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
CA
Email Jim Prophet & Susan Scott | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Compass Odyssey delivers high quality service, from your first contact to your final experience.
My wife and I have always organized our travel experiences and this is our first trip using a tour guide company. I received an excellent recommendation from two friends who have used Compass Odyssey (total 3 times). So I contacted them first. From my first contact with Darren, our experience was wonderful. He responded every time without delay, was attentive to our budget and interests and offered suggestions that were pressure free, leaving us feeling like we were planning our trip as opposed to be instructed what we should do. This planning was flexible and done in a timely manner. The trip itself was first class. Accommodations and meals were excellent. The lodges had low occupation so they were quiet. The game drives were awesome, not just in the high quality viewing of Africa's game, but in discussions of animal behavior, fauna, birds, tracking, and other interesting topics. Game drivers were highly experienced and passionate about their work. We did 3 days in Krueger South Africa and 3 days in Chobe, Botswana. We also did 2 days in Zambia and Victoria Falls. All guides and driver escorts were excellent. We also spent 3 days in Cape Town and our guide there was very passionate about his home town. My score is 10/10. Our overall experience was way beyond our expectations.
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Email Lynne and Gordon | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Darren and his crew were responsive, conscientious, very knowledgeable and a delight to be with
Darren worked with us to provide a tour that fit our budget and our interests. We were nervous at first about how many different tour and safari guides would be working with us during our journeys. We needn't have worried. Each hand off worked perfectly, and there were alternate people Darren could call on in the event that there was a problem (there were no problems). Additionally, the pre-trip communications were clear and comprehensive. We were well prepared in advance of the trip. Aside from the glorious experience of observing animals in their environments, I cannot say enough about the careful and gracious customer service.
Email Elaine | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A reliable perfectionist with great attention to detail
I travelled with a girlfriend and her daughter and we were all most interested in seeing as much wildlife as possible in our 15 day holiday!
Darren and Kate put together a terrific itinerary that suited our needs perfectly for our first African experience.
We had the best guides who were always willing and able to tweak the itinerary if need be and imparted so much history and knowledge with us.
All accommodations were outstanding and quite luxurious and the service and food was second to none!
Our first day at Kruger was a feast for the senses and we were so excited to see the big 5 and more - special thanks to Geena our terrific guide!
I definitely will return to Africa and wander further afield and Compass Oddysey will be my first contact!
Thanks Crusty and Kate☺️
Super reliable, honest, thorough and knowledgeable.
This was our third safari with Compass Odyssey (CO). Our Namibian adventure did not disappoint. We visited several locations in different parts of the country. The activities and excursions were extremely varied and enjoyable; the itinerary executed as promised, safely, seamlessly and without a hitch. You can most definitely count on Darren and Kate of CO to put together a fabulous vacation for you, as we do. They work with the highest level of integrity, professionalism and care, which is why we trust them as much as we do! We will always cherish our memories of Namibia: the people we met; the animals we saw; the desert we walked in; the mountains and starry skies we gazed at; the dunes we climbed; the hot air balloon we flew in; the accommodations we temporarily called home; etc etc etc. On a scale of 1 to 10, our trip was a 15! Thank you, Compass Odyssey! As Laura wrote in her last Instagram post before we left, “Namibia: a wonder and a gift to Earth!”
MX
Email Salvador and Teresa | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
It was very good in every thing that we experienced.
Tour guides, safari guides, hotels, meals, transports and transfers were excellent.
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Email Janet & Steve Wilson | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Trip of a Lifetime
Trip of a Lifetime (Proposed Review):
Our entire experience working with Compass Odyssey (Darren Humphreys) to create a trip of a lifetime to southern Africa was truly fantastic! With our son and his family living and working in Cape Town, we wanted to visit South Africa and take the opportunity to add in some adventure! We looked for safari packages that included experiences from our bucket list and found on-line Compass Odyssey’s “5-Day Zambezi-Chobe Safari & Victoria Falls” to include a taste of the Falls, guided game drives and tours, comfortable accommodations and safe transfers from place to place. We were seeking to “personalize” our itinerary!
We were happy to find that Compass Odyssey (Darren) focused on merging his 5-Day Safari package with the visit to our family. When we arranged a 2-day cruise on the Chobe Princess III at the end of the Odyssey safari, Darren collaboratively coordinated the transfers to and from the jetty.
Communication: Without exception, Darren wanted to know and understand what we were hoping to experience. He eagerly and promptly responded to our questions and concerns. He provided a wealth of background information and suggestions to assist our planning. Once our trip started, we switched to using WhatsApp that offered “real time” chats to keep us connected. He was only a text away for assistance should we need it. .
Safety: From our arrival at Johannesburg airport to our departure at the end of the trip, we were met, guided and accompanied through all transfers from place to place (passports, customs, accommodations, vehicles, boats and planes).
Accommodations: Each accommodation manager met us upon arrival because Darren had personally checked in with them to insure their readiness. Each accommodation was well suited to our needs, in close proximity to our activities, and was clean and comfortable. The Safari Club was just what we needed after a 16 hour flight from the US. It was close to the airport, offered a delicious meal, and provided a secure and comfortable room to rest before our next morning’s flight to Victoria Falls. The Victoria Falls Safari Lodge was marvelous. Beautiful setting, excellent breakfast, comfortable room and close proximity to the Falls. The Chobe River Lodge was an excellent location for rest and relaxation between four exciting game drives within the Chobe National Park. Each accommodation had friendly staff who were always close by to provide any assistance needed. Even after we left the safari to join our family in Cape Town, Darren continued to be a resource to our stay in South Africa. Without reservation, I enthusiastically recommend Darren Humphreys and Compass Odyssey as a Five Star tour company for anyone wishing to have their trip of a lifetime personalized to their needs! Every aspect of our 18 day journey went from Best to Best to Best!
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Email Abby | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Personalized, fun, and educational
I went on a tour with Compass Odyssey to Namibia for 12 days (with a two day extension in Cape Town). The guides were fantastic and knew everyone and everywhere, and answered our myriad of questions about animals, cuisine, politics, history, landscape, everything. I learned so much and was fascinated by everything we did and saw. I would 100% go to Namibia with Compass Odyssey again! I'd just spend more than two days in Cape Town next time.
Email Richard and Hayden | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic from start to finish
As experienced travellers and always designing and booking our holidays, putting that trust into someone else to curate a memorable “once in a life time trip” is a big thing! After ALOT of research, we eventually landed on Compass Odyssey to book our safari. Darren and Kate did not disappoint!! Communication, attention to detail and the personalised service was simply outstanding and nothing was ever a problem.
Our 8-day itinerary consisted of Victoria Falls – Hwange NP – Chobe NP. Right from Victoria Falls airport pickup to saying our goodbyes in Botswana, local guides Ruth and Mortimer were fantastic and all transfers, activities and border crossings went to plan. Ruth was kind enough to take care of our dinner reservation at the Lookout Café and was more than happy to drop us off and pick us up (there is a small extra fee for this, which was outlined in the itinerary from Darren).
The Hide in Hwange NP and the Chobe River Lodge in Botswana were both amazing properties, with great staff, guides and wildlife viewing, and delicious food!
Thankyou again Darren and Kate, for the amazing trip and personalised service, we hope to see you again for another African adventure!
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Email Chris and Abby | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Outstanding pre- and post-trip customer service together with best trip guide EVER!
Compass Odyssey is THE tour operator to work with for your dream vacation. Knowledgeable, reliable, prompt, and thoughtful service from Darren makes you feel as though you are the only person he is helping. He will advise, recommend, and listen while planning your trip. Ever cheerful with a remarkable sense of humor, he is so efficient that he makes what can be the most stressful experience (planning a trip) smooth and hassle-free. My daughter and I were so relieved to have Compass Odyssey take care of everything from the moment we stepped off the plane until we returned to the airport 2 weeks later. I felt we were always on the radar, so it became such a relaxing time. Our guide in Namibia - Elvis - was a man of wondrous wit and wisdom, and his presence enhanced our experience exponentially. We left Namibia with the sense of having seen the best of the best landscapes, having the closest encounters with its magnificent wildlife, and learning of its multitude of cultures. I can give this experience, from planning through execution, an unqualified "two thumbs up."
Email Ian, Teresa and Adam Bailey | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Compass Odyssey did a great job arranging a tour for us in Namibia
I chose Compass Odyssey to arrange our 12 day tour of Namibia and they did not disappoint at all. The early communication with Darren and Kate was very good, and they clearly understood our requirements and interests. Once we engaged them, they were very prompt and clear with communications and offered good advice when we needed to adjust the agreed programme because of an issue with the departure flight (which was caused by me, not them). The more off-the-beaten track places where they suggested we stay (Valley of 1,000 Hills and Doro Nawas in Damaraland) were among the main highlights of the tour. Their pre-tour information package was very comprehensive and informative.
Our guide, Elvis, was very good. He ably dealt with a problem on day 1 when our son missed his connection in Johannesburg on his way out to join us. Elvis is an expert on animals and birdlife and we learnt a lot from him. I am sure that we saw a lot more wildlife and birds than people without guides would have been able to.