Kate & Darren Humphrys with Henry, Olive and Hume
Compass Odyssey
- Office 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:
- $300 to $1,000 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
CA
Email Brandy Hughes | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Outstanding Customer Service
I spent a lot of time researching safari companies before deciding on Compass Odyssey based on excellent reviews and initial communication. From the start, Darren was prompt and thorough with correspondence and information, answering all my questions (although most were covered in the excellent information package that was provided). Unfortunately our safari originally scheduled for late March 2020 did not occur as scheduled due to Covid. Throughout the process of heartbreak, cancellations, and dealings with insurance companies, Darren has been attentive, accommodating, and incredibly helpful.
Our safari was to be the trip of a lifetime for our family. It was not to be in 2020 but when it does happen (and it will!), it will be with Compass Odyssey. I have no reservations about recommending Compass Odyssey to anyone looking for a company with excellent customer service and a true sense of accountability to their customers and local business partners alike.
CA
Email Graham Scrimgeour | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Our already high expectations of our 2.5 month long trip were exceeded! Thank you Compass Odyssey!
To say that our recently completed 2.5 months in southern Africa was a roaring success would be a huge understatement. Darryn, and his Compass Odyssey team, did a remarkable job of planning and organizing our 4 days in Johannesburg, our week in Kruger National Park and our 8 days in Victoria Falls, Chobe National Park and the amazing Okavango Delta. In addition, he gave us lots of invaluable advice and suggestions to help us plan, and bring to fruition our 7 week independent road trip through large parts of South Africa. Through the pre-travel planning process, Darren was exceptionally prompt in responding to all my questions and always provided detailed answers based on his extensive knowledge of sourhern Africa. During the trip, Darren routinely ‘checked in’ with Sue and I to make sure that all was good and that we weren’t encountering any problems en route.
Our Jo’burg and Victoria Falls guides, Chic and Mortimer/Ruth, are members of the Compass Odyssey team and were very helpful, interesting and exceptionally knowledgeable about their locales. We thoroughly enjoyed spending time with them. Thank you Chic and Mortimer and Ruth!!
Toward the end of our trip as the world was changing daily because of Covid 19, Darren was very helpful in communicating with us any information regarding our onward travel plans back to Canada. THANK YOU!!
We will be returning to southern Africa and will definitely be using Compass Odyssey’s services for our next African adventure. In conclusion, if you are looking for a South African based independent travel company to plan some or all of a trip to southern Africa, look no further than Compass Odyssey.
Email Greg and Victoria | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Compass Odyssey deserves its 5/5 rating.
From the first inquiry to the end of our trip, Darren was outstanding in providing a service with the aim of ensuring we had a holiday that met all our needs and expectations, leaving nothing to chance. We were never left wondering or waiting for a response.
Darren took the time to listen and understand our brief. Senalala Lodge delivered a beautiful understated, high quality standard of accommodation, meals and safari drives that left us with wonderful memories of a beautiful country full of extraordinary wildlife and a unique landscape. The extra touches such as the managers, James and Corlia and their outstanding guides joining us for meals made the whole experience very rewarding. We learnt that their lives are much broader than the Big 5.
If you ever thought a Safari was about driving around on a set route looking at the same animals then you will be in for a real treat at Senalala Lodge. Whilst on an early morning walk, we glanced side-wards to discover the surprise of a life time – a large white Rhino. With our guide's great skill we were able to spend time observing this magnificent beauty. Our guides, Ivan and Connor, had the greatest respect for the wildlife yet ensured our safety at all times.
We have no hesitation in recommending Compass Odyssey to travellers who like adventure combined with simple luxury and every detail ticked off. To know that there is a local person on the ground with every resource at his finger-tips was very reassuring.
Email Mike and Jen | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A wonderful trip backed up by meticulous planning and engaging staff.
My Wife and I have been on a number of planned trips similar to the one provided by Compass Odyssey but none have provided the detailed planning, advice, support and attention to detail that Kate & Darren provided for us on our visit to the Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe) and Chobe NP (Botswana). We were treated to some excellent accommodation, bountiful refreshments / meals and well trained staff who were totally focussed on providing a caring and attentive service.
The trip produced for us, two significant highlights (1) to see and experience the Victoria Falls in all their glory from both the Zimbabwean and Zambian sides, accompanied by a knowledgeable and interesting guide and (2) three days of safaris providing us with close up views of all manner of wildlife, birds and insight into the ecosystem in which they all live.
Certainly a trip that will live long in the memory - along with the hundreds of photos taken.
Email David | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Simply outstanding
The quality and responsiveness of Darren pre the trip was one of the reasons we choose Compass. Out trip involved two days in Johannesburg, a safari in Chobe, Botswana, a visit to Victoria falls and we made our own arrangments for the last part of our trip in Cape Town. Darren swas genuinely interested in helping us put together our perfect trip and he clealy had good relationships with all the accomodaton we stayed at. We liked the use of small but high qulaity accomodation beginning with the B and B in a pleasant Joburg suburb where we could walk to an excellent local restaurant, to the superb river side lodge in Chobe, Botswana. Local guides were all excellent, expereinced, interesting to talk with and well informed too. We liked the personalised approach throughout . Our safari highlight by seeing a lioness and her cubs some 2 metres from our truck duing the ealry morning safari. We would unreservedly recommend Compass and will use them again when we return,
CN
Email Frederic and Julie Guiral | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The best trip ever organised for me
From the offset the communication with Darren was very smooth. Fast, reactive and to the point. We told him where and when we would land and depart from. We told him what we absolutely wanted to see (Victoria Falls...) and the things that one goes to Africa for (safaris...). We spoke about our budget range and our needs (shared room, vegetarian meals...). From there he organised the smoothest and most interesting trip i may have had. And i am a fairly well traveled person.
Connections between various locations were very smooth. Each location had something different to offer with its own personality. Over our 10 days trip across South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana .. we never felt tired of moving, never waited for too long between 2 trips. Each lodge and location had something very unique to offer and every lodge was a different experience. People were lovely and the team working with Darren in various locations, picking up travelers and making their trip the smooth experience we lived are all great individuals.
Only praises for Darren and his team. If you are going to Africa be certain you will have the experience of a life time with them. We certainly did !
DE
Email Ro Kumar | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Trustworth, efficient, timely, organized, peace of mind, smooth
Communicating with Darren and Kate was easy. Both are very responsive. I'd get answers to my many questions almost immediately. I did not ever get the sense I was being channeled into making a decision. I was provided with a lot of information because, let's face it, there is a lot of stuff to organize for the tour. Darren was patient with me throughout as I pondered and evaluated all options. Emailing frequently definitely helped me develop trust and confidence the team.
All arrangements were spot on. Logistics for pick-up, transfers, hand-offs were executed flawlessly by their operators in the field. For the first couple of hand-offs we were anxious. Naturally. But, it was a unnecessary waste of nervous energy. We relaxed and enjoyed being treated as royalty as we travelled through 4 countries in 12 days.
Accomodations, safaris, activities were all well organized. The tour far exceeded our expectations. I am looking forward to the next tour with Compass Odyssey. Kudos to Darren & Kate and their team in the field.
KW
Email Laurel Parr & Justin Dupuis | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Compass Odyssey is focused on customer satisfaction over their bottom line.
Darren was wonderful to work with! He did not put any pressure on me at all to book with him and issued me multiple itineraries without any guarantee that I would end up becoming a paying customer, consistently reminding me that I had no obligation to but rather to make the best choice for myself. It’s a husband and wife team that own this operation and they are very caring and supportive at all times! At the same time, they are very professional. They provide comprehensive and detailed itineraries, as well as tons of additional information to help you through all the planning that comes with travel to Africa. They always provided prompt responses and were incredibly supportive and caring. We would book with them again in a heartbeat! The trip itself was absolutely amazing and they take great care when choosing their guides, lodges, etc. Everything was exceptional for us!
CA
Email Eliana and Laura Marengo | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Compass Odyssey surpassed our expectations from beginning to end!
Compass Odyssey was highly recommended to us, by 2 family friends who had used their services on 3 separate occasions. As we had never been to Southern Africa or on safari, we had to trust Compass Odyssey to plan every aspect of our trip; to tailor it to our specific wants and needs; and to execute it according to plan. Mission accomplished, with patience, kindness, RELIABILITY and the utmost professionalism! This trip was a dream come true! We were taken care of from beginning to end. In the planning stages, no question was too big or small for Darren, who always went out of his way to make sure that our questions were answered promptly and completely, and to ensure that we had all the information we needed to make informed decisions. He walked us through every aspect of our trip, ahead of time, which made for a smooth transition upon arrival. In Africa, everything was perfect: the choice of hotels/camps; the attentive staff; the superlative and personalized service; the excellent food; the dependable transportation; the magical game drives and knowledgeable guides etc etc etc. It was wonderful to know that we could count on Compass Odyssey's services and attention throughout our trip! We felt pampered and taken care of, every single day. Our journey covered 3 countries, and we were excited, happy and grateful to see and experience everything we did, at every location (the magnificent animals; the culture; the wonderful people; the visual stimulation; the choice of activities ; and always someone to assist us and organize those activities and accompany us everywhere, including to airports and at border crossings). If you want to have an experience that will continue to make you smile long after you're back home, trust Darren of Compass Odyssey to make it happen! We will be going back to Africa and using Compass Odyssey, again, as soon as we can! Darren, if Laura moves to Africa, it'll be your fault :)
US
Email Jared Poole & Stephanie Poole | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
TRIP OF A LIFETIME
This was an amazing trip. Compass does an amazing and such a thorough job. We were able to cover so much ground in such a short amount of time and all of the experiences were top notch. Although our trip encountered no hiccups I certainly got the feeling that Darren would be available at any time and able to resolve any issues. Highly recommend booking a trip with these guys.