Encompass Africa
- Located In:
-
Australia
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 2009)
- Member Of:
- ATTA, CATO & ATAS
- Tour Types:
- Custom luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $235 to $2,010 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
Email Russell Pringle | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Planned to Perfection
From the moment of the first phone call I can't speak highly enough of the Encompass Africa team, they were fantastic.
We sent 3 1/2 weeks in Africa through 6 different countries, had 16 different plane flights as well as several road transfers and not one hickup along the way.
From the driver/guides, the hotels and accommodation, the camps and safari experiences were first class.
Jonathon and his team planned everything down to the finest detail. It was amazing.
If your thinking of a trip to Africa don't hesitate to contact Encompass Africa, you won't be disappointed.
Fantastic & dependable service from Encompass
My partner and I were so impressed with Encompass Africa's service we've already recommended them to a few friends! When we talk about our magnificent three week journey we also talk about that amazing service we received from EA. I'm not kidding! I loved that fact that we dealt with one person pretty much the whole time. She took the time to hear what we wanted to do and see. Every question was answered thoroughly-even the one about costs! I spent nearly 8 hours on the phone with my consultant over a 6 month period, each time receiving more useful info to consider about our impending trip. By the time we left Sydney I felt I knew exactly what was going to happen and I felt very reassured: the mobile app, the PDF itinerary, the on-line interactive itinerary...they were all very very useful. The service providers, the camps, the food, the transport all nearly exceeded our expectations. Our consultant checked in with us whilst we were travelling which was a very nice touch, and reassuring. A last minute change to flights during our time away was dealt with quickly, no fuss, and without a glitch. We will definitely use Encompass Africa again as we plan to return to Africa. I would gladly recommend their services.
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Safari - the easy way
From the first moment we contacted Encompass things were superb. They helped choose where to go based on animals we wanted to see while accommodating specific places we wanted to go as well. All the staff were incredibly knowledgeable & helpful. We booked a 5 week private safari so were constantly travelling (mostly by landcruiser). The guides we had were amazing in finding animals for us. Accommodation was mostly safari tents but extremely well appointed. Food was terrific. We had a superb time & Encompass made it so easy to book & enjoy. Highly recommended
Email Ian and Terry | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Staff listened carefully to what we wanted and designed an itinerary that met all our requests.
Encompass Africa is the best travel company we have ever dealt with as they listened carefully, were prompt and excellent with all communication and designed an itinerary that covered all our requests and interests. Being experienced travellers themselves they know the places we wanted to visit well and consequently gave excellent and appropriate advice both verbally and written. They also have an office in Johannesburg with someone always ready to assist if required. We had reason to call their SA office and received immediate and willing assistance with a quick resolution to our query. The overall result was that, thanks to Encompass Africa, we had an amazing holiday experience and have no hesitation in recommending them to anyone planning a holiday to Africa.
Email Marggy | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Absolutely Amazing in Every Way
Encompass Africa is the only travel agency that I would recommend with no reservations whatsoever. They were truly amazing in every regard. The trip they organised for us, still remains our best holiday ever.
We dealt mainly with Danica but also had some discussions with Jonathon and the service they both provided far outlived our expectations. When we begun our discussions, we were not really sure of exactly which countries we wanted to visit but Danica was only too happy to discuss different options and send us some ideas. I can still remember that first phone call with Danica and the thing that really stood out was the feeling that at last I had found someone who knew what they were talking about and who had actually visited the countries and camps that she was recommending so could tell me what they were really like.
It took us a lot of phone calls and emails before we decided on what we wanted to do. Here again, we got outstanding service. Not once did we feel rushed or pressured by Danica. Danica (and Jonathon) were exceptional in responding in a timely manner and they always got back to us when they said they would (sometimes it was even before the time they had promised).
We finally decided on a 7 week holiday and did a self-drive in South Africa, visited Victoria Falls, then did safaris in Botswana (including a houseboat), Kenya and Tanzania and finished with a trek with the gorillas in Rwanda.
Our trip was perfect, just the right mix of experiences. There is no doubt that it was because of Danica's and Jonathon's knowledge of Africa that we had such an amazing holiday. The order we did the trip in was perfect.
When we were planning this holiday we believed it would be a once off experience. However, we had such a fantastic time that we are certainly planning to do further safaris and there is no question about who we will book with - it will be straight to Encompass Africa.
I believe that the main reason why Encompass Africa plan such amazing holidays to Africa is because of the their own love of the countries. When talking to them their passion was really evident and it was obvious that they really wanted us to enjoy the holiday and come to love Africa as they do.
Well done Danica and Jonathon and we look forward to planning our next holiday to Africa with you.
NZ
Email Nancy and Hugh | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Five stars on most aspects
We chose Encompass to plan our African holiday because it was so highly recommended to us by a couple we met on another trip. We mentioned this on our first contact with Encompass. Unfortunately, they assumed that we wanted the same type of trip as our friends, when in fact we didn't even discuss the trip with the couple at all. The outcome was that we had a month in Africa that was about 2/3 of what we wanted, and 1/3 what we didn't.
We saw some amazing things, stayed at some great places, and had wonderful guides. Most everything went like clockwork. That all deserves 5 stars for the Encompass team, including their attention to my husband's health issues the night before we were to depart for Africa.
So why not 5 stars? We arrived home exhausted, having completed around 25 game drives (and having sat out about 8). We spent 16 nights in total at 5 camps, travelling mostly by safari vehicle between them . We were envious of those who were moving on to other activities and countries for non-safari adventures. Of the 30 nights in Africa, 16 were in camps, 6 were in transit, and one was a day of rest.
When we arrived home, we would have given Encompass 3 stars on this review, but instead we contacted them with our feedback. We have added one star because of the team's sincere response to and disappointment with what we expressed to them. They immediately gathered all the information we gave them along with that from the entire planning process, discussed it, and decided there were some mistakes made. We believe that they learned something from this experience, and that means a lot to us. Although everyone else gave them 5 stars, perhaps now some other couple in the future will not have the problems we experienced and they'll never get below a 5 again.
With over a month having passed since our return, we now look on our African experience in a positive light, enjoying and sharing our photos, talking about the great experiences we did have, and being very pleased with the response from the Encompass team.
We have no hesitation in recommending them to others, with the recommendation that you research Africa yourselves, read review of the places they suggest you stay, have a good understanding of what 3 days in a camp means and how many of these days you are prepared to sign up for, and finding out about all the other activities and adventures there are in Africa.
Email Iesha Stewart | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Attention to detail and service was impeccable! Don't think twice, Encompass Africa are FANTASTIC!
Andrew and I just wanted to sincerely thank Encompass Africa (EA) for coordinating an amazing and great fun holiday adventure to Africa.
This was a 50th birthday surprise for my husband Andrew - however as the excitement grew within me after booking the perfect itinerary, I couldn't help but tell him that he was going to Africa. He was stoked! Especially when he was to learn that we were going to one of his bucket list places, the Okavango Delta!
Working with Danica, Laura and the team, it took us 7 x attempts to finalise the itinerary - mainly due to the many options available and for me to try and determine along the way what would be our must-see's and must-do's. I am so grateful for their patience and guidance to ensure that we settled on an itinerary that fitted exactly our taste, interests and budget.
I am fast to admit I am a control freak when it comes to planning our travels. After finalising our itinerary, I spent countless hours on the internet trolling through YouTube videos and travel forum reviews about the places and lodges we were to visit. To some degree I felt I had already traveled the entire trip many times before we left – so I anticipated to not be surprised during the trip (unlike Andrew who was not involved in the planning) – but wow, how wrong I was!
How naive I was to not consider the wondrous and ever changing surprises mother nature can dish out at any given stage! Not to mention that EA and the lodges each had delivered us little surprises along the way to ensure we felt like we were more than just a number in their books.
We were greeted by EA tour representatives at every stop and guided through airport processes with great ease. We were super impressed at how much attention to detail was put into the entire coordination of our trip. Truly, the trip was faultless from beginning to end – and for us, that has to be a FIRST!
I cannot highly enough recommend Encompass Africa to anyone planning a holiday to Africa. EA made our trip not only personal, but extremely stress free as newcomers to Africa.
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Everything that Encompass had booked went perfectly, they were great.
The service, communications and bookings were perfect.
Email Debra King | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Our wonderful tour, thoroughly organised by Encompass Africa!
We, a group of 6 adults, have just returned from our nearly 4 week holiday in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana! All this was thoroughly organised by Jonathon Wilson, Director of Encompass Africa and his staff in both the Australian (Brisbane) and South Africa (Johannesburg) offices.
Early 2014, maybe even late 2013, I contacted about 6 companies in both Australia and Africa asking for tour ideas and prices that will coincide with either the start or end of our week of "Golden Oldies Cricket" my partner was to play, at the end of March 2015. We received so many different ideas and prices from one end of the spectrum to the other and we really had no idea who we should pick or what we should do and see. One of the ladies from the cricket team knew Jonathon and organised us all to meet with him. Prior to that I wrote an email to his company asking for quotes on roughly what the other companies had already quoted for us. We wanted to travel through the Garden Route from or to Cape Town from Port Elizabeth do some Safari and see Victoria Falls.
Jonathon, himself came back with quotes for a couple of different. These were so full of information, had prices and coatings for what he had for us and had an interactive map for us to look at to see where we could go, information on the hotels and what was around, it was so very informative and was only the first quote from him! We had made our decision to go with his company because of that info we received! And am so very glad we did!
We had our group meeting with him, and found out about him, his company and how he can make our trip personal! He did that and more! Jonathon lives 6 months in Australia and 6 months in South Africa (his birthplace). So his knowledge of what is around is great, and he and most of his staff have done what he showed us we could do!
Over the next 18 months or so, we emailed quite often and changed and added and tweaked until all 6 of us were happy with what we all wanted to do and see, and not once did any of our many emails not get answered! And promptly! The prices from the quote to when we left did not change unless we added something, which we did often. Even the staff in Johannesburg helped us when we were in their country, met us at the airport, took us to our hotel in Johannesburg and generally looked after us, it felt very personable and was so very much appreciated! I would certainly recommend this company to look at making the ideal quote and trip itinerary for your next/first trip to Africa!
Our itinerary was so thoroughly thought out, and written down for us all with all numbers for every person involved in helping us on our tour, drivers, guides, aeroplane companies names and numbers, all hotel and accommodation names and numbers, so very thorough. We were never left alone to do anything or to find our way. We had drivers for every part who took us to the reception desk of our hotels, introduced us to owners of sanctuaries or safaris, took us to pre-booked restaurants, wine tours, showed us right up to the checkin area for all airports, took us through the customs and visa areas getting into Botswana. We were never alone to worry about anything!
Our tour started in Cape Town where we stayed for 2 nights and then we started on the garden route drive, going through the wine area, stopping at 3 wineries, one of them had a chocolate tasting with the wine, one had cheese tasting and the other was Gary Player (golf player) because one of us like golf! Then lunch at a 5 star winery! I don't drink alcohol so he made sure I was catered for with a juice or a special non alcoholic drink! What a start to a wonderful holiday! Our time on the Garden Route, about 7nights, our guide and driver showed us so much more than was on the itinerary. He took us to an sanctuary for elephants where we were able to walk hand in trunk with them, learn so much from them, we went to a sanctuary for cats, and walked with cheetahs for about 1.5 hours! We went to a bird sanctuary and saw over 500 species of birds, and a monkey sanctuary with so many different breeds to look at, all in the open and no cages! We went on a meerkat adventure and sat and watched these little things playing and going about their daily going ons! We stayed in 3-5 star places, and were treated like royalty in every single place! And nothing was too much trouble!
We then flew to Johannesburg and were driven for 2 nights in Sun City for our golfer to have a game of of golf and us ladies to use the spa! There is so much to do and see, we didn't have anywhere near enough time to see 1/4 of it! Then back to Johannesburg to give our big bags to the encompass office of Johannesburg as we only had limited luggage on the small planes between the safaris! We caught a flight to Skukuza airport and picked up for our first safari at Nottens Bush Camp for 3 nights. Everything was included in this tour, as was all 3 safaris we did, all food, and drink and tours out to look at the animals! We saw the Big 5 on our first day and to say we enjoyed ourselves was an understatement! It was thrilling, and so worth seeing all these animals in the wild, the way they are supposed to be. We learnt so much about the lives of the people here and the antics of the animals! Well worth it, every second! And the camp only held 16 people so it was very personable!
We then went on to Victoria Falls for 2 nights, saw the falls, from ground and a helicopter flight. Us ladies spent time at an orphanage and thoroughly enjoyed that. We went to a Boma for dinner and that was another great experience! All the time with a guide or driver!
The next 2 safaris were at Kwondo Lagoons and a sister place called Kwara. Both for 3 nights and both were reached by a 6seater plane! Another part of our adventure! Both these camps were tented accommodation, on wooden floors, stairs up, full bathroom with outside shower! Very glamorous and very comfortable! And once again, we had a driver and a tracker for our group for the whole time we were there. Both very informative and both very welcoming and both happy to answer all our many questions! We saw cheetahs, lions, leopards, a kill done only one minute prior to us getting there, we saw herds of zebra, elephants, Impala, giraffes and lots of birds! All over all manners of terrain, just so we could see them (all animals) in their natural habitat!
Then back to Johannesburg for 1 night and home to Brisbane!
The whole trip was well thought out and nothing was needed or wanted! Many many thanks to Jonathon and his team in both offices! This has been a trip of a lifetime and I still can't stop talking about it or showing my many wonderful photos of all the animals up close and very personal! Thank you!
A company which ensures your experience meets every expectation.
This was our second experience with Encompass Africa and they did not disappoint. Jono and his team were with us throughout the entire experience even though they were physically located elsewhere. All details were attended to even down to camps knowing that hard boiled eggs should not be on our menu :o). Staff greeted us at each point and ensured we were safely delivered to the next destination. We were in touch with the group from the inception of our travel planning through to when we arrived home. We even brought along a couple from USA who used Encompass Africa tagging on to our trip with ease. This was another fabulous adventure and we can't wait to plan our next one! Would recommend Encompass Africa to everyone and anyone planning to visit the continent.