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
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Email Lauren | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Couldn’t possibly have been any more wonderful!
I was originally supposed to take a safari with my husband as our wedding gift from our family and friends, but he tragically passed away in 2018. In 2019, I read so many great reviews about Compass Odyssey and decided to go on a safari even though my husband was no longer with me. From the very beginning, Darren was absolutely incredible to work with!
My original safari was booked for 2020, and then had to be postponed multiple times. Darren was so helpful throughout the entire process, ensuring that I was well informed and that all my questions were answered. Once the final dates were selected after things settled down from COVID, he sent me every single detail I could’ve possibly needed, preparing me for a meaningful trip that I will remember for a lifetime.
Every single element of the trip was perfect, from the transportation to the bookings to each and every safari activity. I felt so well cared for, and Darren had even shared some of my story with my guides and accommodations so that they knew about me before I even got there. The places that I stayed were beyond anything I had ever experienced before. Such luxurious spots, kind hosts, and AMAZING food! And the animal sightings were incredible.
Don’t hesitate to work with Compass Odyssey if you are considering going on safari. They provide everything you could possibly need and you will treasure the memories forever!
CH
Email Gabi | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
It was a wonderful round trip, with many landscape impressions and animal diversity that Namibia has
From the beginning, Compass Odyssey tried very hard to fulfill our wishes. Even though we live far away from Namibia, everything worked wonderfully with the communication.
In Windhoeck we were personally welcomed by the guide and he helped us with all our wishes with words and deeds.
During the trip, the guide gave us a lot of information about his country.
He was a very careful driver.
I can only recommend the Compass Odyssey.
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Email Joy | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Another incredible safari with Compass Odyssey!
This is my second safari booked with Darren “Crusty” & Kate Humphries of Compass Odyssey. Crusty has put together a team that brings a level of expertise, attention to detail, & knowledge that are unmatched. They meticulously plan out your personalized safari to ensure it’s exactly what YOU want and take care of all the details (attraction reservations, flights while in Africa, lodges/camps, etc.) so you can relax and enjoy your holiday. Before arrival, you are provided a VERY clear & concise dossier that lays out everything you need to know about your safari.
A bit about my safari. It started with a short stay in Zimbabwe with a day trip to Zambia where I “lived on the edge” at Devil’s Pool in Victoria Falls. If it’s not on your list… it should be. ;) Delicious dinners @ the Boma & The Lookout Cafe (The ostrich is fabulous!). Then it was off to Cape Town, where I had 3 of the most incredible days that included Table Mountain, Robben Island, Cape of Good Hope, Cape Penguins, and so much more. The next stop is the bush of Botswana, both in the Kalahari Desert & Okavango Delta. I was treated to lions, leopards, kudu, eland, zebra, elephants, and giraffes. I was lucky enough to witness the birth of a wildebeest and watch in awe as it took its first steps.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention and thank my primary guides & hosts while on holiday. Alan/guide in Joburg; Mortimer, Ruth, & family/guides in Zimbabwe; Garth/guide, Utah, Ivan, & Sean/hosts - Tintagel Guest House in South Africa; Leana & Cornel/hosts - Thamalakane River Lodge in Botswana; bush guides, Happy, Cindy, Simon, Bonno, & Bathusi. They are some of the most knowledgeable and amazing people I have ever met. They ensured I was well-taken care of from the moment I landed in Joburg until I had to leave for home.
Thank you, Crusty, Kate, & Compass Odyssey for another magical safari!!
QA
Email Nicola Lategan | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing experience, best operator we’ve ever dealt with!
Right from the start Compass Odyssey was the obvious choice. Communication with Darren and Kate was a breeze, they were super responsive & gave the right amount of information to keep us informed but not overwhelmed. They were happy to customize our trip & also gave us different budgeting options to keep us in our range. Their attention to detail is what really gave me confidence, and allowed our group of 4 friends to have an amazing trip!
We spent time in Vic Falls (perfect gateway to Africa - the Zambezi river is a must!) and then went on to Botswana with time in Chobe and the edge of the Okavango Delta. Transit was so smooth, and we were really well taken care of. Food, drinks, game drives and boat cruises were all so special, and every person we met was so welcoming and hospitable.
The Compass Odyssey team have a fantastic network of people that they work with, and their knowledge of this region is priceless. I highly recommend them!
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Email Colleen and Phil Mewett | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Compass Odyssey is an excellent Company to work with and plan a safari - highly recommended.
After reading all the 5 star reviews about Compass Odyssey, I decided to write them an email saying that they are the company I would like to deal with regarding an African Safari for my wife and I. Choosing this company was the best thing I could have done!! We have just returned from the trip of a lifetime to Africa thanks to the expert travel planning skills of Darren and Kate. We spent 12 days in South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana.
My first email to Compass Odyssey was back in June 2021 during the height of Covid and travel was almost impossible. I indicated that we would like to visit Kruger/Zambezi River/Victoria Falls/Chobe NP/Okavango Delta in September/October 2022 for between 10-14 days, hopefully Covid restrictions would be over by then. From this limited information Darren and Kate put together a wonderful trip for us which we will always remember.
Our safari started and ended in Johannesburg, with 3 days in Kruger National Park, 3 days in Victoria Falls, 3 days in Chobe National Park and 3 days in the Okavango Delta, before flying back to Johannesburg. The whole trip went like clockwork and every place we stayed was perfect for us. (We also spent 2 days on either side of our safari in Johannesburg to ensure some relaxation time on either end of our safari, and ensure that missed or late flights from the US were not a problem).
Our email communications with Darren and Kate during the 15 months leading up to our trip was absolutely first class – all my emails were answered promptly, usually within 24 hours, and I never felt any pressure at all to commit to anything during those long 15 months. The attention to detail in our pre-trip agenda was fantastic, from what travel documents were required, current Covid requirements and restrictions in the different countries, flight details, pickup times, meeting places, transfer names and times, Victoria Falls activities, etc, etc.
As for the safari itself...there were so many highlights. We saw the Big Five while we were at Kruger but the three that top my list were:
1. Being about 30 feet from watching 8 lions feasting on a recent cape buffalo kill...apparently there were 18 lions gorging themselves at this kill and some were just hiding and relaxing in the grass after having their fill This was at Chobe NP.
2. Again, being up close and personal watching 3 lionesses nursing 10 baby lions about 2 months old. Once they'd had their fill they just rolled over on their backs and chilled, taking no notice of their viewing audience. This was at Okavango Delta.
3. Following a leopard walking through some grass and climbing a dead tree where it continued to pose for us as we closed in and took pictures of this magnificent animal. This was also at Okavango Delta.
Add to these seeing wild dogs, hyenas and jackals at Kruger, rhinos with babies on the Rhino Walk, the magnificence of Victoria Falls, being up close and personal with crocodiles, elephants and hippos, unbelievable sunsets like you see in National Geographic, and so many other highlights. I have almost 2,500 photos from this trip.
All of the people we met on our trip were great, extremely friendly, and could not do enough for us.
I cannot emphasize how much we enjoyed this trip that Darren and Kate planned for us – it was wonderful and I highly recommend Compass Odyssey for anyone thinking about booking a safari.
CA
Email Linda and Andrew Radomski | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Super detailed, friendly and alway in touch with us during our trip
We chose Compass Odyssey’s 14 day, 13 night trip as it was exactly what we were looking for. Dealing with Darren was a joy. He was very personable and tailored his initial package to correspond with the flights we already had booked for travel to South Africa. We did 4 nights in Cape Town, 3 nights in Franschhoek in the winelands region, 2 nights at Senalala Lodge (for game drives) in the Klaserie Private Game Reserve (Kruger), 2 nights in Victoria Falls and 2 nights in Botswana by the Chobe River (for river and game drives).
The tour was private and everything was planned for us down to the smallest detail. Upon landing in Cape Town we were picked up by Keith our guide for the next 6 days. He was super friendly and very knowledgeable about the sights we were visiting and highly recommended.
At Senalala Safari Lodge we did morning and evening game drives and the animals we saw were beyond our expectations. There are only 6 guest rooms and we were treated as a family, eating our meals together (including the managers and guides). It was a wonderful experience.
In Victoria Falls we were picked up at the airport by Mortimer, toured the falls on both the Zambia and Zimbabwe side. We also did a helicopter tour over the Falls and up and down the Zambezi River. Mortimer took us across the borders which we were grateful for as there is a lot activity at the border crossings (trucks, people, etc). We really enjoyed his company as well. We stayed at Batonka Guest Lodge in Victoria Falls.
Chobe River (a 2 hour drive from Victoria Falls) is a special place which is home to hundreds of elephant, impala, hippos, crocodile to name a few animals. It was amazing to watch herds of elephants swim across from the mainland to the islands and back daily. We stayed at Chobe River lodge right on the river. This is a lovely intimate lodge and our guide Tefo was outstanding. We did morning game drives and evening river safaris.
To summarize, all of the accommodations, guides and local flights Darren coordinated were top notch. He totally prepared us for every move we made during our safari and we would highly recommend his company and tours. Well done Darren!
CA
Email Brandy Hughes and family | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
An experience that exceeded our expectations in every way
I feel so fortunate that all my hours of online research into a safari company lead me to Compass Odyssey. From the initial booking, to years of delays due to the pandemic, to re-booking, and finally the safari experience itself, Darren and Kate were always quick to respond to any questions and concerns and did everything they could to make sure my family and I were able to fulfill our safari dream.
It would be wrong for me to say that our safari was exactly as described. In fact, it exceeded our expectations at every step of the way. Multiple times during the trip my husband and I looked at each other in awe and wondered "Is this really happening?!?". Even our moody teenagers were impressed. This was hands down the best family vacation we have ever had.
Our itinerary was perfectly balanced between a variety of activities and downtime; our local contacts and guides were friendly, experienced, and extremely knowledgable; and our accommodations were perfect.
I have already recommended Compass Odyssey to many of my friends and would without hesitation use them for future safari bookings. If you've spent as much time researching a safari company as I did, you can rest now and let Darren, Kate, and Compass Odyssey look after you from here.
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Email Jean and Kathy | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Extraordinary Namibia Experience by a truly fantastic tour company
Elvis was the consummate guide- knowledgeable, companionable, and eager to show us Namibia. Every aspect of our Compass Odyssey tour was impeccably arranged. The level and extent of our pre-tour communication with Darren was remarkable- our regular tour company (OAT) could not hold a candle to the service and flexibility demonstrated by Compass Odyssey, and we would gladly travel with the company again. Our experiences ranged from the haunting, majestic dunes to the glorious seashore to the wildlife rich Etosha National Park- truly the adventure of a lifetime. And we had traveled to Africa 4 times previously! I'm just glad we found out about Compass Odyssey and were able to travel with them. The 4 of us in our little group had a fabulous time, and it was absolutely a terrific value. The only drawback was the time spent transiting from one area to the next on very dusty roads-
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Email Brett and Cindy | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing trip, the attention to detail was outstanding!
This was absolutely an incredible trip. I believe it is the first time I have ever seen best-laid plans actually work. The communication with Darren was very quick and detailed. He was always there for us from the beginning of the planning stages to the end of the trip, including checking on us during the trip. The information in the itinerary he sent us covered every detail and smoothly guided us through four countries. At every new location there was always someone waiting for us to continue our journey. The guides (Brendan, Garth and Mortimer) and the safari guides were all outstanding, they took such good care of us. It truly was the trip of a lifetime, and it was all made possible by Kate and Darren Humphrys. I will always use and recommend Compass Odyssey for any travel to Southern Africa.
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Email Anna and Marcie | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The tour operator should be given kudos for hiring our tour guide, Elvis. He was the best.
I would and have described this trip as rugged. A major portion of the trip was spent in our vehicle on rough roads, which are typical for viewing the sites in Namibia. Thank goodness for Elvis, our guide who kept it entertaining and made regular stops. I'm not sure that on a couple of those days, flying in a bush plane wouldn't have been a better option. Obviously, adding to the cost. The only real complaint that I have is the vehicle which was rented for our trip. They often say, know your audience. We were 4 women, 2 in their mid-60's and 2 in their mid-70's and short. We all were challenged getting into the vehicle whose first step was sitting at least 3 feet off of the ground. Eventually, Elvis bought a stool which made it much easier to get into the vehicle. Having been on safaris in the past, I know that there are All Terrain Vehicles that have easier boarding methods. Communications with CO was great. They responded timely and thoroughly. I can't say enough great things about our guide, Elvis. And, everything ran smoothly both due to CO and Elvis. We never had to wonder what was going on. If I were to rate this tour on a scale of 10, I would rate it an 8 out of 10.
Reply from Compass Odyssey
Posted on Oct 4, 2022Thanks for your review, Anna and we're glad that Elvis was able to help make the long driving days bearable. We do mention in our detailed itineraries that the days can be long in Namibia...such is the price for travelling in this vast, open country. Elvis has kept the magic stool for future travellers who travel in that larger vehicle and my apologies that it took a few days before this simple remedy was obtained. We only use this vehicle when there are 4+ travellers. We use a 5-door SUV 4x4 for 1-3 travellers and could offer it to four travellers like yourselves but this would mean three of you sitting on the back seat together, which surely wouldn't be comfortable.
Thanks to your suggestion, we have recently received fares from a local charter airline and will offer this option to our travellers in the future...though the costs are considerably above our usual travellers' budget plus this would also mean that we wouldn't be able to offer Elvis as the sole guide because he obviously can't get between point A and Point B at the same speed as the plane.