Kate & Darren Humphrys with Henry, Olive and Hume
Compass Odyssey
- Located In:
- Size:
- 1-5 employees (Founded in 2006)
- Member Of:
- Southern Africa Tourism Services Association
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $750 to $2,500 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
for a custom tour
Your request will be sent directly to the operator
If preferred, you can contact the operator directly
Reviews
Email Mike | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Poor value and doesn't take responsibility for anything
Our guide to the Victoria falls area was of poor quality in general. She barely provided any guiding and just drove us around. One thing that really stuck out to me was when we pre booked dinner at the Lookout Cafe through the company. Only after we got there we realized they booked us after Sunset when it was pitch black outside with no visible view!
The places is called the Lookout Cafe, the whole point is to eat with a view. The brochure they gave us focused on the view. We were very much looking forward to it. There was not enough time to rebook us at any other point during our trip. The response we got was laughable. They didn't take any responsibility and tried to blame us for not looking up the sunset time ahead!? As a tour organizer it is your basic responsibility to check these things when you make a booking on behalf of a client. Then they just said the local guide booked it and didn't realize. Again, as the organizer it is your sole responsibility to make sure things are booked appropriately. Darren offered absolutely no resolution and got snarky when we brought it up.
Reply from Compass Odyssey
Posted on Jun 5, 2026Hello again, Michael (and Regan).
Oh dear. Even after receiving our detailed, explanatory, lengthy and sympathetic reply, you still feel the need to insert one last jab at us. In turn, we regrettably now feel the need to justify your review by responding, and we apologise in advance to the reader for this somewhat distasteful process.
Specifically related to the instance that you mention in this review, we have previously empathised that it must have been disappointing for you to find that the sun had already set by the time our lovely guide, Ruth delivered you to The Lookout Cafe in Victoria Falls. Regan emailed us previously to request us to make the dinner reservation there. We passed on this request to our local guides, Mortimer and Ruth. They booked the table for dinner time (7:00pm), which happened to be after sunset at that time of the year. We are sorry that at no time did any of us (you included) think to specifically ask/mention that you wanted to arrive during the daylight hours to enjoy the view. What you fail to mention is that your (Michael) reaction at the time to this almighty misfortune was to shout at and belittle poor Ruth in front of diners and staff. She was so upset but still managed to apologise and when you demanded that she transport you to an alternative dinner establishment, she did so with dignity and respect for you.
To provide even more context, shall we mention that earlier in the day you (Michael) had shouted at, and shown disrespectful behaviour to, the Immigration officers at the Zimbabwe border despite knowing that the issue was totally due to you both acquiring the incorrect visa when arriving in Zimbabwe. We provided you with specific information about what visa to acquire when arriving into Zimbabwe from Namibia and what visa to acquire when arriving into Zimbabwe from Zambia. You didn’t heed this information and proceeded to acquire the incorrect visa. The Immigration official at the Zambia/Zimbabwe border was correctly advising you that you needed to acquire another visa and make extra payment of US$30pp. Michael’s shouting and disrespectful behaviour caused great embarrassment to Mortimer who has had to mend some bridges with particular officers at that border and who in turn advised Mortimer that Michael was very, very lucky not to have been denied entry into Zimbabwe. We were truly shocked that a Compass Odyssey traveller had behaved that way.
Seeing that you have posted this negative review and titled it “Poor value and doesn't take responsibility for anything”, shall we let the reader know about the following:
1. You required in-room air-conditioning at each of your accommodations but neglected to actually advise us of this. That in itself is your prerogative. But you then contacted us after the first night of a 2-night stay in Swakopmund Namibia, greeting us as “you guys” and demanding us to find you an alternative hotel for the second night and pay for it. Shall we let the reader know that even though you failed to let us know your requirements, we took immediate responsibility for the enjoyment of your safari and not only did we quickly find you alternative accommodation for the night that did offer in-room air-conditioning (in a town with an average nighttime temperature of just 15°C/59°F), but for the sake of wanting you and Regan to stay happy, we bore the cost.
2. The overall cost of your safari was mainly due to the actual costs of the accommodations, guides, transport etc of your journey, which included 10 accommodations, 7 ground operators/guides (including a private guide/transport throughout Namibia) and 3 airlines and making 22 bank payments. The cost of your safari was certainly not due to our profit margin, which has come out at less than 10% for your particular trip. Within that cost, we co-ordinated every small detail of your journey, which included notifying every service provider of your details, arrival/departure arrangements, and requesting a special honeymoon welcome at each of your accommodations, which you of course received as complimentary. We wonder if the reader will concur with you that this is poor value?
As we mentioned in our post-safari message to you both, we had hoped that our responses/thoughts would have enabled all of us to agree-to-disagree and move on.
What a shame that out of a 20-day private honeymoon journey through five amazing countries and accompanied by the most welcoming, warm guides, you continue to concentrate on one instance of arriving at an eatery too late for you to see the view. We wish you both the very best when facing far greater challenges on your next journey as parents,
Darren and Kate
We again apologise to the reader for having to make public this unfortunate record of events.
Email Louise and Owen | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Another fantastic experience with Compass Odyssey
This was our third trip to Africa organised through Compass Odyssey and we had another exceptional experience. We were travelling to Kruger with a large group and Darren and Kate made everything seamless for us. Their communication is fantastic and they take the stress out of organising a big overseas trip. We could not recommend them enough.
NZ
Email Justin Robbers and Maianne Hoen | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Extremely knowledgeable of the area, very helpful with our requests, very adaptable to timetable.
5 star service, planning and execution. Excellent.
Email Julie | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Darren, Kate and their team were an absolute dream to work with.
My husband and I are fiercely independent travellers but felt we needed on the ground experience and expertise for an African adventure. Through research I found Compass Odyssey, and am forever grateful. From the very first email contact, Darren was both patient and understanding of what we thought we wanted to see and experience. Budgets were reworked, itineraries revised and all with the constant knowledge that we were being truly heard and that an amazing trip would be the result. And amazing hardly seems adequate in describing our 4wks in Sth Africa, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana, with Johannesburg and Cape Town thrown in. In 4 weeks of travel, there was not one single glitch, due solely to the impeccable behind the scenes planning by Darren, Kate and Compass Odyssey. Other reviews have outlined the professionalism of the guides, the high level of accommodations, the excellent food, the outstanding game drives and animal sightings, and our experiences certainly mirror those views. But for us, it being the first time in southern Africa, to know that Darren was available at any time should we need him, made for a most memorable and stress free adventure. His recommendations for safari parks were exceptional and our Guides (Elvis/Mortimer/Innocent) were quite simply, wonderful. Their knowledge of the wildlife, flora and fauna was outstanding. We feel truly blessed that we found Darren, Kate and Compass Odyssey and would absolutely recommend them to anyone thinking of travelling to Africa. As we say in Australia..'Do your self a favour' and contact Darren - you'll be so glad you did. Happy African travels.
Best trip ever
Compass Odyssey were fantastic to deal with from start to finish. I came across the website when doing research for a trip to Africa that was both safari and other adventures and felt that the Southern Africa itinerary was the type of thing we were after. We are normally independent travellers but knew we needed some expert input for the best experience in a relatively short time. We really appreciated the wealth of information provided to assist us in finalising the itinerary for our family of 4 (parents plus two teens). All the suggestions from Darren & Kate were spot on.
From the moment we arrived in Joburg til the day we left we felt supported but with the flexibility to adapt where needed. All our guides were knowledgeable, friendly and helpful, as well as putting up with endless questions on all topics. We did a lot in the two weeks but the pace was maintainable with balanced time between drives, river tours and other adventures such as the Devils Pool and rafting at Vic Falls. The accommodation was all amazing and exactly the type of thing we would’ve chosen ourselves. And the service provided at each location was also above and beyond. None of us could fault the trip and while it wasn’t of course cheap, the costs were always clearly spelt out and we know exactly what was and wasn’t included. Compass Odyssey were happy to work within our budget at all times. The safaris themselves were beyond description and despite it being summer with lots of growth we saw the big 5 plus many, many other creatures large and small. We will definitely return to Africa and 100% would use Compass Odyssey to assist us. If you are thinking about a trip- do it!!
Email Eric Issa and family | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Kenya-Tanzania Safari December 2025
From the first time we got in touch with Darren regarding planning our trip to Kenya and Tanzania, he was very responsive and was able to design a itinerary that fit our interests and budget. He scheduled time to meet with us via video conference to address questions and any concerns we had. He gave us options and provided the pros and cons for each proposed itinerary and lodging so we could make an informed decision. This was our second safari experience where we sought Compass Odyssey's help and we have once again been very pleased with the services provided. We highly recommend Compass Odyssey to anyone interested in exploring Africa.
Email Henry Morse | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Compass Odyssey is just simply fantastic!
This was my third trip to Africa, the second using Compass Odyssey to put the trip together. I was so pleased with the last trip, three years ago, that I didn't hesitate to use them again for this trip. Last time I went with my immediate family. This time was with my older sister. I had such a good time in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana and South Africa last time, that my sister and I covered much of the same ground again this time. Mortimer met us again in Victoria Falls, and he and his wife and son were wonderful hosts during out time in Zimbabwe and Zambia, as well as our transport to Chobe in Botswana. I highly recommend the Elephant Cafe in Zambia if you like the idea of close interaction with elephants, combined with excellent food and wine! The Chobe River Lodge, and the safari drives, on land and in boats, are among the best I've done in all the places I have gone in Africa. The leopard siting was fabulous. And Garth, our tour guide in Capetown is as good as one gets. His understanding of South Africa history, and his ability to explain the historical context of the places we are visiting makes a significant difference in the enjoyment of the places we visited. I highly recommend Compass Odyssey, with Darren and Kate, to help you put your special visit to Africa together!
Email Charlie and Kath | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Extremely attentive to detail
Compass Odyssey were recommended to us by a friend and they proved an excellent choice. Although they are a small company they were super responsive and very flexible when it came to recommending and booking our Safari vacation across Namibia, Zimbabwe and Botswana. Their support and advice during the trip was exemplary - everything went extremely smoothly and we had the holiday of a lifetime. We also had a very useful de-brief when we got home. Darren and Kate are lovely people and we couldn't recommend them more highly.
Email Maggie & John | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Trip of a Lifetime
Compass Odyssey went above and beyond to create a unique itinerary for me and my husband on our honeymoon. We did a lot of research on different companies and felt that Darren and Kate offered a very special experience at a very fair price. We had never been to Africa before and were nervous about what to expect, but Compass Odyssey made the entire experience stress-free, relaxing, and fun. From knowledgeable guides, amazing accommodations, and incredible food, it's clear how much they care about creating a wonderful trip. We particularly loved our time at the different lodges, where we got to see big game up close, meet other travelers, and learn about local culture. Darren and Kate only book travelers at lodges they've stayed at personally and it shows. We would absolutely recommend Compass Odyssey to anyone looking for a once in a lifetime trip.
DE
Email Olga M. | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The most epic trip of my life
I can hardly find the words to express how deeply moved and impressed I was by the trip organized by Compass Odyssey. The owners, Kate and Darren, are truly passionate about what they do and go above and beyond in designing a journey that takes every single wish of the customer into account.
From the very first contact to the follow-up after the trip, I felt completely taken care of — and most importantly, truly heard. The itinerary was tailored to my individual preferences, and the entire communication was warm, kind, and incredibly understanding.
I'm especially grateful that my wish for vegan options was respected and accommodated at every location and during every activity. The service provided by Compass Odyssey is simply unbeatable: a private driver on site who offers support and advice, private game drives and boat cruises — everything was exclusive and personalized. Such unforgettable and superb experiences which are only yours!!!
Thank you once again, dear Kate and Darren for a journey that still brings tears to my eyes.
