but unfortunately bad and dangerous weather conditions led to the cancellation of our flights so Jono from Encompass Africa (with no notice and in record time!) organised for us to go back to South Africa (the same day!) and spend the last few days of our holiday in the Sabi Sands at the incredible Savanna Lodge. This was all done within a few hours of our letting him know what had happened and asking if he could organise us an alternative in South Africa, unbelievably amazing!
Absolutely top class service, knowledge, organisation and genuine care about you having an amazing experience. You could not ask for anyone better to organise a trip to anywhere in Africa and we will continue to use Encompass Africa time and time again (this is already our 5th trip with them!).
Email Claire | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
50th Birthday Trip to Zimbabwe and Botswana
We had a very positive experience with Encompass Africa from start to finish. Our holiday exceeded our expectations. We enjoyed every minute and we are still gaining pleasure from recounting the memories. Danica was a most attentive agent and was able to interpret our brief, demonstrating an excellent understanding of our desires and concerns. She also made some useful suggestions about activities that we had not considered or didn't even know about. The tour itself was a great adventure with something new and inspiring happening every day. The holiday provided a great variety of experiences and the camps were all very special. Food and accommodation were excellent. Whilst we were away we were contacted by the African agents both by phone and in person at the airport. Nothing went wrong, but it was nice to know that if needed, help was at hand.
Email Sandy & Andrew | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Encompass Africa planned and delivered our dream African holiday.
When we first met Jono & Danica from Encompass Africa at a travel expo in Adelaide we were impressed with their approach and their obvious passion for and knowledge of Africa. Jono is from South Africa and travels back there regularly so you are dealing with a company that has local knowledge and that gave us confidence that we would be getting expert advice.
When we were ready to plan our trip Jono spent time talking to us on the phone, providing detailed information and options and taking our budget into account. A personalised package was then put together for us.
Before we left for Africa we received a detailed itinerary including contact details for the places we were staying and the travel partners in Africa. We travelled independently and it was reassuring to know that we had private car transfers organised to pick us up and get us to our hotels/ lodges/ the airport/etc.
We were very happy with all aspects of our trip including flights, accommodation & transfers. The highlight of our trip was a wonderful 3 night safari experience at Kapama Buffalo Camp in South Africa.
In all of our dealings with Encompass Africa we have found the travel consultants to be friendly, helpful and efficient. Upon booking we were given a timeline of when final payments were due, when our travel documents would be provided and a very comprehensive guide with information on the countries we were visiting, luggage guidelines, foreign currency, what to pack, etc. This was really useful & very much appreciated and ensured we felt as prepared and ready as we could be leading up to our departure.
We would definitely recommend Encompass Africa when planning & booking an African holiday.