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
US
Email Mary Kay | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Personally Curated Trip of a Lifetime!
The careful attention of Darren and Kate resulted in a well-organized and exceptional trip. Within 36 hours of arrival at our stunning camp, the skilled and amenable local guides had not only introduced us to the Big Five but added mating leopards, cheetahs and wild dogs to our list. Accommodations in Kruger were very comfortable and staff went out of their way to assure we felt welcome. The Chobe location was perfect right on the river with attentive staff and communal meals. The Vic Falls hotel was over-the-top luxury with complimentary mini-bar and our own balcony looking out at the game park. With their suggestions, we organized our Johannesburg and Cape Town visits on our own to save expenses, and we even used Uber to get around. No matter where we were, Darren and Kate were with us via email. Worth every dollar and they earned every star.
CA
Email Bruce | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Cape Town, Kruger, Victoria Falls and Chobe National Park Adventure
The organization, coordination, management and planning of our south African adventure was exceptional. We had 4 days in Cape Town, 3 days in Kruger at the Senalala Luxury Safari Camp, 3 days at Victoria Falls at the Batonka Guest Lodge and 2 days at the Garden Lodge in Kasane, Botswana. We saw the big five plus within two days. The wildlife, scenery and people were fabulous. Virtually unforgettable experience. All accommodations and meals were outstanding.
In Cape Town Darren showed us around the city, the Cape and the vineyards, absolutely beautiful and stunning.
This was a dream vacation come true. (bucket list item)
Would highly recommend Compass Odyssey to organize and plan African tours. Definitely a five star experience.
Many thanks to Darren and Kate.
CA
Email Christine Boyle | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An amazing African Odyssey!
From the moment we contacted Compass Odyssey we were treated with amazing service. Darren returned all our e-mails quickly and answered all our questions. Once in Africa, he took us in hand and ensured that we were well taken care of - from our day trips in the Cape with Darren, to our stops in Vic Falls and Botswana. All accomadations were supberb as well as the food. We did two safaris and they were spectacular. I highly recommend Compass Odyssey due to the super personnalized service. Hope to return one day!
ES
Email Terry Roberts | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A Perfect Holiday!
I contacted several agencies to plan a trip to Southern Africa for our group of 4, and Compass Odyssey stood out from the beginning. All the other agencies offered us a ready-made itinerary from their portfolio and tacked on some of the things I had asked for. Kate and Darren, on the other hand, took my plan as the starting point to create an original tour, while suggesting other opportunities to make it even better. This attention to the particular needs of a specific group was apparent from the time we first contacted them up to the very last day of our tour.
Another strong point of Compass Odyssey is their attention to detail. Everything was planned perfectly and they sent us ample information beforehand to aid in our own personal preparations – we had even been able to work out exactly which adaptors we would need and Darren greeted us on arrival with those adaptors ready for use!
In the end, we agreed on a 14-day tour, and for the first 7 days Darren himself acted as our guide+driver. The accommodation selected was just what we had asked for - simple but comfortable. And Darren was always ready and willing to cater for our personal interests and for our leisurely pace, even though it often meant finishing the day well past the scheduled time. We also saw on several occasions that he is more than ready to go the extra mile to make sure his clients get the best treatment wherever he takes them.
Darren definitely "knows his stuff", and it's obvious that he really enjoys sharing his knowledge of southern Africa, its wildlife and its customs. And his enthusiasm is contagious! All in all, the perfect holiday. Thanks, Kate and Darren!
Email Bruce & Helen | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Attentive, Informative and Enjoyable Experience
Darren has a good handle on the places we visited. The Accomodation was great along with fabulous food.
We had great guide in Vic falls who handled our stay with professionalism & diplomacy.Doing the rapids down the Zambezi and visiting a local school were highlights. In Kasane we loved the accomodation and enjoyed the Safari's into the Chobe Nat Pk with a very Knowlegable guide. Okavango Delta though only for 2 days was fantastic. Great flights in and out and close up and personal with the African wildlife.
CA
Email Jill and Don Stuart | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Superb Safari experience!
We had nothing but 10 star.....yes we double it!....service from Compass Odyssey. Darren Humphrys was amazing to deal with as from the outset of ensuring that we had a trip exactly suited to our needs. He kept in constant communication with us, through the deciding stage, right through to while on safari and after we got home. There were no questions left unanswered--competent and thorough he was. He arranged for a wonderful first-time experience in superb accommodations and with reliable, personable guides. We felt we could have had no better experience in Chobe, Victoria Falls and Sabi Sands/Kruger. Initially we were a bit reluctant to have private drives as we wanted to meet other travellers, which we did at the lodges at meal times. After seeing jeeps crammed with other travellers, we were definitely pleased we had game drives on our own. Compass Odyssey's representative, Mortimer was a definite help to get us easily and smoothly through the border crossings into Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe and later to the airport in Livingston for our flight to Kruger area. We were thrilled with the Tyndon Safari Camp and even more pleased that we were at Sabi Sands rather than Kruger. We did spend a day in Kruger, but we preferred the quiet splendour of Sabi Sands to the more 'crowded' Kruger. Thank you Darren for organizing such a fantastic, memorable trip!!! We heartily recommend Compass Odyssey. We will be coming back.....and hopefully soon!!
BR
Email Mollie Cerqueira | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Spectacular Botswana Safari - Tailor-made to Interests and Budget
We followed SafariBookings suggestion to seek five proposals in choosing an operator for a trip of a lifetime. Our pick was Compass Odyssey for their comprehensive and prompt reply to every query and their willingness to adapt and adjust itineraries to fit my family's specific interests and budget constraints. Our safari vacation surpassed all expectations in every respect! Their pre-safari information packet prepared us for what to expect and take along, all the way down to recommended tipping guide. The selected lodges were clean, comfortable and provided many personal touches to make our trip special. The professionals who worked with Compass Odyssey were qualified and knowledgeable. In every aspect, it was an excellent experience. I rate Compass Odyssey 6 stars!
TW
Email Lun Hsieh | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Perfect Honeymoon!
Many thanks for Darren arranging this magnificent honeymoon trip for us, we are very satisfied with the service. Epic!
Email Jack S | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Professional and Personable operators, compass are Fantastic!
It is no wonder that Darren and Kate have so many 5 star reviews. After contacting 4 tour operators, compass Odyssey stood out from the others by a mile. They were prompt, professional, and personable, and I could tell that they genuinely got a kick out of organising safari's and making sure their clients have a great trip.
My trip from Johannessburg to Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana was planned to perfection and I didn't need to worry about a thing. The guides and lodges selected by Compass were amazing and their local knowledge was invaluable.
Following my safari, Darren stayed in touch with me during my remaining 2 weeks in Africa and offered me great advice on locations for me to see, and contacts of his for places for me to stay, the service offered by compass went far and beyond my expectations. These guys really are the best.
FI
Email Hanne and Petri | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A very well organised tour from the Cape to Kruger, during which we learned a lot about South Africa
We started our communication with Compass Odyssey about eight months before our trip, having got the contact from a friend. Their first task was to perform a sanity check, what all we could cram in a period of 11 days. Once our party had agreed upon a list of prioritised pkaces to see, Compass provided us with a proposal which we accepted. From there on, Compass did all the arrangements in Cape Town and surroundings, bought flight tickets and reserved us a safari in a private game reserve in the north-eastern corner of the country. Everything worked well, and we apprexiated especially being guided both in the Cape area and in the game reserve - our travel experience was exceptionally educational.