We have been working across Africa for over 20 years, developing a network of failsafe contacts and creating the neatest and most effective itineraries to suit your interests and requirements.
Over 20 years experience
We have been crafting unforgettable tailor-made trips to Africa since 1998! In fact, we were the first ever online UK tour operator to do so... Our experience really does speak for itself!
Transparent pricing
Want to see a breakdown? Just ask! We will never be more expensive than booking direct with the lodges, and often we are cheaper. Our long-established relationships with safari lodges in Africa mean we can negotiate excellent rates, resulting in savings for you.
Owner run & 100% independent
We are not driven by high targets or commission based sales which other bigger companies could be beholden to, so we only send you to lodges which we think you'd love. We are proudly 100% tailor-made.
Expert knowledge
We will never send you to a lodge which we have not been to. Our small team are some of the UK’s leading Africa safari and beach experts, and we send them back year after year to ensure their knowledge is still exceptional and fully up to date.
24/7 assistance
Help is available around the clock on an Odyssey trip. So if there is an emergency on the ground in Tanzania then we are only a call away.
Financial protection
We are ATOL bonded. This means that if in the unlikely event that something happens to us, your money is safe.How it all works
Speak to an expert
When you are ready to begin planning, please do pick up the phone and chat to one of our expert team. Every Odyssey consultant has travelled throughout Africa extensively or lived there, and we have personally vetted every single property we recommend.
We begin crafting and eventually finalise your itinerary
Once we know a little more about you, we will get to work on some sample itineraries. Then, it is simply a case of tweaking and tweaking (or completely changing!) your trip until you are 100% happy. To confirm the space at the lodges, we require a 20% deposit, with the final balance due 12 weeks before you travel.
Preparing for your trip
Once you have paid your deposit, we will be with you every step of the way until your departure. We will send you a link to our App which has maps, locations, pre-departure information (including packing lists) a countdown to your trip and even the weather forecast. We are always at the end of the phone or on emails to help answer any questions you have in the run up to your trip.
Enjoy!
In the unlikely event that you encounter any problems on your travels, then simply call our emergency 24/7 number and one of our team will be on hand to help. On your return, please do get in touch and let us know how everything went – we love hearing about your experience and staying in touch.
Ted Archdale
Managing Director
Exploring the world’s wilderness areas has always been part of Ted’s DNA. From the age of 16, Ted was undertaking self-sufficient treks trekking in the Andes to the Cordillera Blanca region as well as ticking off bucket-list locations like Machu Picchu.
In between university semesters, where Primates were the source of study, Ted worked as a builder’s apprentice to save enough money for a plane ticket to Africa. He self-drove across South Africa and through Botswana, swimming in the Okavango’s waterways, self-sufficient fishing and camping under the stars on the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans became the every-day life of a true adventurer. Since meeting Marc and joining Africa Odyssey in 2010, Ted has uncovered some of the most remote regions of Africa where a love for walking safaris has flourished. Other highlights include micro-light flights over the Luangwa valley and being witness to Great Wildebeest Migration (make sure you check out his Instagram for some amazing content!).
From motorbiking across the Himalayas and spending extended periods in Indian Subcontinent, it’s not just Africa that has fed Ted’s exploratory appetite and now having set up the Semley office in the English countryside, Ted is keen to show his young children the wonders of the world and set them on a path of similar exploration.
Contact Ted Archdale >
My Favourites
Marc Harris
Director
Following years of travelling and exploring, Marc started organising safaris for clients in the mid 1990s. Specialising in the then lesser-known safari regions, he set up Tanzania Odyssey; providing the very best itineraries and safari support in Tanzania. Marc has a natural flair and love for the finest safari and beach experiences, all of which he continues to test assiduously, whenever possible. A natural perfectionist, his unrivalled zest for world experiences makes him a sturdy helmsman for all of your African Odysseys. Marc's knowledge is decades in the making: he is a judge of The Good Safari Guide and a director of the African Travel and Tourism Association (ATTA), he is one of the most respected safari consultants in the world.
Contact Marc Harris >
My favourites
Dave Fuller
Senior Consultant
Dave's love of travel and exploration was always with him; through his twenties he explored the majority of Asia and Latin America, and Africa was next… With nothing but a one way ticket Dave made his way to South Africa, through Mozambique, into Zimbabwe and ending up on the shores of Lake Malawi. Dave’s passion for Africa started here and his travels later took him to Tanzania, where he fell in love with the wild parks of the South, and extensively through Botswana and Zambia. As well as being a Tanzania, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Zambia specialist, Dave heads up our Asia department, having spent months exploring India, China and South East Asia. 20 years in the travel industry have helped Dave turn itinerary planning into an art form.
Contact Dave Fuller >
Contact Dave Fuller >
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Sam Hankss
Senior Consultant
After travelling to the continent of dreams with his family, Sam decided one holiday was not enough. After finishing his studies, he became a safari guide in the Greater Kruger where he led and educated guests in a variety of lodges. A love for wildlife photography also grew during this time and has resulted in him exploring more of the world. Now leading our photographic groups across Africa, he is well versed in the art of building the finest itineraries for those photographically minded. This has led to his own photographic website coming to fruition.
Contact Sam Hankss >
Contact Sam Hankss >
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George Hannan
Operations and Accounts
Having travelled extensively his whole life, George has explored many countries across Asia, Europe, Australasia, Africa and North America but it was the East African safari bug that really bit. Always having had a passion for wildlife and conservation, he has worked in travel since leaving university and this passion shines through everything he does. A particular specialist in the Serengeti, we’re fairly sure he knows several of the great migration’s wildebeest by name and his latest trip has taken him from the Plains of the Masai Mara to the mountains of Rwanda. A real sucker for luxury but at home in a tented camp, George is your guy for a perfectly tailored itinerary to East Africa.
Contact George Hannan >
My Favourites
Join our Team at Africa Odyssey!
Africa Odyssey is a boutique tour operator that specializes in crafting remarkable safari and beach holidays throughout Africa. If you share our enthusiasm for creating unforgettable experiences, we invite you to explore career opportunities with us as we are currently looking to build a team in our new office on the Dorset/Wiltshire border.
We Offer:
- A collaborative and dynamic team that shares a love for Africa and travel.
- Opportunities to work with diverse clients and curate bespoke itineraries.
- A supportive and nurturing work culture that values growth and development.
- The chance to be part of an established company with a track record of success.
- Opportunities to travel to the most remote and luxurious properties in Africa
Job Title: Safari Sales Consultant (full time)
Location: Semley, Dorset
We Are Looking For either:
1. Exceptional Graduates:
- Genuine passion for Africa and its captivating landscapes, wildlife, and cultures.
- Strong communication skills and eagerness to learn.
- Attention to detail and organizational abilities.
2. Seasoned Travel Consultants:
- Extensive experience as a travel consultant, preferably specializing in African destinations.
- Deep knowledge of safari and beach holidays across Africa.
- Exceptional sales and customer service skills.
- Excellent communication abilities.
- Proven track record of achieving sales targets.
Responsibilities:
- Tailor-Making Itineraries: Create personalized travel itineraries for clients, showcasing the unique experiences Africa has to offer.
- Sales Focus: Drive sales by effectively promoting and selling our diverse range product from the Africa Odyssey portfolio
Requirements:
- Sales Skills: Strong sales abilities with a track record of meeting targets.
- Excellent Communication: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills to connect with clients and contribute to content creation.
- Organizational Abilities: Demonstrated multitasking and organizational skills to handle various responsibilities and prioritize tasks.
- Team Player: Collaborative mindset and ability to contribute positively to a cooperative work environment.
Salary will depend on experience.
How to Apply:
Email your CV and a cover letter to Ted Archdale at recruitment@africaodyssey.com
Note: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted
We Offer:
- A collaborative and dynamic team that shares a love for Africa and travel.
- Opportunities to work with diverse clients and curate bespoke itineraries.
- A supportive and nurturing work culture that values growth and development.
- The chance to be part of an established company with a track record of success.
- Opportunities to travel to the most remote and luxurious properties in Africa
Job Title: Safari Sales Consultant (full time)
Location: Semley, Dorset
We Are Looking For either:
1. Exceptional Graduates:
- Genuine passion for Africa and its captivating landscapes, wildlife, and cultures.
- Strong communication skills and eagerness to learn.
- Attention to detail and organizational abilities.
2. Seasoned Travel Consultants:
- Extensive experience as a travel consultant, preferably specializing in African destinations.
- Deep knowledge of safari and beach holidays across Africa.
- Exceptional sales and customer service skills.
- Excellent communication abilities.
- Proven track record of achieving sales targets.
Responsibilities:
- Tailor-Making Itineraries: Create personalized travel itineraries for clients, showcasing the unique experiences Africa has to offer.
- Sales Focus: Drive sales by effectively promoting and selling our diverse range product from the Africa Odyssey portfolio
Requirements:
- Sales Skills: Strong sales abilities with a track record of meeting targets.
- Excellent Communication: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills to connect with clients and contribute to content creation.
- Organizational Abilities: Demonstrated multitasking and organizational skills to handle various responsibilities and prioritize tasks.
- Team Player: Collaborative mindset and ability to contribute positively to a cooperative work environment.
Salary will depend on experience.
How to Apply:
Email your CV and a cover letter to Ted Archdale at recruitment@africaodyssey.com
Note: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted
