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 Lisa and David Foulstone | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Darren provided great advice, peace of mind, and with the help of his team made everything easy!
We are a family of 6 across 3 generations with diverse interests. With the help of Darren we were able to find a fantastic itinerary that met all of our objectives and fit into our tight timelines. Darren helped us to rearrange our ideas so that we got the most out of every day!
The team used by Compass in every location was friendly, knowledgeable and patient with all of our questions and needs. No request was too much trouble and we were able to be flexible when we needed to after long flights etc. Getting local, unbiased advice enabled us to make great choices for how to use our time based on how we were feeling at the time.
Africa was a huge, diverse and somewhat daunting location for our family and our own internet research could be overwhelming at times - so many choices! We absolutely loved the places we stayed based on Darren's advice (we chose from the list of options) and everything was top quality - meeting AND exceeding our expectations.
We have absolutely no hesitation in recommending Darren and the team to help deliver the trip of a lifetime!
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Outstanding in all areas
From itinerary planning, superb communication before during and after our trip, smooth transportation connections , selection of safari camps and hotels, and especially the knowledgeable and engaging tour guides Garth in Cape Town and Dave in Joburg
Kudos to Mango for his savvy in getting us quickly across the usually chaotic Zimbabwe-Zambia border crossing 4 times!
Email Gail and Bob Cox | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
1st class operator could not fault the care and attention to detail during any part of our trip.
We felt very cared for and looked after from the minute we arrived in Africa. Not once were we let down in any way.
Frank was very good in Johannesburg especially getting us promptly through check in for our flight home when Qantas cancelled our flight and we had the chaos of two flights departing for Sydney at the one time the following day.
Mortimer in Zambia/Zimbabwe could not have done more for us if he tried he even ferried us to and fro at night to restaurants.
Garth in Cape Town was so very knowledgeable, he certainly gave us a good insight as to how things are and have been in the past.
Our accommodations were excellent in every stopover, could not fault them in anyway.
Game drives were beyond our expectations, we saw all of the big five and ugly five. Our guides were so easy to get on with especially Steven in Umkumbe, our two teenage grandchildren formed a special bond with him. Cautious in Botswana was equally good with a quick wit and sense of humour.
Darren you have been wonderful through out our whole experience, when we advised you what we would like you came back with excellent suggestions. Your attention to detail is spot on and we would recommend you and your company to anyone we know thinking of travelling to Africa.
Thank you so much
Gail and Bob
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Email Carla Faith Moore | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The absolute best ever
I wanted to take a moment now that I have had a little time to review my experience working with Compass Odyssey. I returned from an absolutely amazing visit to Africa just 8 days ago. I spent a total of 15 nights and 16 days in Africa and could not be happier with my experience. I have traveled many places across the globe, and this was my first trip to Africa, I was a little apprehensive and chose Compass based on other reviews and at random. From the start they accommodated my wishes for what I was looking for in my trip, and the parts of Africa I wanted to experience. They were also responsive to the things I wanted to do after booking while in Cape town and coordinated with the dive center I had contacted to make sure communication was seamless.
I am an avid wildlife photographer and seeing the amazing animals of Africa were first on my list of things I wanted to experience. from my arrival in Cape Town airport the instructions given for clearing customs and immigration to being picked up by my driver Garth was perfect. After 20 hours in the air or airports I was ready for bed and Garth took me to my lodgings at Parker Cottage which was a charming Bed and Breakfast with great staff and a welcome place to lay my head for the next 3 nights. The following morning Garth let me know that because of the weather the dive center had notified me that all dives had to be cancelled so we took a drive down to the cape of good hope seeing many beautiful animals and great scenery including the penguins in Simonstown. Day two was a great drive down the coast and into the mountains, and three was a beautiful trip to the wine country. Garth was a font of knowledge and helped me to feel comfortable in Africa and finding things I was interested in doing.
From Cape town I flew to Hoedspruit for 2 days at a private game reserve where i was truly introduced to the Safari life at Senalala Safari lodge. The staff greeted me when I got out of the vehicle, and everything was first class. I was able to see all of the big 5 in the 4 game drives over 2 days. After that I was whisked off to my second Safai experience which was in a luxury tent at Ukambi Bush camp in Sabi Sands. Nothing bush about this camp, once again first class. 3 days at this camp and all 5 of the big 5 again sitting on the deck watching animals at the water hole between game drives once again magical.
From Sabi Sands I was transferred by private driver to Kruger airport and flew to Victoria Falls in Zambia where I was met by Mortimer a fantastic guide to the local area. Once I had dropped off my bags at the Bed and Breakfast Mortimer took me to the falls for my tour of the Zimbabwe side then dropped me off and picked me up at a local restaurant. the next day we went to the Zambia side of the falls and Mortimer arranged to take me on a game drive at the local park where once again I had fantastic encounters with the wildlife.
The next day I went to Botswana where the only hiccup in the trip happened which was no one's fault just trouble communicating and was taken care of quickly and everything was once again fantastic.
Last Day saw a trip back to Zambia and the Elephant Cafe for an encounter with elephants and lunch which was one of the best meals I have ever had. Then a game drive and walk to see the Rhinos great way to end my first encounter with Africa.
Needless to say, I have several months of photo editing to go through, but I would unreservedly recommend Compass Odyssey to anyone thinking of a trip to Africa.
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Email Lynn | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
We would 200% use Compass Odyssey again, they created a magical trip of a lifetime for our family!
Darren and Kate were so personable, knowledgeable and unbelievable responsive to our numerous and ongoing questions. ( Believe me we had a lot as first time safari travelers!)
Our trip was seamless, the places we stayed were all comfortable and unique, making each site/lodge a new adventure! The guides, the staff, the activities and the locations were beyond amazing.
It was very nice to hear the various staff and guides speak so highly of Darren and Compass. It is obvious he has a stellar reputation and respect of the local people, lodges and safari guides. If an African Safari is on your bucket list, Compass Odyssey is the way to go!
Compass Odyssey delivers seamless, unforgettable adventures with heart
We just returned from an unforgettable African journey organized by Compass Odyssey, and I can’t recommend them enough! From start to finish, they handled every detail with care and expertise, making the trip seamless, adventurous, and full of memorable moments.
Highlights:
🌍 Beautiful accommodations throughout — charming Parker Cottage in Cape Town, Hotel 528 in Zimbabwe, Zambezi Dusk Lodge, Chobe River Lodge, and the structured yet warm Nokanyana Camp.
🦁 Incredible wildlife experiences — we saw elephants, lions, rhinos, giraffes, zebras, hippos, crocs, cheetahs, leopards, and even African wild dogs and pups.
🐘 Unique activities — walking safaris, river cruises, feeding elephants at Elephant Café, visiting Victoria Falls (and getting drenched!), and stargazing under the southern skies.
🥂 Warm, knowledgeable guides — Garth, Mortimer, Anthony, Majestic, and Tefu made the trip even more special with their insights, humor, and care.
💃 Fun cultural touches — from bargaining at markets and tasting local wines and chocolates, to dancing and singing with the staff on our last night.
This was truly the trip of a lifetime — adventurous, comfortable, and deeply meaningful. Thank you to the entire team at Compass Odyssey for crafting such an incredible experience.
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Email Kathy and John | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic
Darren put together a wonderful trip. He thought of everything, from the impeccable guides to the delicious food. We had a great time and always felt safe and protected.
Email Kylie and Brett | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An exceptional travel experience with Compass Odyssey
From the time we received a reply to our initial enquiry about a safari in Africa, we knew we were in the best possible hands with Compass Odyssey. The itinerary they put together was incredibly close to what we had only dreamed of, and required hardly any changes — a testament to their deep understanding of the region and their clients' needs.
Having worked in and around the tourism industry for many years, I usually prefer to plan trips myself and wouldn’t typically use a travel company. However, Darren gave me complete confidence that I had made the right decision. His professionalism, responsiveness, and genuine care stood out from the very beginning.
The level of service we received throughout the entire process — from planning to travel to post-trip follow-up — was outstanding. The attention to detail and the wealth of information provided reflected not only Darren's expertise but also the values of this passionate family-run business.
Thanks to Compass Odyssey, this trip of a lifetime exceeded expectations (mostly :), one glitch in there that came as a surprise but was worked through with the service we had come to expect from Compass Odyssey and I'm sure will be a funny dinner party story for years to come) We absolutely loved it and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to anyone looking for a truly memorable and stress-free travel experience.
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Email Laura | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Attentive, with integrity, trustworthy - can not get better than Compass Odyssey!
I decided last minute that I wanted to climb Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, and decided to reach out to Darren at Compass Odyssey to help set this up. I had travelled using Compass odyssey several times before (to South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia), and each trip was always everything we wanted and more, so I knew that when Darren said he could help me arrange for Kilimanjaro, I’d be in good hands. He is incredibly easy to communicate with, replying quickly and kindly, always willing to work with you on any tweaks or requests. He is incredibly professional. The value for the money is also far and away better than what you will get from other tour operators I have been recommended who are based elsewhere. I have full trust in compass odyssey and am looking forward to our next trip with them in the 2025-2026 academic year.
Email Michael and Kathryn | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
We felt safe in the knowledge that Compass Odyssey had organised every detail of our safari trip.
We were recommended Compass Odyssey and from our first interaction on FaceTime we knew we had selected the right tour operator for us. Darren and Kate provided us with detailed suggestions for our African safari itinerary through South Africa , Zambia and Botswana. Their suggestions paved the way for us seeing unexpected amazing sights including seeing the Big 5 on more than one occassion. We even saw elephants swimming across a river - we didn't know elephants can swim ! The lodges we stayed in were excellent. The guides chosen to accompany us were very knowledgeable and friendly. Throughout our trip Darren kept in touch to make sure everything was alright.
No hesitation in recommending Compass Odyssey.