Kate & Darren Humphrys with Henry, Olive and Hume
Compass Odyssey
- Office 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 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.
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Email Miho | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Provided a wonderful and memorable trip!
I recently went on an 8 day Victoria Falls/Botswana safari planned by Compass Odyssey. My friends and I had a wonderful time, and I really enjoyed the itinerary and the 3 lodges recommended by Compass Odyssey. Darren was very helpful with the planning and very responsive to my questions. The guides were all terrific, and I would definitely recommend Compass Odyssey for trips in Africa.
CA
Email Doris Pleau and Albert Sauve | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Top Notch
Compass Odyssey support ended when our trip ended. The group appreciated the fact that Compass looked out for us throughout our travels and responded quickly to any questions or support we needed. The lodges visited were truly exceptional. Great food, service and most of all friendly environment. We were not disappointed in the wildlife we have seen. We were fortunate enough to go in May to see a lot of young animals that were born within a few months. Victoria Falls and the B&B we stayed at was beautiful. Our tour guides was excellent Overall Compass Odyssey provided life time memories. Check another trip off our bucket list!
Thanks Compass Odyssey, guides, airport support, B&B, Lodges, and all the friendly people and support we received throughout this trip. This was a top notch trip!
CH
Email Olivia and Bertrand | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Darren was such a pleasure to plan our trip to South Africa - he took all the stress out of it
A huge thank you to you Darren & Kate for helping us to plan our South Africa trip for my husband’s 50th birthday - you took care of all of the little things I didn’t have time to or just didn’t think about, ensuring all was planned seamlessly (as well as perfectly coordinated with some of my own arrangements) and wrapped it all in a summary for us, which was invaluable. All of the small details that you went above and beyond with, were so greatly appreciated & it’s just been a pleasure to deal with you. Thank you so much, we can’t wait to book our next trip with you soon!
CH
Email Sharmeen and Timo | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Attentive, Intuitive and extremely compassionate.
Compass (Darren and Kate) are wonderful agents and I cannot thank them enough for orchestrating what truly was a once-in-a-lifetime adventure through Botswana and Zambia. Every detail was thoughtfully curated, transforming this trip for me and my partner into something far beyond ordinary—it was electrifying. From the stunning safaris in Botswana, Okavango Delta and Kalahari to the Victoria falls magnificence, their expertise and personal touch were obvious. This was not just a vacation; it was a soul-stirring experience, and I’m endlessly grateful. I have the Africa Blues and want to go back to to Kalahari again, alteady. Highly recommended! (especially Dinaka Camp in Kalahari and Chundukuwa River Lodge