Africa Odyssey Review 2026: Is It Worth It, What It Costs, and Who Owns It
By Richard Jasinski·Updated 15 October 2026
Africa Odyssey, the London and Dorset safari specialist Marc Harris set up in the late 1990s as Tanzania Odyssey, scores 74/100 on our six-criterion review of safari planners: full marks for destination breadth, 20 of 25 for first-hand African expertise and 14 of 20 for reviews. Trustpilot rates it 5.0 from 372 reviews, it covers 18 African countries and islands, and it names ATOL 5397 behind flight-inclusive trips. What holds it back is the detail a buyer compares: prices with no readable inclusions, season or year, no office hours, and a site that says "Owner run" while the register has recorded a trustee company in control since 2022.
Verified 24 September 2026 · Africa Odyssey's own pages and terms · Companies House record 03858540 · Endole · Trustpilot and SafariBookings · ATTA directory · The Safari Awards · CardRates, City AM, National Geographic Traveller and Robb Report
Africa Odyssey at a glance: the company record
Africa Odyssey is a trading name of Tanzania Odyssey Limited, company 03858540, incorporated in October 1999, with offices in Semley, Dorset, and Putney, London. Every row below links to its source and was checked on the date shown.
| Field | Fact | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trading names | Africa Odyssey, Tanzania Odyssey (tanzaniaodyssey.com), South America Odyssey, Asia Odyssey | Legal page | 24 Sep 2026 |
| Legal entity | Tanzania Odyssey Limited, 03858540 (its terms write 3858540), active, incorporated 13 Oct 1999; SIC 79120; no previous names | Companies House | 24 Sep 2026 |
| Trading since | 'We have been organising trips to Africa since 1998' | Luxury African safari page | 24 Sep 2026 |
| Founder | Marc Harris, 'set up in the late 90s' per The Safari Awards, where he is a judge | The Safari Awards judges | 24 Sep 2026 |
| Offices | 13 Chaldicott Barns, Semley, Shaftesbury SP7 9AW (map); 5 The Mews, 6 Putney Common, London SW15 1HL (map), the registered office | Contact page | 24 Sep 2026 |
| Phones | UK +44 (0)20 8704 1216; US +1 866 356 4691; WhatsApp; [email protected] | Contact page | 24 Sep 2026 |
| Hours and reply | No office hours or response time; 'we'll get back to you very soon!' | My Odyssey | 24 Sep 2026 |
| In-trip support | 'We support you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.' | My Odyssey | 24 Sep 2026 |
| Owner, per its site | 'Owner run & 100% independent' founder and director Marc Harris | About us | 24 Sep 2026 |
| Significant control, per the register | Tanzania Odyssey Trustees Limited (13900681), 75% or more, since 4 Apr 2022; Marc Harris 25% to 50% from 2016 until that day | Companies House PSC register | 24 Sep 2026 |
| Directors | Marc Dudley Harris (since Aug 2000; secretary since 2012); Edward Arthur (Ted) Archdale (since Dec 2016) | Companies House officers | 24 Sep 2026 |
| Charges | Four, all satisfied 11 Mar 2021 | Companies House filing history | 24 Sep 2026 |
| Latest accounts | To 31 Mar 2026, filed 6 Aug 2026; 7 employees in the accounts to 31 Mar 2025 | Endole, from Companies House | 24 Sep 2026 |
| Money protection | 'We are fully bonded with ATOL (5397)' 'Not all holiday or travel services offered and sold by us will be protected by the ATOL scheme' | Legal page | 24 Sep 2026 |
| Deposit and balance | 'usually 25%' due within 7 days of the quote; balance 120 days before departure | Legal page | 24 Sep 2026 |
| Cancellation | More than 120 days: deposit; 91 to 120 days: 50%; 61 to 90 days: 70%; 60 days or fewer: 100% | Legal page | 24 Sep 2026 |
| Insurance | Required, 'All Risks including abandonment' | Legal page | 24 Sep 2026 |
| Destinations | 18 African countries and islands, plus the Maldives and Oman | Site map page | 24 Sep 2026 |
| Published prices | 16 itineraries on its Kenya and Botswana pages, USD per person, $3,717 to $21,981 | Itineraries page | 24 Sep 2026 |
| Independent reviews | Trustpilot 5.0 from 372 (99% five-star; newest 5 Sep 2026); SafariBookings 5.0 from 16 (newest 2016) | Trustpilot | 24 Sep 2026 |
| Awards, per its site | British Travel Awards 2014 to 2016: Best Holiday Company to Sub-Saharan Africa; Best Wildlife Safari and Nature Holiday Company | Press page | 24 Sep 2026 |
| Memberships | ATTA, 'UK Based Travel Specialist' | ATTA directory | 24 Sep 2026 |
| Team | Marc Harris, founder; Ted Archdale, managing director (joined 2010); four consultants and operations | About us | 24 Sep 2026 |
Is Africa Odyssey worth it?
Africa Odyssey scores 74/100: it is a small, long-running Africa specialist with a near-perfect review record and wide range, and it publishes less about prices, hours and ownership than the operators above it. Founder Marc Harris, CardRates reported, "left his accounting job in the 1990s after a year-long Land Rover journey across eastern and southern Africa" he judges The Safari Awards and is a former director of the African Travel and Tourism Association. Its team includes Sam Hankss, who became a safari guide in the Greater Kruger, and Dave Fuller, who travelled through Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Tanzania, Botswana, Namibia and Zambia; the company describes its staff as "ex-guides, lodge managers, camp hosts and explorers". Its site also claims "We were the first ever online UK tour operator".
| Criterion | Score | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-hand African expertise | 20/25 | Founder Marc Harris left an accounting job after a year-long Land Rover journey across eastern and southern Africa and has organised safaris since the mid-1990s; senior consultant Sam Hankss was a guide in the Greater Kruger; no office in Africa; trading since 1998. |
| Independent review evidence | 14/20 | Trustpilot shows 5.0 from 372 reviews, the newest from 5 September 2026; its SafariBookings listing has 16 reviews, the newest from 2016, too few for a second platform. |
| Destination breadth | 15/15 | 18 African countries and islands have their own pages, from Egypt, Morocco and Ethiopia to the Republic of the Congo and São Tomé and Príncipe; Tanzania is covered by its sister site. |
| Pricing transparency | 8/15 | 16 itineraries on its Kenya and Botswana pages carry a per-person price in US dollars; beyond 'inc. internal flights' on the Kenya prices, no inclusions, season or year could be read, because the itinerary pages did not open for automated checks. |
| Service model and support hours | 9/15 | UK offices in Dorset and London, a US toll-free line and support '24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year' no office hours, response time or one named consultant from enquiry to return. |
| Ownership transparency | 8/10 | Its site says it is 'Owner run' and names founder Marc Harris; the register has recorded Tanzania Odyssey Trustees Limited as holding 75% or more since April 2022; its terms give Tanzania Odyssey Limited, 3858540, and the directors match. |
| Total | 74/100 |
How Africa Odyssey compares with other safari planners
Africa Odyssey is a safari planner, like the seven companies below: it builds trips from lodges and suppliers it does not own. Our planner reviews were scored on different criteria at different times, so their scores are not ranked against each other here; every fact below was read from each company, or from the review platform named, on 12 October 2026. This record is its first appearance on Uncompromised Travel, under either the Africa Odyssey or the Tanzania Odyssey name: it has not been assessed on our safari planner index or payment terms index.
| Planner | Independent reviews | Deposit and balance | Client money | 24-hour line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Africa Odyssey (this record) | Trustpilot 5.0 from 379; Google 5.0 from 19 (listed as Tanzania Odyssey) | Usually 25% (terms); balance 120 days before | ATOL 5397 | Stated |
| Go2Africa | Feefo 4.9 from 3,118; Trustpilot 4.8 from 181 | 30%; balance 60 days before travel | Money-Back Guarantee (supplier insolvency); SATSA bonding | Stated |
| Expert Africa | Google 4.9 from 306 | 20% or GBP 600 pp; balance 70 days before | ATOL 5206 | Stated |
| Yellow Zebra Safaris | Trustpilot 4.9 from 1,783; Google 4.9 from 243 | Amount not stated; balance 90 days before travel | ATOL 10614 | Stated |
| Micato Safaris | Trustpilot 3.2 from 1; no Google listing found | 30%; balance 120 days before travel | No scheme, bond or trust named | Stated |
| Extraordinary Journeys | Google 5.0 from 182; SafariBookings 4.9 from 35 | Amount not stated; balance about 100 days before travel | No scheme, bond or trust named | Stated |
| Abercrombie & Kent | Trustpilot 4.4 from 787 | Booking terms showed no text when read | Not stated; optional Allianz insurance | Stated, small groups |
| Scott Dunn | Trustpilot 4.6 from 278 | Set per trip; balance 90 days before | ATOL 2471; ABTOT 5222 | Yes, number printed |
Stated means the company says it offers 24-hour support but prints no number for it. Not stated means the company's own pages did not say it when read; it does not mean the company does not do it. Sources: each company's own site and booking terms, Google, Trustpilot, Feefo and SafariBookings, read 12 October 2026.
How much does an Africa Odyssey safari cost?
Africa Odyssey prices 16 itineraries on its Kenya and Botswana pages per person in US dollars, from $3,717 for six nights in Nairobi and the Maasai Mara to $21,981 for its top Botswana trip, and says top camps cost from roughly $2,500 per person per night. The Kenya prices are marked "inc. internal flights" the individual itinerary pages, which would carry the full inclusions and dates, did not open for automated checks, so neither could be read, and the Botswana prices give no nights. Its luxury safari page puts mid-range camps at around $750 per person per night and simple beach stays from around $180. Our Kenya safari cost guide and Botswana safari cost guide set these prices against the market.
| Itinerary | Where | Nights | Per person |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya Adventure 1 | Nairobi, Maasai Mara | 6 | $3,717 |
| Kenya Adventure 2 | Maasai Mara, Diani Beach | 6 | $3,923 |
| Kenya Classic 1 | Amboseli, Lewa, Maasai Mara | 9 | $7,647 |
| Kenya Classic 2 | Ol Pejeta, Maasai Mara | 7 | $7,854 |
| Kenya Expert 2 | Chyulu Hills, Olare Motorogi | 6 | $9,818 |
| Kenya Premier 1 | Amboseli, Loisaba, Nyerere National Park | 10 | $9,823 |
| Kenya Premier 2 | Nairobi, Borana, Maasai Mara | 10 | $12,236 |
| Kenya Expert 1 | Borana, Maasai Mara, Diani Beach | 10 | $13,698 |
| Botswana Adventure 1 and 2 | Botswana | Not given | $7,124 and $7,357 |
| Botswana Classic 1 and 2 | Botswana | Not given | $9,973 and $16,496 |
| Botswana Expert 1 and 2 | Botswana | Not given | $14,667 and $11,060 |
| Botswana Premier 1 and 2 | Botswana | Not given | $20,166 and $21,981 |
Prices as shown on 24 September 2026; the Kenya prices include internal flights. In December 2019 City AM quoted an eight-night Africa Odyssey gorilla package in Uganda from £6,990 per person sharing.
Who plans Africa Odyssey trips?
Africa Odyssey's about page names six people: founder Marc Harris, managing director Ted Archdale, two senior consultants, a consultant and an operations and accounts lead. It says "all the Africa experts in our team have visited their specialist countries extensively" and that it is "Not driven by high targets or commission based sales" but it does not promise one consultant from enquiry to return. It is not recruiting.
| Name | Role | As its site describes them |
|---|---|---|
| Marc Harris | Founder and director | Started organising safaris for clients in the mid-1990s; Safari Awards judge; former director of the African Travel and Tourism Association |
| Ted Archdale | Managing director, joined 2010 | Self-drove across South Africa and Botswana, camped on the Makgadikgadi Pans, flew microlights over the Luangwa Valley |
| Dave Fuller | Senior consultant; heads Asia | 20 years in travel; travelled through Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Tanzania, Botswana, Namibia and Zambia |
| Sam Hankss | Senior consultant | Became a safari guide in the Greater Kruger; leads photographic groups across Africa |
| Amelia Binns | Consultant, joined 2024 | Recent trip to remote Tanzania, tracking cheetahs and wild dog |
| George Hannan | Operations and accounts | Repeat visitor to Tanzania; 'true Serengeti specialist' |
What do Africa Odyssey reviews say?
Africa Odyssey is rated 5.0 on Trustpilot from 372 reviews, 99% of them five-star, the newest from 5 September 2026. Reviewers say it "fully understood what our family were looking for" and praise its logistics. Its SafariBookings listing shows 5.0 from 16 reviews, the newest from April 2016, and its own blog keeps client reviews back to 2003, with 65 on its 2025 page. Our safari operator review index explains how we weigh platforms.
| Platform | Rating | Reviews | Newest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trustpilot | 5.0 | 372 (99% five-star) | 5 September 2026 |
| SafariBookings | 5.0 | 16 | 27 April 2016 |
| Its own blog | Not rated | Archives from 2003 | Not independent |
Africa Odyssey's awards and press
Africa Odyssey lists British Travel Awards for Best Holiday Company to Sub-Saharan Africa and Best Wildlife Safari and Nature Holiday Company in 2014, 2015 and 2016; they could not be found on the awards' own site, and no award since 2016 is listed. Four press mentions were confirmed: National Geographic Traveller in April 2020, on tourism and poaching in Zambia and Zimbabwe; City AM in December 2019, on gorillas in Uganda; Robb Report on Chikwenya in Zimbabwe; and CardRates in September 2021, profiling the company. Its press page lists many more, including The Telegraph, The Independent, the New York Times and Condé Nast Traveller, without dates, and says a consultant co-authored the Cadogan Guide to Tanzania in 2002.
Where Africa Odyssey goes, and its safari styles
Africa Odyssey has pages for 18 African countries and islands, with Tanzania on its sister site Tanzania Odyssey, and also sells the Maldives and Oman, with South America and Asia under the Odyssey name. Its safari pages cover private guided game drives, walking, gorilla trekking in Uganda and Rwanda, mokoro and boat safaris, hot-air balloons, horseback and night drives, birding and fly camping in Ruaha, with dedicated honeymoon, family and beach sections. Its site describes itself as "100% tailor-made".
| Region | Countries and islands with their own Africa Odyssey pages |
|---|---|
| East Africa | Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Ethiopia; Tanzania on Tanzania Odyssey |
| Southern Africa | Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe |
| North and Central Africa | Egypt, Morocco, the Republic of the Congo, São Tomé and Príncipe |
| Indian Ocean | Madagascar, Mauritius, the Seychelles |
Who owns Africa Odyssey?
Africa Odyssey's site says it is "Owner run & 100% independent" and names Marc Harris as founder; since 4 April 2022, Companies House has recorded Tanzania Odyssey Trustees Limited, company 13900681, as holding 75% or more of Tanzania Odyssey Limited, with Marc Harris ceasing that day as a holder of 25% to 50%. The register does not say whom the trustee company holds the shares for. Marc Harris has been a director since August 2000 and Ted Archdale since December 2016; earlier directors include Annabel Charlotte Harris, from 1999 to 2000 and again from 2010 to 2021, and Mark Rolfe, from 2004 to 2010. The company's four registered charges were satisfied in March 2021.
| Date | Event | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-1990s | Marc Harris starts organising safaris for clients | Africa Odyssey |
| 1998 | Organising trips to Africa, per its site | Africa Odyssey |
| 13 Oct 1999 | Tanzania Odyssey Limited incorporated | Companies House |
| Aug 2000 | Marc Harris appointed a director | Companies House |
| 2010 | Ted Archdale joins; director from Dec 2016 | Africa Odyssey |
| 2014 to 2016 | British Travel Awards, per its site | Africa Odyssey |
| 29 Jan 2021 | Annabel Charlotte Harris leaves the board | Companies House |
| 11 Mar 2021 | Four charges satisfied | Companies House |
| 4 Apr 2022 | Tanzania Odyssey Trustees Limited recorded as holding 75% or more; Marc Harris ceases as a person with significant control | Companies House |
| 6 Aug 2026 | Accounts to 31 Mar 2026 filed | Companies House |
Africa Odyssey's booking terms and financial protection
Africa Odyssey's deposit is usually 25%, due within seven days of the quote, and the balance 120 days before departure; cancelling more than 120 days ahead costs the deposit, 91 to 120 days 50%, 61 to 90 days 70%, and 60 days or fewer the full price. Its terms name Tanzania Odyssey Limited, company number 3858540, charge "a reasonable amendment fee" for each change, and require insurance "which covers All Risks including abandonment". Its homepage says "We are fully bonded with ATOL (5397)" while the terms add that "Not all holiday or travel services offered and sold by us will be protected by the ATOL scheme" no scheme for holidays without flights is named. The terms carry no version date. Our guide to safari deposits and payment terms compares these with the market.
| Term | Africa Odyssey |
|---|---|
| Deposit | Usually 25%, within 7 days of the quote |
| Balance | 120 days before departure |
| Cancel more than 120 days ahead | Loss of deposit |
| Cancel 91 to 120 days ahead | 50% |
| Cancel 61 to 90 days ahead | 70% |
| Cancel 60 days or fewer ahead | 100% |
| Amendments | 'a reasonable amendment fee' no amount |
| Financial protection | ATOL 5397; no scheme named for holidays without flights |
| Insurance | Required, all risks including abandonment |
What the public record does not show
Seven things a buyer might look for could not be found or did not match on 24 September 2026. Each is listed so it can be answered; if Africa Odyssey publishes or corrects any of them, this record will change with a dated note.
- Who stands behind Tanzania Odyssey Trustees Limited, which the register has recorded in control since 2022, next to the site's "Owner run".
- What its itinerary prices include, and the season or year they apply to.
- Office hours and a response time.
- One named consultant from enquiry to return, stated as a promise.
- How holidays without flights are protected, given that "Not all" services fall under ATOL 5397.
- A version date on its terms, and an amount for its amendment fee.
- Confirmation of its 2014 to 2016 British Travel Awards on the awards' own site, and any award since.
Africa Odyssey vs Expert Africa, Yellow Zebra Safaris and Scott Dunn
Against three UK safari specialists we have reviewed, Africa Odyssey, like all three, holds an ATOL licence, and it trails all three on pricing detail.
| Africa Odyssey | Expert Africa | Yellow Zebra | Scott Dunn | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base, founded | Dorset and London; 1998 | Richmond, London; 1994 | Kingston upon Thames; 2012 | London; 1986 |
| Best independent reviews | Trustpilot 5.0 from 372 | AITO 511, 99% excellent or good | Trustpilot 4.9 from 1,710 | Trustpilot 4.6 from 273 |
| Money protection | ATOL 5397 | ATOL 5206 | ATOL 10614 | ATOL and ABTOT |
| Pricing transparency | 8 of 15 | 13 of 15 | 14 of 15 | 11 of 15 |
How to price a comparable safari
The fair test of any quote from Africa Odyssey is a like-for-like quote for the same camps, nights and season from a second specialist and a comparison platform. Ask each for the same lodges by name, the same room category and the same inclusions, then compare the per-person total with international flights excluded.
What changed
Four dated changes shape Africa Odyssey's public record today.
January to March 2021. Annabel Charlotte Harris left the board, and the company's four charges were satisfied.
4 April 2022. Tanzania Odyssey Trustees Limited was recorded as holding 75% or more, replacing Marc Harris as the person with significant control.
2024. Amelia Binns joined its consultants.
24 September 2026. This record opened with a score of 74/100.
15 October 2026. Re-read against our 12 October 2026 planner database: the ranking against other companies' scores replaced with a side-by-side of facts, because those pages use different criteria. The score is unchanged.
Africa Odyssey: the facts on record, read 12 October 2026
53 facts about Africa Odyssey were read from its own website, the award publishers and the review platforms on 12 October 2026, and every one below says who stated it, where it was read and when. “Not stated on their website” means the right page was read and the fact is not there; “Could not access” means the page would not open; “No profile found” means the platform has no listing. None of the three means the company does not have it. The same form is kept for every safari planner on this site, so each line can be set beside any other company’s. Where a line here differs from an older line on this page, this one, read later, is the current reading.
Who they are
Trading name and legal entity
Tanzania Odyssey Limited, registered in England no. 3858540, 5 The Mews, 6 Putney Common, London SW15 1HL; trades as Africa Odyssey (also South America Odyssey and Asia Odyssey)
Source: Company · legal · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Where it is based
Terms and privacy policy give 5 The Mews, 6 Putney Common, London SW15 1HL, UK. Contact page also gives 13 Chaldicott Barns, Semley, Shaftesbury, Dorset SP7 9AW and says offices in Putney and Wiltshire/Dorset border. Pages do not label either as 'head office'.
Source: Company · contact us · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Year founded
1998 ('crafting tailor-made trips to Africa since 1998'; structured data foundingDate 1998; started as Tanzania Odyssey)
Source: Company · aboutus · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Owner or parent
Not stated on their website: no named owner or parent stated. Says 'Owner run & 100% independent'. Names Marc Harris (set up Tanzania Odyssey; 'founder and managing director' on press page; Director on about page; data controller) and Ted Archdale (Managing Director).
Source: Company · aboutus · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
What it is
Tailor-made planner/tour operator: 'specialists in all aspects of African safari itinerary planning and ground management'; 'We don't sell pre-packaged trips of any kind'. No own camps stated; pages list other operators' lodges.
Source: Company · home page · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Team
6 named: Ted Archdale (Managing Director), Marc Harris (Director), Dave Fuller (Senior Consultant), Sam Hankss (Senior Consultant), Amelia Binns (Consultant), George Hannan (Operations and Accounts). Other pages quote 'Kitty, Africa Expert', who is not on the team page.
Source: Company · aboutus · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Where it sells
UK +44 (0) 20 8704 1216; 'Northern US clients' 1 866 356 4691; WhatsApp +44 7833 153136 (footer link); email [email protected]. Enquiry form budget in GBP or USD. Offices: Putney and Wiltshire/Dorset border (UK). No other country offices named.
Source: Company · contact us · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
In its own words
'Safari experts, long-established specialists in all aspects of African safari itinerary planning and ground management across sub-Saharan Africa'; about page: 'creating the neatest and most effective itineraries to suit your interests'
Source: Company · home page · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Response time and named planner
Reply time: only 'a dedicated consultant will respond promptly' (no hours or days). Each consultant has a named profile and direct email, but the pages do not say one named person plans each trip.
Source: Company · home page · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Reviews, by platform
5.0 from 19 reviews. The Google listing found is named Tanzania Odyssey (tour operator, 5 The Mews, 6 Putney Common, London); no listing under the name Africa Odyssey was shown
Source: Independent source · Google business listing · by hand · 12 Oct 2026
Trustpilot
Rating 5.0 from 379 reviews; claimed profile since May 2014, paid Trustpilot subscription. Newest review date shown in the saved page: 29 Sep 2026 (others shown: 5 Sep, 27 Aug, 30 Jul 2026).
Source: Independent source · Trustpilot · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Tripadvisor
Could not access: to be read by hand
Source: Company · not recorded · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Trustindex
No profile found: trustindex page returned CRAWL ERROR 404 (dead page).
Source: Independent source · Trustindex · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Where it asks clients to leave reviews
Trustpilot: footer and home page link to it ('many hundreds of glowing reviews on Trustpilot'; 'please see our Africa Odyssey Reviews, as well as at Trustpilot'). Also points to its own Reviews page and blog '2025 Guest Reviews' (not in saved pages).
Source: Company · home page · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Awards and recognition, read from the publishers
Every award, 2024 to 2026
Not stated on their website: no award dated 2024 to 2026 is stated. Press page lists British Travel Awards 2014 (Best Holiday Company to Sub-Saharan Africa; Best Wildlife Safari and Nature Holiday Company) 'and again in 2015 and 2016'. Home page says 'award-winning' with a British Travel Awards title and no year.
Source: Company · africa odyssey in the press · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Advisors on named lists
Not stated on their website: no named lists or advisor counts stated. Says Marc Harris is a judge of The Safari Awards / Good Safari Guide (not a list placing).
Source: Company · aboutus · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Certifications
ATOL licence 5397 ('fully bonded with ATOL (5397)'); member of ATTA (African Travel and Tourism Association; Marc Harris former ATTA director); footer logos for ATOL, ATTA, British Travel Awards and Bush Life Conservancy. No B Corp or similar stated; no certification dates given.
Source: Company · home page · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Money and booking terms
Prices published
Yes. Home page lists 13 itineraries 'From $X per person' (e.g. Botswana Adventure 1 from $7,124, Kenya Adventure 1 from $3,717, Zimbabwe Adventure 1 from $3,543); Zimbabwe page lists 8; itinerary pages show Adventure-tier prices in the saved text. Says 'All of our itineraries are tailor made... for illustration purposes only'. Total count not stated. Tanzania page adds 11 more priced itineraries ('From $X per person'), from Families Adventure 2 at $3,650 to Honeymoon Premier 1 at $24,984.
Source: Company · tanzania safari · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Priced example trips
1) Zimbabwe Adventure 1: 6 nights Victoria Falls and Hwange, from $3,543 pp, inc. internal flights. 2) Kenya Adventure 1: 6 nights Nairobi/Maasai Mara, from $3,717 pp, inc. internal flights. 3) Botswana Adventure 1: 10 nights Okavango Delta, Chobe and Victoria Falls, from $7,124 pp, inc. internal flights. Season not stated; only 'inc. internal flights' is listed as included. Tanzania page, further priced trips (nights and season not stated on that page): Northern Adventure 1 from $5,402 pp; Northern Classic 1 from $6,942 pp; Southern Adventure 3 from $4,760 pp; Northern Premier 3 from $12,546 pp; Northern Expert 3 from $16,752 pp; Southern Expert 1 from $11,728 pp; Southern Expert 2 from $16,006 pp. Also: Tanzania safaris 'begin from around $4,000/£3,500 per person' for a 4-night southern Tanzania safari plus a few days at the beach.
Source: Company · tanzania safari · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Price per person per day
No per-day total stated. Lodge rates are given per person per night: e.g. Zambia lodges $800 to $1,500; Uganda $200 to $600; Zimbabwe $700 to $1,350; beach stays $140 to $2,000; top luxury lodges from about $2,500 (Botswana Mombo $3,800 peak). Tanzania page: per person per night, tented comfortable-but-basic accommodation 'from around $500' and exclusive luxury 'from $1,200'. No per-day trip total stated.
Source: Company · tanzania safari · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Minimum spend
Not stated on their website: no minimum trip budget or daily rate stated. Detailed enquiry form asks for 'Approximate Budget Per Person, excluding international flights' in GBP or USD.
Source: Company · contact us · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
What the price includes
Only 'inc. internal flights' is stated beside the 'From $X per person' price; no fuller inclusions list (meals, transfers, activities, park fees) in the saved itinerary pages. Sample itineraries list camps and nights. Tanzania page adds: 'All of our trips include internal flights, transfers, guides and your game viewing activities, but they exclude international flights. Most of the time all drinks and food are also included, but some camps are full board which means drinks are on top.'
Source: Company · tanzania safari · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Deposit
Terms: 'usually 25% unless particular elements of your trip require a higher deposit', plus any up-front payments (e.g. gorilla permits, international flights). About page says '20% deposit'. Two pages disagree.
Balance due
Terms: balance due 120 days before departure (bookings made less than 120 days before: payment in full). About page says final balance due '12 weeks before you travel'. Two pages disagree.
Cancellation charges
Terms para 6, % of total price (excluding up-front payments): more than 120 days: deposit only; 91 to 120 days: 50%; 61 to 90 days: 70%; 60 days or less: 100%. Up-front payments (gorilla permits, international flights) non-refundable.
Source: Company · legal · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
How client payments are protected
'We are ATOL bonded' (ATOL 5397). Terms: ATOL-protected air holiday packages get a Confirmation Invoice; CAA would refund/repatriate on insolvency. Terms also say 'Not all holiday or travel services offered and sold by us will be protected by the ATOL scheme. Please ask us to confirm what protection may apply to your booking.' Scheme register not read.
Source: Company · legal · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Currencies and card fees
Not stated on their website: terms do not state billing currencies or any card surcharge. Itinerary prices are shown in USD; enquiry form offers GBP or USD for budget.
Source: Company · legal · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
24-hour contact while travelling
Stated: '24/7 assistance... emergency 24/7 number' with a team member on hand. No emergency number is printed in the saved pages (only office lines UK +44 (0) 20 8704 1216 and US 1 866 356 4691).
Source: Company · aboutus · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
How the company is paid
Says it is 'not driven by high targets or commission based sales' and negotiates rates with lodges as a preferred supplier. No planning fee or commission rate stated.
Source: Company · aboutus · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Price against booking direct
Yes: 'We will never be more expensive than booking direct with the lodges, and often we are cheaper'; 'Direct price promise... We will match any quote from a UK or US bonded tour operator'; says it can find deals 'you may miss out on by booking direct'.
Source: Company · home page · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Licences and registrations
ATOL 5397; England company no. 3858540 (Tanzania Odyssey Limited); ATTA membership (no number). Registers not checked.
Source: Company · legal · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Where it goes and how it works on the ground
African countries it plans
Home page: Tanzania, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda, Zanzibar, Seychelles, Sao Tome & Principe (plus Maldives). Footer menu also lists Ethiopia, Egypt, Congo, Malawi.
Source: Company · home page · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Own offices or staff in Africa
Not stated on their website: no own offices or staff in Africa named. Pages mention 'ground handlers' and a Tanzania director/brand (Tanzania Odyssey) but no African office location.
Source: Company · aboutus · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
How it books on the ground
Says it works with 'all of our providers and ground handlers'; is 'preferred supplier to most of the top lodges' (Wilderness Safaris, Asilia, &Beyond); 'Most lodges do not accept direct bookings'. Terms refer to 'agents and direct suppliers'. Whether each trip uses a local partner company is not spelled out.
Source: Company · home page, our partners in africa · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Own camps or vehicles
Not stated on their website: no own camps or vehicles stated; pages describe third-party lodges and operators.
Source: Company · home page · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Gorilla and chimpanzee trekking
Gorillas: Rwanda (Volcanoes National Park; permits $1,500 per trek) and Uganda (Bwindi). Chimps: Rwanda (Nyungwe), Uganda (Kibale), Tanzania (Mahale Mountains).
Source: Company · rwanda · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Beach add-ons
Zanzibar (Tanzania), Seychelles, Mauritius and Mozambique all have their own pages and are offered as beach add-ons; also Kenya coast, Madagascar, Maldives. Tanzania page also names Pemba Island, Mafia Island, Fanjove Private Island and Mnemba Private Island as Tanzania beach options alongside Zanzibar.
Source: Company · tanzania safari · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Africa only, or other regions too
Mainly Africa and Indian Ocean islands (incl. Maldives, Madagascar). Terms say it also trades as South America Odyssey and Asia Odyssey; about page says Dave Fuller 'heads up our Asia department'.
Who it suits and how it travels
Family trips
Family hub page plus family pages for Kenya, Zambia, Botswana, Tanzania and South Africa, with suggested routings (e.g. Tanzania: Arusha, Ngorongoro, Serengeti, Zanzibar). Tanzania page prices two family itineraries: Families Adventure 2 from $3,650 per person and Families Classic 2 from $5,135 per person (nights not stated there).
Source: Company · tanzania safari · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Minimum child age
No company-wide minimum age. Home page: lodges 'child-friendly above a minimum age of 6 years old'; Botswana page: 'some lodges will not take children under 8'; Zambia page: walking prohibited for children under 12 in national parks.
Source: Company · home page, botswana, zambia · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Teenagers and multigenerational trips
Stated. Tanzania family page: north plus Zanzibar itinerary 'perfect for teenagers'; 'parents, grandparents and children'; Zimbabwe 'better for teens with a sense of adventure'; South Africa 'a large family full of teenagers'.
Source: Company · tanzania · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Honeymoon trips
Dedicated Africa Honeymoons page and honeymoon pages per country (Kenya, Zambia, Tanzania, Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Mauritius, Seychelles).. Tanzania page prices two honeymoon itineraries: Honeymoon Classic 2 from $8,956 per person and Honeymoon Premier 1 from $24,984 per person (nights not stated there).
Source: Company · tanzania safari · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Solo travellers
Not stated on their website: no single supplement or solo-traveller policy found in the saved terms or pages.
Source: Company · legal · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Older travellers and limited mobility
Terms: 'We make every effort to accommodate medical conditions and disabilities'; details must be given in writing before booking confirmed. Rwanda page: gorilla trek 'does require at least some stamina and good mobility'; a closer gorilla family can be requested.
First safari
No itinerary marked 'first safari'. Guidance: Kenya 'great for first time safari goers'; South Africa 'fantastic introduction to Africa for first-time visitors'; Zambia 'we do send first-timers' but best for second or third safaris; Etosha popular for those who haven't been on safari.
Source: Company · home page · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Private guide and vehicle
Optional/recommended, not guaranteed as a policy: Botswana family page 'We recommend that you book a private vehicle and guide'. Tswalu is said to guarantee a private vehicle, tracker and guide for families. Fly-in camps use the lodge's vehicles and guides.
Source: Company · botswana · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Exclusive-use camps and villas
Offered. Examples named: Ol Lentille (private houses, 'fully catered and exclusive'), Luangwa Safari House (private luxury house), Tintswalo, Londolozi Pioneer Camp, Morukuru Collection (private houses), Alfajiri Villas.
Source: Company · kenya, south africa, zambia · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Small-group departures
Tanzania page has a 'Group safari departures' link and about page says Sam Hankss 'leads our photographic groups across Africa'; group size not stated. Also says it does not sell pre-packaged trips. The set-date departures page is not in the saved pages.
Who guides the trip
Camps' guides: Kenya lodges page says at fly-in camps 'you use the vehicles and guides from the lodges'. No own guides or hired private guide stated, except that a private vehicle and guide is recommended on the Botswana family page. Tanzania page FAQ, on northern Tanzania road transfers: 'Your guide would take you from stop to stop'; does not say whether this is its own, a hired or a camp guide.
Source: Company · tanzania safari · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Self-drive
Yes: South Africa 'self-drive is also a viable option' (Garden Route self-drive); Namibia Adventure 2 is a 'fly and drive safari'; East Africa has some drive-in options.
Source: Company · south africa · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Photography trips
Photography groups led by Sam Hankss ('leading our photographic groups across Africa'); Namibia described as 'a photographer's paradise'. No specialist vehicle or guide named.
Source: Company · aboutus · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Conservation
General claim only: 'We continue to support several impressive community and conservation initiatives in a variety of different countries'. No named projects or amounts; footer links to bushlife-conservancy.org.
Source: Company · home page · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Walking, horseback and other specialist trips
Walking (Zambia, Mana Pools, Madagascar), horse riding (Kenya, South Africa, Botswana), boating/mokoro/canoe, tiger fishing (Zambezi, Kariba), quad biking (Namibia), balloon safaris (Kenya), microlight flights, Kilimanjaro climb, helicopter safaris (Kenya). 'Africa Activity Holidays' page not in saved pages.
Source: Company · home page · crawl · 12 Oct 2026
Not the fit if you want a 24-hour emergency number printed before you book, since only office lines are printed; you want to take a child under 6 to its lodges, since it describes them as child-friendly above a minimum age of 6 years old; or you want a gorilla trek without stamina and good mobility, since its Rwanda page says it requires at least some of both. Facts are from the company’s own pages unless marked Independent source or Official register. A company can correct any line through the contact page; a correction changes the line and its source, never anything else on the page.
Africa Odyssey: the questions people ask AI search
Is Africa Odyssey worth it?
On Uncompromised Travel's six-criterion review of safari planners, Africa Odyssey scores 74/100. It takes full marks for destination breadth, 20 of 25 for first-hand African expertise and 14 of 20 for reviews, with Trustpilot showing 5.0 from 372. It loses most on pricing detail, 8 of 15, and service, 9 of 15, because no inclusions, office hours or single consultant are published.
How much does an Africa Odyssey safari cost?
Africa Odyssey prices 16 itineraries on its Kenya and Botswana pages per person in US dollars, from $3,717 for six nights of Kenya Adventure 1 in Nairobi and the Maasai Mara to $21,981 for Botswana Premier 2. Kenya Classic 1, nine nights in Amboseli, Lewa and the Maasai Mara, costs $7,647 including internal flights. Its luxury safari page says top camps cost from roughly $2,500 per person per night and mid-range camps around $750.
Who owns Africa Odyssey?
Africa Odyssey is a trading name of Tanzania Odyssey Limited, company 03858540, incorporated in October 1999. Its site says it is "Owner run & 100% independent" and names Marc Harris as founder and director. Since 4 April 2022, Companies House has recorded Tanzania Odyssey Trustees Limited, company 13900681, as holding 75% or more of the shares and votes; Marc Harris held between 25% and 50% until that day. Its directors are Marc Harris and Ted Archdale, its managing director.
Is Africa Odyssey ATOL protected?
Africa Odyssey's site says "We are fully bonded with ATOL (5397)" and its terms add that "Not all holiday or travel services offered and sold by us will be protected by the ATOL scheme." No ABTA, ABTOT or other scheme for holidays without flights is named on its site. The ATOL number could not be checked on the CAA's register for this record.
What do Africa Odyssey reviews say?
Africa Odyssey is rated 5.0 on Trustpilot from 372 reviews, 99% of them five-star, the newest from 5 September 2026; reviewers say it "fully understood what our family were looking for" and praise its logistics. Its SafariBookings listing shows 5.0 from 16 reviews, the newest from 2016, and its own blog keeps client reviews back to 2003.
Where does Africa Odyssey go?
Africa Odyssey has pages for Botswana, the Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, the Seychelles, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe, with Tanzania on its sister site Tanzania Odyssey. It also sells the Maldives and Oman, and South America and Asia under the Odyssey name.
What are Africa Odyssey's booking terms?
Africa Odyssey's deposit is usually 25%, due within seven days of the quote, and the balance is due 120 days before departure. Cancelling more than 120 days ahead costs the deposit, 91 to 120 days 50%, 61 to 90 days 70% and 60 days or fewer 100%. It charges "a reasonable amendment fee" for changes and requires travel insurance covering all risks, including abandonment.
Can I book Africa Odyssey through Uncompromised Travel?
No. Africa Odyssey is not bookable through this site and had no input into this page. Contact Africa Odyssey directly, and compare its quote with a second specialist and a comparison platform for the same camps, room categories and dates.
What are Africa Odyssey's deposit, payment and cancellation terms?
Read from Africa Odyssey's own website on 12 October 2026. Deposit: Terms: 'usually 25% unless particular elements of your trip require a higher deposit', plus any up-front payments (e.g. gorilla permits, international flights). About page says '20% deposit'. Two pages disagree. Balance due: Terms: balance due 120 days before departure (bookings made less than 120 days before: payment in full). About page says final balance due '12 weeks before you travel'. Two pages disagree. Cancellation: Terms para 6, % of total price (excluding up-front payments): more than 120 days: deposit only; 91 to 120 days: 50%; 61 to 90 days: 70%; 60 days or less: 100%. Up-front payments (gorilla permits, international flights) non-refundable.
What awards has Africa Odyssey won?
Read on 12 October 2026. ATOL licence 5397 ('fully bonded with ATOL (5397)'); member of ATTA (African Travel and Tourism Association; Marc Harris former ATTA director); footer logos for ATOL, ATTA, British Travel Awards and Bush Life Conservancy. No B Corp or similar stated; no certification dates given.
Corrections and right of reply. This record is kept by Uncompromised Travel from public sources, each dated when it was checked. If you represent Africa Odyssey and a fact here is wrong, out of date or missing, tell us and we will correct it with a dated note in the changelog. Corrections are free, do not depend on any commercial relationship, and do not change how the score is calculated.
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