SAFARI HOLIDAYS WITH AFRICA ODYSSEY

AFRICA ODYSSEY: THE EXPERT SAFARI TOUR OPERATOR 

LONG ESTABLISHED EXPERTISE: Africa Odyssey MD, 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, including the 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 the past two decades. 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 through their specialist countries, and most of the 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 to ensure it is up to date.

AFRICA ODYSSEY 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 and keen attention to detail 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 [email protected] , 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? Where would be best for you? We recommend that you 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, of course, does budget, how much beach time you might like, and all your other unique tastes and interests. Let us know, and we will help you work it out.

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 and Rwanda), or Southern Africa, (including Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa). Logistically, East Africa is more economical, with easier and thus 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. With regards to safaris, 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 distant, to Mauritius, or Mozambique.

Kids on safari?

Yes, a wildlife safari is one of the best family holidays, if you take advice as to where to go. There are some lodges that cater brilliantly to families, and many are child-friendly above a minimum age of 6 years old. Family safaris can get expensive; we find that the most economical options are East Africa, (Tanzania or Kenya), or South Africa, (rather than other southern African countries), and it is worth talking to us to discuss the latest best offers, or any ‘kids go free’ deals.

Safari activities?

Safaris can be heavily vehicle based game drives, but there are a number of options for a range of safari activities. Zambia has the best intrepid walking safaris, and fantastic fishing, the best boating safaris are in Botswana, although walking and boating are possible elsewhere too. Kenya, South Africa and Botswana are the places to head for superb horse-riding safaris. Namibia is a land for scenic walks, quad-biking and a very different type of safari experience. Talk to us about any specialist interests, and we will help you find the right place to enjoy them.

East Africa at a glance:

Tanzania is great for a big five safari and beautiful beach holiday, with some of Africa’s finest safaris in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, and the islands of Zanzibar easily accessible.

Kenya is a classic safari destination; great for first time safari goers and old hats with the wildlife rich plains of the Masai Mara Game Reserve and glorious Indian Ocean coastline.

Uganda is the land for intrepid, off-the-beaten track safaris, through beautiful landscapes to find incredible Mountain Gorillas

Rwanda:  is also the place for gorilla trekking, from the comfort of very luxurious lodges. Rwanda allows visitors to see these incredible primates up close and personal.

Southern Africa at a glance:

Botswana:  is the ultimate big five luxury safari country, with private concessions in the watery Okavango Delta and world class accommodation – but beware the price tag to match if you want to escape the Chobe crowds. 

Zambia:  is for proper, long walking safaris in the wild South Luangwa National Park, with great adventures to be had on the mighty Zambezi river and around Victoria Falls.

Zimbabwe:  still has a feel of being off the beaten track, but has exceptional safaris and some excellent lodges. Zimbabwe is similar to Botswana, but cheaper! Also Victoria Falls can be accessed from Zimbabwe or Zambia.

Namibia:  is strange, eerie and mystifying with impressive, unique landscapes and an indescribable atmosphere.

South Africa:  is accessible and diverse, with experiences ranging from vibrant, cosmopolitan Cape Town, landscapes, vineyards in the garden route and a great range of excellent and reasonably priced safaris.You can also get away from the Kruger National Park crowds to some excellent luxury private reserves. 

YOUR AFRICAN BEACH HOLIDAY, WHERE TO GO

The best Africa 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, arrayed 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, tending towards top end luxury, and expense.

Lamu and the Kenya Coast: there are some lovely and very authentic lodges and accommodation options, 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 this year.

Mauritius: A fantastic range of very high quality 5-star, 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 arrayed 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 on the continent. Beautiful, unspoilt, tiny, boutique lodges, very remote.

How to plan your Safari Holiday

Our website contains all you need to know to start researching an African safari or African holiday. We maintain our pages to keep them as informative and current as possible, but it is 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.

Design your own Africa safari holiday with Odyssey Explorer

We are delighted to launch our new safari planning and costing tool: Odyssey Explorer.This new itinerary planning 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!  

Contact an Africa Expert

Phone us to chat about your plans on the UK line (0)20 87 04 1216 or in the US on +1 866 356 4691. Discussing your ideas with a safari expert really is the best way to kick-start the planning process; we can give you ballpark costs on the phone and explain your options simply and without bias.
Email us on [email protected] with as much information about you and your trip as possible, or fill out our contact form and your consultant will promptly respond with ideas and suggestions.
Come and see us in our London office! There is no better way to understand your many options than face to face with a consultant, a map and a great cup of coffee. For those outside the UK, we can arrange a Skype presentation - just send us an email, and we will work out a time to suit you.