Africa Odyssey Reviews 

Africa Odyssey helped us plan and organise a fantastic honeymoon trip! All the safari schedule, lodges & camps, were perfect. Moreover, Sam and Ted actively answered all my questions in time and provided insightful suggestions. Will definitely choose Africa Odyssey for my next trip:)

Sam at Africa Odyssey did a great job at finding us the kind of experience we wanted. We had a short time to do a safari after our climb on Kilimanjaro. Sam inquired what kind of experience we wanted and was able to put together a package that checked all the boxes. even more satisfying for us was how pleasant were our communications, how knowledgeable he was of the resources to draw from, and how quickly Sam responded to our questions during the process. The experience with the Odyssey group was so good that we are now using them to plan our adventure next year to Antarctica.

Sam from Africa Odessey was amazing and helped us create a dream honeymoon in Uganda! Our honeymoon was the most amazing trip and better than either of us could have imagined! All we had to do was show up. Africa Odessey planned everything and answered all of our questions.

I am so very glad we went with Africa Odyssey for our Tanzanian Safari and Beach Trip. From initial conversation through the trip our communication was great, the suggestions were perfect, and it was almost entirely stress free.

I've already started recommending them to friends and family!

The best company you could possibly use if travelling to Africa. Would never travel with anybody else!

We had the best experience planning our trip to Tanzania with Sam. He was always quick to respond with multiple suggestions. Once we got to Tanzania our trip was super smooth and went without any hiccups. We had the time of our lives!

Sam and team at Africa Odyssey was absolutely the most responsive travel company we encountered, and that made the difference in our selection. We had zoom calls, and lengthy informative email responses which helped our decisions and lodge selections. Sam was able to put together choices for our gorilla and primate treks trip with a departure in less than two months which we greatly appreciated. And when we arrived in Uganda, we were very pleased with all the accommodations, drivers and primate tours. What a lovely country with lovely people and amazing wildlife. We highly recommend this company and a trip to Uganda. Thank you!

We worked with Dave on our trip to Victoria Falls and Botswana, and were thrilled with the trip planning and the professional way he looked after all the arrangements.
We appreciated that Dave ...
... listened carefully to what we were looking for when planning the trip, making suggestions that were a great fit with our preferences
... has great first-hand experience about the area, and provided knowledgeable advice about the specific camps that would work for us
... was incredibly patient and flexible - we first booked to go in 2020, but the pandemic got in the way and we had to postpone and rebook for 2021, and still couldn't go, so needed to rebook yet again for 2022
... arranged each aspect of the booking carefully, coordinating with the ground agents and ensuring the flights/transfers and accommodations all lined up properly so the trip was seamless and smooth.

The trip itself was fantastic. Dave advised us to stay at Ilala Lodge in Vic Falls, and recommended Kwando camps for our Botswana safari (we stayed at Lagoon, Lebala, Pom Pom Pom, and Kwara camps), and we couldn't have been happier with these choices.

For us, the Ilala Lodge in Vic Falls was perfect. The accommodations, the food, and the service were excellent, and the proximity to the National Park entrance was super convenient - we were able to walk over to the park and explore on our own, and it was close enough that we were able to make it there in time for sunrise. We were very happy with this hotel choice — especially after seeing the location of some of the other hotels we had considered.

The ground transfer services provided by Bushtracks Africa were very good. It’s always a good feeling when getting off a plane to actually have someone there waiting for you! The transfers from Livingstone to Vic Falls and from Vic Falls to Kasane were seamless - and the reps were very helpful in making the two border crossings.

The four Kwando Camps did not disappoint in any way. The accommodations were super (especially Kwara, which has been recently rebuilt), the food and drinks were great (and plentiful!), and the guides, trackers and staff were outstanding. We had wonderful sightings (lions, elephants, leopards, cheetahs, honey badgers, wild dogs, hyenas, giraffes, warthogs, zebras, wildebeests, kudus, and all the various antelopes, including the “elusive impala” to name a few), and the combination of camps was great. Each one had slightly different things to offer, and by the end, we felt we had seen the best of what the Okavango has to offer.

The Moremi Air flights between each camp's airstrips were super - always on time. Dave's suggestion to game drive between Lagoon and Lebala instead of flying was definitely a good idea - we spent over an hour with a couple of male lions on the way, and had the benefit of seeing two slightly different areas instead of just one.

We wouldn't hesitate to recommend Dave and Africa Odyssey.

Ted arranged the perfect honeymoon for us to Zambia. Everything went seamlessly and he had chosen camps and areas which totally fit the brief we gave him. Nothing was too much trouble and he was hugely patient with Covid-induced postponements and changes. We'd certainly recommend Ted and Africa Odyssey to anyone looking for a brilliant safari adventure.

Our trip with Odyssey Travels to Uganda was our first trip to Africa. It exceeded my expectations. I loved all of it! We had the perfect driver/guide who was friendly, shared our sense of humor, looked out for us, was highly organized, and was very trustworthy. His skills in spotting animals or interesting things we might have missed were excellent. I loved the drives through the country where we could see people going about their daily lives. The number of animals and birds we saw were more than I anticipated. The lodges were all great as was the food at each one. Everyone we encountered was friendly, nice and helpful. Our days were busy, the hike to see the gorillas was strenuous, and there were some minor disappointments (not many chimps and only 2 lions in a distant cactus bush), but those are minor quibbles given everything else we experienced. My advice to anyone taking this trip is to hire a porter for the gorilla hikes (unless you are an Olympic athlete you'll need one) and take more cash then you think you need to tip the wonderful people that help with the activities, housekeeping, and restaurant workers. I can't recommend this trip enough!

Sam from Africa Odyssey was great to work with to book a safari/beach holiday in Kenya (Mara) followed by Zanzibar. He was provided a number of options based on initial discussions/budget etc., and was very helpful and efficient every step of the way. We had a great honeymoon in amazing locations, completely stress free. Highly recommend working with Sam and Africa Odyssey!

Sam promptly answered all our questions and is the reason my husband and I went with Africa Odyssey. On our private trip, our guide Ambrose, and spotter, Sola, identified over 25 mammals and 70 birds!! Unbelievable to be so close to wildlife. At Speke's camp, Hamish warmly greeted us when we arrived and kept communication throughout our stay. The staff provided for all our needs and more. Excellent meals with vegetables grown from their amazing garden. Thank you for an incredible savannah wildlife trip.

We've been working with Africa Odyssey since 2018 to undertake a photo safari through Tanzania (Big 5) and Rwanda (Silverback Apes, Golden Monkeys). We were familiar with Tanzania, but not Rwanda. Throughout multiple postponements and re-scheduling of the trip, Africa Odyssey (and Ted Archdale there in particular) did an outstanding job of keeping everything together and on track. We stayed at three Singita Camps recommended by Ted, and each one was the usual Singita experience - top notch from tip to tail. All the flights, transfers, paperwork, day rooms, etc. were adeptly handled by AO, and we knew at all times who was our local contact. Handoffs were seamless and trouble free. Couldn't ask for a more enjoyable experience & look forward to working with AO for our next booking, wherever that may be.

We had a truly wonderful and memorable holiday, thank you so much for organising everything so efficiently - we were met at every point and informed before when we would be and no delays anywhere, like clockwork!

Vic Falls Hotel was a joy, we loved it. The Falls fantastic. Had a great supper at the Lookout Cafe and then one evening in the hotel itself. Really only had one day there so didn't do more than walk to the falls and spend a few hours there. After a long journey was nice to have a relaxing afternoon in a beautiful setting.

Somalisa Expeditions - you nailed our brief, it was a brilliant camp, rustic enough but with sumptuous beds and bedding, much needed on the chilly mornings! Food was fab, Bheki our guide so professional but so personable and clearly passionate about the wildlife; Star and Gloria we absolutely loved and Fortunate. We were by ourselves on the first night which was very spoiling, then 2 French and 4 Americans arrived, all very nice. Whole thing worked brilliantly, the elephant in Hwange so enjoyable, we could all watch them for hours; we saw different lion each day with a story evolving we really wanted to stay and watch play out; we were lucky enough to see a leopard too. Loved this camp.

Vundu - the flight to Mana from Hwange was maybe longer than we thought - we were in the dark which was the best way to be as every day there was a new surprise and excitement! Very pro pilots and planes were great - just the four of us on a tiny one from Hwange to Mana and then a 10 seater for the other flights to and from with a few others on board, but all worked so smoothly. Vundu was totally different from Somalisa and we also totally loved it. The fact Vundu was privately owned somehow made it a bit freer maybe; the guides were great value round the lunch and supper table but incredibly professional and knowledgable. Siraaj our guide was charming, confident giving, passionate, knowledgable and an all round great bloke. We so enjoyed spending 3 days with him and both he and Bheki at Somalisa gave so much time to us, we were out for 5 hours most mornings which was incredible and another 3 hours or so in the afternoons. We really enjoyed the walking in Mana which didn't happen in Hwange as our guide wasn't qualified for walking, (although he planned to be, and we did spontaneously join one group for a walk which was great); walking up to lion and with elephant was a life memory and very special. Seeing the wild dogs also very spoiling knowing there are only 6000 in the world left, they are an incredible species and we loved spending time with them. Saw lots of different lion, and three new males just after they'd killed a massive buffalo. All incredible from our perspective!

We ended up at the Royal Livingstone, which was fine but think we preferred the Vic Falls interestingly. Almost too much of a contrast to the bush !

Anyway, thanks Ted, you did a great job.

Africa Odyssey and Dave Fuller were extremely easy to work with, responsive, transparent re pricing and invaluable regarding the pros/cons of various itineraries. Special thanks to Dave for remaining so patient as we had constant questions re covid requirements especially as it pertained to the Mountain Gorilla trek in Rwanda. Overall a great experience in every aspect of the trip

Dave organized for us a perfect trip in Zambia. Places and locations were wonderful, and the highlights have been the perfect sequence of lodges they managed and actions/interactions with animals.

We have used Africa Odyssey several times to plan our safari trips to Africa. They are the best! They attend to every detail, are very accessible and very accommodating. And their website is full of information that enables clients to have informed conversations with their staff. They have "on the ground" information as their staff personally visit the camps/lodges. We have also referred several friends to them, who stated they were equally satisfied. Highly recommend Africa Odyssey!

We owe Sam at Africa Odyssey a great deal of thanks for helping us to create an unforgettable family holiday to Kenya. His passion for Africa is infectious; he was enthusiastic, knowledgeable and a pleasure to work with. Having visited Africa for the first time when he was around the age our children are, he had an immediate understanding of what they would enjoy, recommended excellent locations and activities, and patiently fielded our questions and concerns throughout the process. We would all heartily recommend Sam and his colleagues. The only problem is that we're all home now with the worst post-holiday blues ever!

Dave planned a wonderful first safari for us. After some discussion about the kind of safari experience we were hoping for, then he sent 3 different options for us to consider. We chose 2 safari camps in Zimbabwe. We booked our flights from the US to Johannesburg and Dave made all the travel arrangements from there including flights, transfers to and from airports and hotels and safari camps. Both camps were wonderful and we enjoyed a different experience at each. As much as we enjoyed the safari experience, we were grateful Dave had the forethought to book us at only 2 3 day safaris. 2 Safaris are just the right amount. Dave was responsive and helpful with all our questions. Ted also stepped in when Dave was out of the office to respond to our emails. I would recommend Africa Odyssey to anyone planning a safari trip in Africa. I plan to use them again when we go back a second time.

Very well organised. Everything went smoothly as planned, the safari camps were very comfortable, the guides very knowledgeable, the service and food excellent! It was one of our best and mist memorable family vacations!