US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Erastus was kind, funny, informative and always got us the best views of the animals.
Odyssey Safaris was so easy to work with. I appreciated the website to talk with others who had gone and came back and Mark or orthers for advice. I ended up having a transportation issue due to the airlines and the whole team were easy to reach and communicate with. They also made an effort to help find my luggage after the airlines lost it. The safari was unbelievable. We saw 76 animals species over a week, with 20 species each of the first few days. Erastus ensured that not only did we see the Big Five, but we saw the Big Five up close. The hotels were beautiful and comfortable, with everyone we met extremely kind. The food was very good. I also highly appreciated the Masai village experience to get a true idea of how the people live. It was an unforgettable experience that has left an indelible mark on my mind, and I can't wait until it is time to return.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very thorough from start to finish
Planning the trip from flight arrangements to the excellent lodging was seamless. Safari vehicles were well maintained and the drivers so very professional and engaging. They helped us understand the cultures and were knowledgeable about the animals as well. Highly recommend. We had friends go the year after us at our recommendation and they were so impressed also
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing
The trip was beyond our expectations......we saw so much stayed in beautiful accommodations..our guide was knowledgeable super friendly our trip was so special
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing trip to South Africa, Botswana and Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe!
After perusing itineraries for quite a while I decided to organise a three week trip for me (60 years) and my daughter (30) with Bel from Trailblazers. We were given individual treatment... just the drivers and us. What a fantastic trip we had! Starting in Johannesburg we did three safaris in Kruger plus a day trip on the Panaromic route before heading north. We travelled all the way through Botswana staying at the Khama Rhino Sanctuary where we did another more peaceful afternoon safari before reaching Chobe where we experienced yet another different and exhilarating safari. After crossing the border to Zimbabwe we visited Victoria Falls which is a must see! On the return journey through Botswana, we stayed in a traditional chalet next to the waterhole at Elephant Sands where the elephants were going about their daily lives at the waterhole only metres away. We then returned to Johannesburg and visited Soweto - a very moving experience, before flying to Capetown to complete our last leg which was a more luxurious and upbeat experience. In Capetown we met interesting people while enjoying day trips visiting Table Mountain, The Cape of Good Hope and the wineries and we also explored the city ourselves, eating at excellent restaurants and meandering through areas such as the waterfront. I cannot praise Bel enough! Before we left Australia, she contacted me regularly with necessary info and upgrades! Our accommodation ranged from traditional chalets, lodges and mid-range hotels and in each country we met up with a new driver/guide who was helpful, often funny, friendly and protective, making us feel safe and secure. The encounters with animals were amazing and have created lifetime memories for us. I am already planning my next adventure with Bel.
US
Great experience with Beacon safaris.
It was our first visit to Kenya and we chose Beacon safaris based on online reviews. We didn't go wrong with that! The communication was great. Beacon provided valuable suggestions and helped to complete our travel plan based on our interest. They were very accommodating. The resorts offered were all great and the game drives were very good as well.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Buyer beware
Great trip honestly. It was catered to what I wanted including, Seychelles, Kenya, safari, hot air balloon over Masai Mara, Mt. Kilimanjaro, Giraffe Manor, Zanzibar! But there was MAJOR communication failure once we were there towards the end on the Mt Kili leg. We stayed anour away from Mt Kili when there was a hotel RIGHT THERE AT THE AIRPORT, we under packed for the cold and rainy Muntain hike. They expected us to practcally rush down (more than 1/2 way up the Mt.) Since we had a 6:00 pm flight to catch. Needless to say we missed, no shower as we rushed to make it to airport. We didn't have enough cash on us, and none of the ATMs worked. Credit card machine was broken so we couldn't book another flight! The guy who was supposed to help us during this trip, Elliot/Yulad dropped the bill, got snippy with us saying 'others make this flight coming off the mountain all the time.' He eventually hung up on us after saying, 'if I make this better, will u not complain about me?' Seriously! This shortened our final stay in Zanzibar which we were going to just cancel because it'd've been too much rushing, but we chose to go since the new agent working with us after Elliot, said she'd coordinate r flights. So again we rushed to the island for 27 hour stay! Which was supposed to be full days! In the end, We were reimbursed Some but it put such a sour end to what could've been an AMAZING DREAM trip. The owner was easy to work with once we were back in the US. Believe it or not, I still referred 2 people to Oddyssey Safaris but told them to run far if they hear the name Elliot/Yulad!
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Best Trip Ever!!!
This was my first trip out of the country and I’m not sure how I’m ever going to top this! I wanted my trip to be safari centered and they totally delivered. Unfortunately we missed Table Mountain because we were late getting to Cape Town because of flight delays, but the rest of the trip was AHH-MAZING!!! Our tour guide turned out to be the cool uncle I never had. My tour happened to be very personalized which I appreciated. We did a lot of driving up to Johannesburg, but it was cool because we sung and laughed almost the entire way. It was a busy trip, but a fun trip! I even got to walk in the wild with my favorite animal, the cheetah!!! If I could do this all over again, I would! Can’t wait to book my next safari!
CA
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Quality 6-day tour
I went on a 6 day tour of Western Uganda, including Kibale, Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi. First of all, our guide John was great. He was super knowledgeable. He always had our best interest in mind. He was incredible at spotting wild life, and I’ve never been on a more dedicated game drive. And I trusted him completely as a driver. I initially booked as a solo female traveller, and although I had a friend join me last minute, I would have been completely comfortable travelling with him solo.
Secondly, the accommodations that were booked were excellent. The food provided was also very good – even for a vegetarian!
The reason this review doesn’t have 5 stars is due to communications with head office prior to the trip. When I initially booked, I triple checked the airport drop off time before booking my flight, but weeks before the trip I was given an itinerary with a different drop off time (and one that would result in me missing my flight home). John made the initial drop-off time work with a very early start and efficient breaks, but it certainly wasn’t ideal. Also, our chimp trekking permit timing did not match our itinerary, and no one was made aware of it until we showed up at the trekking office. To be fair, I was dealing with someone else when I initially booked the trip, so some things might have been lost in the transition. Communication was always prompt when planning the trip and when it was approaching.
Despite some hiccups, I would still go with Achieve again. They are significantly cheaper than other options, and provide good value for money. I could not see any differences between the experience provided between us and other groups.
CA
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Terrible. Worse vacation ever. John Williams scammer.
I had the worse experience with John Williams. We landed in Serengeti to find out the parks fee was not paid nor the hotels. I can't even write down my thoughts because I'm so upset with the whole situation. I trusted John. Pls guts be careful about this agent.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Thousands of animals, striking landscapes, expert guide, great pictures...what more could you want!!
Setting up the trip, which we customized a bit, was easier than we thought. Everyone at Odyssey Safaris was very accommodating. Our guide, Simon, was phenomenal. From the time he picked us up at the airport he made us feel safe and comfortable. He always pointed out animals in the distance as we approached on our game drives and he was quick to show us unfamiliar birds. He took us up close with game for some awesome photos, and kept our best interest at heart when moving us from one conservancy to the next. We couldn't have asked for more in a guide! All of our accommodations were great - comfortable and clean, with all the amenities (we loved the hot water bottles!), and the meals we shared as a family were delicious. I was impressed with all of the options available at mealtime. Our party of eight (two families of four) still talks fondly about this trip and how much we all loved it. It was such a positive experience. We plan on returning someday with a few more family members in tow! I'm happy that we chose Odyssey Safaris as our tour operator.
