African safari tours with Africa Odyssey


We are safari experts, long-established specialists in all aspects of African safari itinerary planning and ground management across sub-Saharan Africa. If you are dreaming of the ultimate walking safari through the heart of Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park or a champagne breakfast in the Masai Mara; whether you wish to encounter wild gorillas or enjoy the ultimate Indian Ocean island beach break, we will design the perfect itinerary for you. Take a look at our ultimate video guide to visiting Africa - the best initial research tool out there. 


Africa Odyssey: The Expert Safari Tour Operator


LONG ESTABLISHED EXPERTISE: Africa Odyssey founder Marc Harris has been a connoisseur of fine safaris for over twenty years; he is a judge of The Good Safari Guide and former director of the African Travel and Tourism Association. Africa Odyssey continues to be an award-winning company, having won title of The Best Safari, Wildlife and Nature Holiday Company at the British Travel Awards. We are fully bonded with ATOL (5397) and have many hundreds of glowing reviews on Trustpilot.

OVER 20 YEARS’ EXPERIENCE: We have been organising holidays in east and southern Africa for over two decades, having started out in 1998. The long-established team at Africa Odyssey provide the best, most reliable and up-to-date safari advice, and invariably our safari holidays exceed the highest of expectations.

IN-DEPTH, FIRST HAND KNOWLEDGE: Each member of our expert Africa team have worked, lived and travelled extensively in their specialist countries, and most others as well. We maintain our position at the forefront of safari industry by actively engaging with all of our providers and ground handlers, and ensuring that each and every one of our specialist consultants regularly revisits and refreshes their knowledge. 






Our Guarantee


  • Always at hand: Our consultants are always available to contact. From deciding the right country destination, through your packing queries and arrival details, and for all unforeseen emergencies – we are here to help. We’re a small team, dedicated to providing you with the best, personalised service. 
  • Direct price promise: Booking through us costs no more, and often a lot less than if you were to book direct – with the benefit of our invaluable recommendations and logistical expertise. We will match any quote from a UK or US bonded tour operator. We will always strive to ensure that your trip is as cost effective as possible, with no compromises on quality. 
  • Totally tailor-made: Every single itinerary that we prepare is tailored to each individual inquiry. With our wealth of knowledge we will develop your dream into an exceptional Africa safari adventure. 
  • Responsible Tourism: We continue to support several impressive community and conservation initiatives in a variety of different countries, and continue to work to ensure that Africa tourism is conscious, responsible and, in the long term, beneficial for all of the many communities it effects
  • Expert safari consultants: We are all ex-guides, lodge managers, camp hosts and explorers with a genuine love of the African bush. See our about us page to find out more about our brilliant team. 

    • Plan your Safari Holiday with Africa Odyssey


    Planning your holiday with us is easy – we will do the work for you! There are various ways to get the ball rolling – ideally, give us a call, and have a quick chat to outline your ideas.

    Phone us: Call (0)20 8704 1216 from the UK, or +1 866 356 4691 from the US. Discussing your ideas with one of our consultants is the best way to start shaping your ideal holiday; we can give you rough quotes on the phone, and explain various options without bias.

    Email us:     Outline as much information as you can to info@africaodyssey.com , or fill out our contact form and a dedicated  consultant will respond promptly with ideas and suggestions.

    Come and see us:     Visit us in our London offices, and discuss your options over a great cup of coffee. We have copious maps and photos, and will always take time to talk


    Your African Safari Holiday - Where to go


    Which of the many exciting safari countries of Africa should you visit? We recommend that you firstly consider the time of year, whether you want adventure or luxury – or both - and what type of holiday you are planning. If you are travelling with children, their ages and interests will play into the decision, as does budget, how much beach time you might like, and all your other unique tastes and interests. 

    East Africa vs Southern Africa?


    At the initial research stage we would suggest you broadly assess whether to head to East Africa, (including Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, and Rwanda), or Southern Africa, (including Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa). Logistically, East Africa is more economical, with easier and cheaper access to the best beaches and islands of the Indian Ocean.

    Southern Africa is best for itineraries including CapeTown and/or Victoria Falls, and can be combined with beach breaks in Mauritius or Mozambique. With most safari holidays we organise you have to fly-in to the camps and lodges, though East Africa offers some opportunities for drive-in itineraries.For safari, each individual country and park is different, but generally East Africa has classic, sweeping plans and provides old-school style tented safaris, while Southern Africa has more private concessions offering a wide range of safari activities.

    Safari and Beach


    For the ultimate safari and beach combination, we would recommend East Africa. The Indian Ocean beaches are accessible, whereas from South Africa they are a lengthy and expensive flight to Mauritius, The Maldives, or Mozambique.

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    Africa Safari Itineraries



    Your African Beach Holiday- Where to go


    The best African holidays are not just about safaris; the Indian Ocean coast has some of the most glorious beaches and islands in the world, all within easy striking distance.

     

    From East Africa, (Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya), the easiest beach options are:



  • Zanzibar: The islands of Zanzibar have a huge range of accommodation styles to suit all tastes and budgets, peppered around its white coral sand, palm-fringed beaches. A great choice for families and honeymooners alike, easily combined with superb, world-class safaris. 
  • The Seychelles: Perhaps the ultimate Indian Ocean location, the many different islands of the Seychelles have a range of accommodation options, leaning towards top-end luxury and expense. 
  • Lamu and the Kenya Coast: There are some lovely, authentic lodges and accommodation options here, with visitors increasingly returning to the beautiful, endless beaches further north. 

    • From Southern Africa, (Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia), the easiest beach options are:



  • Mozambique: The beaches of Mozambique are beautiful, but the accommodation is not the 5* luxury resorts you will find in other places. This coast is fantastic for authentic island experiences, great diving and very intimate lodges, although current political issues are leaving the north less visited. 
  • Mauritius: A fantastic range of very high quality 5*, all-inclusive hotels. Mauritius is a beach paradise for those who enjoy luxury, fine cuisine and don’t mind a larger, resort style hotel. 
  • South Africa: There are a number of good beaches around this southern point, but be warned, the sea can be very cold!
  • Madagascar: A wonderful option for the truly adventurous, and anyone seeking an island experience like no other. With beautiful, unspoilt, boutique lodges, it is remote as remote can be. 


    • Design your own Africa safari holiday with Odyssey Explorer


    We maintain our pages to keep them as informative and current as possible, but it's always worth getting in touch directly, by email or telephone; world travel details constantly change and the excellent deals we get from our suppliers vary from week to week, which means your best source of information and recommendations will always be from our experts.

    However, for those looking to do a bit of their own research before getting in touch, we are delighted to launch our safari planning and costing tool; Odyssey Explorer. This new itinerary planning app allows you to work through core itinerary structures, assessing the best lodge for your time and budget.

    The app also contains maps, photos and much more information on each and every lodge and area. Of course this is not intended to replace our expert advice, but it is a great tool if you want to do some independent homework on your options, as it cleverly allows for fairly accurate price comparisons.

    Our app is still in Beta so please do have a play around with the itineraries and let us know if you like it!  


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