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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:
-
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- Price Range:
- $228 to $1,953 ppper person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Totally amazing holiday !
Encompass Africa organised our holiday and itinerary for a group of 4 couples. We went to Botswana, Vic Falls and then had our own mini van and own driver/guide doing the Garden Route in South Africa, where we finished our journey in Cape Town.
All our accommodation was superb; in position, staff, food, guides/trackers and the whole holiday went off without a hitch. This also included a couple of internal light plane transfers to Botswana and then to Zimbabwe.
In Botswana we stayed with Kwando Safaris Botswana at Little Kwara and Lagoon camps, which were fantastic. We saw soooo many animals and birds and the guides/trackers even found us some lions, a leopard and also some hyenas. Each game drive blew us away. And everything about the camps was beyond our expectations.
At Vic Falls we stayed at Vic Falls Safari Lodge which, in our opinion, was the pick of the places to stay. Whilst there you MUST do the BOMA experience and also do a Zambezi river cruise with Zambezi Explorer. Encompass recommended both these and we're so glad we took their advice.
And every place we stayed at along the Garden Route was just amazing.
Encompass did a brilliant job organising our itinerary and their choices of where to stay and the add on tours along the way when doing the Garden Route were spot on. You MUST do the Meerkats (even though you need to get up around 4.30 in the morning) and also walk with the elephants at the Elephant Rescue Centre and also go to Tenikwa and see all the wild cats. Also the Cango Caves and Ostrich farm are brilliant and if you have time you must organise a lunch at Babylonstoren Restaurant in the Cape Winelands. We found it was cheapest to buy an ostrich egg at the ostrich farm.
Places we stayed at include Hog Hollow Country Lodge, Protea Hotel Knysna Quays, De Opstal Country Lodge and Franschhoek Country House & Villas.
Jonathon from Encompass Africa organised our holiday as well as another group of friends who virtually did the same tour about 4 weeks after us but they had extra things added into their itinerary as they had extra days.
If we had any queries about anything at all Encompass were there for us, both in Australia and in Africa itself. We would highly recommend using Encompass if you wish to have a holiday anywhere in Africa !!!!!
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing family holiday in Southern Africa with Encompass!
Our family of 5 (2 adults and 3 girls aged 15, 13 and 8) enjoyed an incredible 2.5 weeks in Southern Africa (Botswana, Victoria Falls and Cape Town) thanks to Encompass Africa. From the moment we made contact with Jono and his team it was apparent that they were experts in their field and that they paid careful and thorough attention as to what type of holiday would suit us (given our short briefing as to the types of things we'd like to see and do) and how they would make that happen for us. Jono was always available to talk when required and was prompt to return calls and emails. His confident manner and first -hand knowledge meant that I was extremely comfortable relying on his advice as to what would suit our family best.
Our trip was fantastic and just right for us-it's hard to think of anything I would have done differently. Starting off with safaris in 3 camps in Botswana-Camp Kalahari, Kwando's Little Kwara and Kwando's Lebala, we followed on with a couple of days in Victoria Falls and several days in Cape Town. From the choice of camps and hotels to the number of days in each, to the order in which it was structured, everything was spot on. We received a glowing recommendation from a friend to use Encompass and we would not hesitate to give the same.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A second visit to Africa
Recently we decided to again visit Africa after our fleeting visit 4 years ago. Having been very happy with what Encompass Africa organised back in 2011 we again contacted them via email for ideas for this trip. They were extremely prompt with their reply with suggestions and costings and we finally settled on an itinerary with Danica.
Our trip last month was fantastic - visiting 2 safari camps in Botswana before a mini bus tour on the garden route near Cape Town to eventually finish the 3 week trip at Nottens Bush camp in Sarbi Sands.
The animal sightings were a highlight seeing the Big 5 many times over but also animals that perhaps aren't seen as often including cheetah, serval cat, honey badger - the list goes on
Encompass Africa attention to detail is fantastic and I continue to sing their praise. The pre trip paperwork had all the detail needed and the backup assistance in Africa during the trip with phone calls and being met by their staff at airports was first class. If money allows and we go again we would only turn to this company.
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Trip of a lifetime with exemplary service both before and during the trip.
During the planning phase Encompass Africa's communication with us was first class. Any queries were answered immediatley. Jonathon took the ideas that we had and enhanced them considerably through his extensive knowledge of Africa. We left the accommodation to him and we were not disapppointed. He saw us through the ebola crisis with up to the minute information which allayed our concerns. He supported our idea of independent travel and of driving in Namibia and answered our numerous questions with great patience. He went out of his way to meet our requests such as a Cape Malay cooking class. We left Australia quite comfortable and confident with the details of our trip.
The trip lived up to all our expectatios - and then some. The length of time that we spent at each destination was adequate. We were pleased that we had three nights at each of the Botswana lodges but two nights at each lodge in Namibia was fine. Our trip extended over five weeks and all of the arrangements ran like clockwork. THe Encompass Africa rep in Johannesburg made frequent contact to check that everything was OK. When we had to contact her over a minor interpretation of accommodation arrangements, she attended to it immediately.
Looking back, there was very little, if anything, that we would change. Jonathon's suggestion of self driving through Etosha was a good one although we did wonder how it would work out before we actually did it. Each day we thought, "This can't get any better," - and it did! There was a new experience every day. The ultimate accolade that we could pay is that we could have kept going even thought we had been constantly on the go for five weeks - and we are either at or approaching 70! At no time were we treated as 'old' or as people who couldn't do particular activities because of their age, something we appreciated very much.
We would thoroughly recommend Encompass Africa to anyone interested in a stimulating trip through Africa and expecting first class service. They will tailor make your trip to your specifications and you can be quite confident that the outcome will surpass your expectations.
Email Bette | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
East Africa - Rwanda, Kenya and Zanzibar
May/June 2015 saw me travelling with two friends to East Africa for my first African Adventure and what an adventure/experience it turned out to be. With only a few basic requests, and no preconceptions on my part, I left the total organisation of this trip to the travel specialists of Encompass Africa who came up with an amazing itinerary - all planned to make me fall in love with Africa and they succeeded. We trekked with the gorillas in Rwanda, nine days of game drives over three different areas of Kenya (Amboseli, Samburu, Maasai Mara) where we saw an abundance of animals/birds (learnt about the Big 5, Ugly 5, Little 5 and the Samburu 5) and the exquisite beauty of the countrys. Our itinerary finished with three days relaxing at the beach in Matemwe, Zanzibar. I have nothing but high praise for the way our trip was organised, the attention to detail, locations, etc and the support of the ground handlers. Thank you Encompass for providing my friends and me experiences that will not be forgotten.
Email Louise | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Exceptional Service - exceeded our expectations!
This was our first trip to Africa, traveling with our 2 teenage children. We were given great suggestions and guidance when we booked our trip and there was great attention to detail. I was particularly impressed with the website. Our guides were excellent, and there were no problems with our transport. We were contacted during our trip and given a local contact, who made sure everything was going smoothly. The camps were amazing and it was an incredible holiday. We are now planning to go back!
Email Theo Coronis | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
An experience for everyone to aspire to.
We had intended to take our family of 16 but the logistical problems beat us. We eventually settled for only 6 travelers and were provided with so much help and encouragement that it seemed for us a simple Operation. Of course it was not and the end result was a credit to the knowledge and perseverance of Encompass Africa that everything went without a single hitch. The itinerary was well researched by Jonathon and his team and provided us with a comprehensive overview of the huge variety of flora and fauna in Kenya The guides at the three selected camps were of a very high standard and their knowledge was entertaining and educational. We were privileged to view a huge variety of game at Amboselli, the Mara and Lewa. The decision to return was an easy one to make.
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!
Disclaimer
- All corporate and/or tour info is provided by Encompass Africa, not SafariBookings
- The tours offered by Encompass Africa are subject to their terms & conditions