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:
- $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
Email Gail and Tony | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great choices of accommodation and guides and impressive flexibility.
The tour totally lived up to our expectations. We had already been to Zimbabwe some years ago but hadn’t been to safari lodges in Botswana, Zambia or South Africa. I especially wanted to see rhinos as we saw none the last time. So even though we were only in Zambia for 1 night we saw 8 White Rhinos!!! Darren did a terrific job of organising our 2 week trip - starting in Joberg and ending in Cape Town. The lodges were small and personal attention was terrific. The food good to excellent. We loved things like hippos munching on the grass of our safari lodge back yard. Combining both the river and land in Botswana was superb. This is the second time we have travelled with Darren - the other trip was Morocco and we loved the accommodation and experiences there too - so we didn’t hesitate to ask Darren if he organised Southern Africa trips too.
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Email Sunil | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A professional, caring and diligent tour operator
From the very first email, Darren conveyed that he is a professional, thorough and caring service provider. He goes out of his way to understand our preferences and always explain alternatives. In our case, he put together the entire trip a week before the departure date. In spite of the obvious time crunch, he never rushed us into making a decision. I like that all of his arrangements were well planned, tour guides were knowledgeable and accommodations were central and quality places. As a result of his planning and thoughtfulness, we were able to relax and enjoy the trip rather than worry about the logistical details. It was a sheer pleasure dealing with him throughout the whole trip. Overall, a great experience and I highly recommend Compass Odyssey to anyone who is looking for an African safari.
Email Tracey van Vliet | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Our two week tour in South Africa, Vic Falls and Botswana was Absolutely Fabulous!
Dealing with Darren from Compass Odyssey was so easy. He replies to queries and immediately. He advises on travel ideas. He isn't phased if you need to change plans. The guides he uses on the ground are very friendly and informative. Dot and Tim Cummins in Cape Town were exceptional. Their love and enthusiasm for informing travelers of SA is great, they really love their job.
The animals were amazing, we saw all of the big 5 and more. Chobe was abundant with hippos and elephants. In fact everything but rhinos, but we saw them in Kruger. There are no rhinos in Chobe because of the poachers.
The chance to do river safaris as well as land safaris was a real bonus. We got real up close and personal on a few occasions.
The accommodation was great and so was the food.
I highly recommend Compass Odyssey for your African adventure.
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Email Grace Chen | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Two Thumbs Up!!! 120 percent Satisfaction!
We booked the six-day Victoria Falls and Chobe National Park package from Compass Odyssey as part of our trip to Southern Africa this summer. The commutation with Darren was excellent from beginning to finish. He is very responsive, knowledgeable, and super friendly. Very easy to work with. During the planning stage, he was not only giving us detailed information regarding the tour we booked from him, but also went beyond and gave us information and recommendations on the other parts of our trip. Really appreciate his help and ideas.
After we booked the tour, he sent out to us a very detailed safari detailed information package, which includes the detailed itinerary, the detailed descriptions of the accommodations, the detailed descriptions of the places we are to visit, general details regarding visas, Safaris, the detailed activities we can do in Victoria Falls, and many more.
The tour itself was a wonderful experience. The two lodges he picked at Victoria Falls and Chobe are both beautiful and very comfortable. Our local guide Mortimer at Victoria Falls was very professional, experienced, and friendly. He and his wife even invited us for dinner at their house. We really enjoyed the traditional meal they prepared for us and the two-hour long chatting by the camp fire that Mortimer made for us in his front yard. Darren also emailed us during our tour to make sure that everything is on track and satisfied.
Victoria Falls is just so beautiful and powerful. In Chobe National Park, the Safari game drives and boat trips were private. We were so lucky to run into a lot of wildlife.
Thank you Darren again for all your help and the very memorable and amazing experience in Victoria Falls and Chobe National Park!
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Email Amy N | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Provided our family with an organized, unique, and exceptional experience of Southern Africa.
Darren of Compass Odyssey helped created the most memorable trip for our family. Communications prior to our departure were timely, informative and extremely helpful. Darren took extensive amount of time to address all questions and concerns from our group, thoroughly. Upon arrival, the entire trip experience exceeded our expectations. Each leg of the trip was flawlessly organized and each guide was welcoming and prepared. Darren incorporated all of our "wish list" activities and locations and guided us through Southern Africa in the most efficient manner. All lodging, inter-continental travel, guides, and activities are properly researched and vetted, making our experience significantly more enjoyable and stress-free.
I would highly recommend Compass Odyssey to help you develop your trip to Africa. The attention to detail, preparation and overall experience will leave you with the most memorable experience. Thanks Darren & Compass Odyssey for everything!
Email Bill | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A great safari in Southern Africa very well organised by Compass Odyssey
We were a party of four just returned from a fantastic safari in Botswana (Okavango Delta and Chobe River) and Victoria Falls, organised by Crusty and Kate Humphrys of Compass Odyssey. From the first contact Crusty was attentive and obliging, listened to our preferences and constructed an itinerary that suited our timetable and budget very well and proved to be excellent value for money. The pre-safari information pack was comprehensive, very informative and current and proved to be invaluable - and also correct in every detail! The accommodations selected by Crusty were small, boutique style and very comfortable. This was particularly important in the Delta (Pom Pom Camp) and Chobe River (Garden Lodge) where the numbers accommodated were small and on safari drives and river cruises we were the only occupants of the vehicle or boat. This contrasted with other vehicles and boats which carried much larger groups. This allowed ample opportunity for viewing and photography - which is what a safari is all about! The guides associated with the lodges were amazing in their ability to track and find animals and their knowledge of animals and birds was extraordinary. For us it was also reassuring to see how careful they were for our safety, both in driving and approaching wildlife. We saw an amazing variety of wildlife and the Delta was full of water and absolutely beautiful. We were transported by road from Chobe (Kasane) to Victoria Falls by the Compass Odyssey agent (Mortimer) who assisted with the border crossing into Zimbabwe (and later into Zambia) and stayed with us, taking us to see the magnificent falls and also to a local village and market where we learned much about traditional life in Zimbabwe. The hotel at Victoria Falls (Batonka Guest Lodge) was new and quite luxurious, with great staff and food - in fact, the staff and food at each of the sites were excellent. The whole safari went without a hitch and Crusty tracked us via email to make sure all was going well. I highly recommend Compass Odyssey for anyone looking for a truly personalised safari that is also very good value.
Email Sandy | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Don’t look further to arrange your custom African experience of a lifetime.
My experience in Africa has been uniquely special. Travelling as a group of 4, our 12 days had been planned to maximise our perspective of the landscapes, the wildlife, and meeting first class people to guide us. Each transfer at airports from Immigration to small chartered flights was seamless. There were multiple opportunities where without Darren’s attention to detail, it may have been a challenge. Particularly the border crossing at Zimbabwe and Zambia which could have taken hours longer. It’s clear Kate and Darren’s years of experience and knowledge of Africa shine through in every organised detail. Even while “on tour” Darren was in touch with us to check we were on track. He had our back all the way which took my sense of a travel service to a whole new level. Truly amazing attention at Compass Odyssey! Value = priceless!
Email Annette Kowalczyk | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Superb hardly describes the efficiency and congeniality of Compass Oddesssy
Every aspect of our African safari organised by Compass Oddessy was perfect. At all times we had communication and contact with the staff who were there to assist. The preparation for our holiday was managed expertly an professionally and with a great deal of involvement to ensure that everything was planned right down to the last detail. Accommodation chosen was fantastic, as were the drivers and guides at every stop. Thank you Crusty and team for everything.
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Email Jane and Peter Wellington | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Brilliant
From the start of our communications, via email, Darren (Crusty) was patient, responsive and thorough. This was the most exotic and distant trip we had ever planned and we had some anxieties. Darren was respectful and reassuring at every turn.
Darren arranged Compass Odyssey Guides to accompany us through all airports and all border crossings through South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana. We would never have wanted to do this without them. They handled everything and we had not a moment of worry.
The trip was a custom planned experience with private guides. It delivered beyond our expectations. The safari camps were amazing and the guides all knowledgeable and took very good care of us. We saw more wildlife up close than we imagined we ever could.
We stayed in lodges with only 12 to 18 guests and were not infrequently the only guests on game drives and boat cruises.
Compass Odyssey managed every detail of our trip perfectly. They made it a dream come true.
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Email Ed | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Thorough, caring, personal
This was my first time using a tour company: I prefer to organize my trips myself, and don't really want to sit on a bus with 20 other people looking at the same things thousands of people have seen.
But this was my first visit to Africa. I had a general idea of what I wanted to see/experience, but how to get from here to there, where to stay: I filled 10 pieces of paper with dates, flights, rental car and lodge info... I couldn't coordinate everything.
I can't remember how I got to their site, but I saw that they had generally what I wanted ("8 night Kruger/Victoria Falls/Zambezi.") I got in touch, and thus began a multiweek correspondence with Darren Humphrys. Darren said that they could personalize my trip, and Zambezi became Okavango.
It was a huge load off my mind to be met at the airport, taken to the place I was staying,, taken to the airport, and met at the next place. To be handed off to the next stage of the trip was a great comfort.
Part one of the journey couldn't begin until I got myself to Cape Town International Airport. For some reason the airline called Darren to say that I hadn't checked in when in fact I had. Darren sent me an email that said that if I didn't make the flight there was another I could take. He had time of flight and how to get to the lodge I was scheduled to stay at. He even called my number in the United States, a fact I didn't learn until I returned home and turned my phone on.
Again, I'm someone who prefers an independent trip. Compass Odyssey walked that fine line between making me feel like I was taking an independent trip and the comfort of, if something went wrong, they were there to make things right. I felt like I was their only client.