Come As Guests, Leave As Family.
Odyssey Safaris
- Located In:
-
United States
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2002)
- Member Of:
- IATA, APTA & KPSGA
- Tour Types:
- Custom luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $12,146 to $17,351 per person per day (MXN, excl. int'l flights)
for a custom tour
Your request will be sent directly to the operator
If preferred, you can contact the operator directly
Reviews
Experience level: first safari
Awesome Kenya Safari
An awesome safari, the only way to describe my 7 night Kenya Safari hosted by Odyssey Safaris. My internet searches led me to Safari Bookings a one place site that I could use to research and compare what was on offer. One safari stood out. It ran every week (which meant definite departure) , the price for each weekly departure was published (I hate those from $... prices call us for details) and it was an US and African co-owned business (this meant Odyssey had skin in the game both in taking my money and providing the service). In addition I liked the itinerary and the quality of the accommodation and the inclusions.
This led to the initial tentative call that ended with me feeling a high level of comfort with Odyssey Safaris. Mark who is a director of Odyssey Safaris answered all my questions and within an hour emailed me an 80 page information package with everything I needed to know such as itinerary, accommodation, inclusions, exclusions, what to expect, how to get a visa, insurance options etc. What stood out during the booking process was the promptness of the responses. And also a no pressure approach. A couple of weeks before departure we received details of our guide which included a photo. I really appreciated this.
Our guide was Odyssey's head guide Erastus. He was outstanding, great sense of humor and amazing eyesight. Our safari began with a long drive from Nairobi to Samburu national reserve. On route we met Eliud the African director of the company. We appreciated the short meeting and it reflected the value that Odyssey placed on ensuring a great experience for its clients.
Day to day:
Samburu national reserve (2 nights): I had no idea what to expect of Samburu. But I was pleasantly surprised by the large elephant herds we came across. My best memories of Samburu are of elephants drinking and playing and cooling off in the river. Our camp Ashnil, Samburu, was inside the park next to a river. Great location as on day two we had three elephants feeding behind the tented camp and one more big guy come & push a Duma palm tree to knock the fruit off & pick & eat the fallen fruit. All this right behind our camp about 20 feet from us. The key to accommodation is location (best inside the reserve) while comfort and food are secondary. However, Ashnil Samburu is very comfortable with good food and pleasant service.
Also on day 2 in Samburu, our guide spotted tracks of a large male lion along the dirt road. Soon joined by a another large male. We followed the tracks but lost them as they left the road to cross the river. That same evening our guide searched for them but to no avail. But when we returned to camp, we were told two big males had walked past the camp on the other side of the river. Man, lions can be sneaky. But we did see a lioness on day one and two cubs hiding in the tall grass on our exit from the park. We could hear lion calls during the night.
Sweetwater Game Reserve (1 night)
Sweetwater tented camps had the bets location. Right by a waterhole, teeming with Impala, waterbuck, warthog, some rhino and buffalo. A constant change of animals coming to drink & feeding on the plain. All visible from the camp. It also (along with Saravo Lion Hill Lodge in Lake Nakuru NP) had the best food.
Our game drives led us to vast plains full of various antelopes, rhino and buffalo plus a pride of 5 lionesses. A word of caution. Our guide did say that when he was here a month earlier the plains were mostly empty.
Lake Nakuru national park (1 night)
The accommodation and food was on par with Sweetwaters. Also great views of the lake. But since the lake level has risen and its alkalinity changed, the flamingos, it was famed for have all left. But it has rhino, zebra, buffalo & giraffe. We missed out on seeing a large pride of lions which others had seen. But that is the way game drives go.
Masai Mara game reserve (2 nights)
Two nights at Ashnil tented camp right by a river full of hippos. We could see them all day & hear them all night. Highlights of the game drive was a 2 day old hippo kill attended by hyenas and vultures and a failed hunt by a cheetah. It was surreal to see how the cubs followed mum at a distance & lay down during the hunt. We also came across lions on several occasions but they were mostly sleeping, I guess full of hippo.
I highly recommend Odyssey Safaris.
Email Marilyn B. Campbell | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
My Safari in Kenya
My Safari to Kenya was Excellent from beginning to end. I was extremely anxious about this trip. The staff of Odyssey Tours allayed my fears. Then provided the most wonderful experience of my life. James our Tour Guide was knowledgeable, patient and compassionate. Our Game Drives were spectacular and fun!. I would not hesitate to recommend Odyssey Safaris, my tour guide James, and the staff. The Kenyan people made our stay an outstanding experience. Thank you again and again!
Email Robin W | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
This trip turned into an experience of a lifetime that exceeded our expectations!!!
My daughter and I went on this Kenyan Safari trip as a college graduation gift to her, a mom/daughter trip. We were nothing but pleased with all of the preparation and execution of the trip. We were provided a very thorough packet to inform us regarding what medical attention was required and what visas/cash would be necessary. The trip itself was beyond words. We were assigned a guide that, if you can request him, you should. James Mbugua did everything in his power to make sure we got to see every animal on each of our wish lists, we saw all of the Big Five, elephants, black rhino, cougar, lion, cape buffalo. In addition the multiple giraffe, wildebeast, hippo, white rhino,zebras, etc... the list just goes on and on. The accomodations were amazing, just rustic enough to let you know you're on a safari, but elegant enough to keep you clean and warm. The food was plentiful and delicious, so many choices, you're bound to find several things with which you're familiar and even adventurous items. The Naivasha Lake Sopa Lodge was my favorite since the animals would walk right by us at dusk on our patio. I cannot say enough to praise the coordination of our time and the vast expanse of the territory we were able to cover. I would do this again in a heart beat. Thank you, Mark and James.
Email Kyle S. | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great Experience
Our recent trip to Kenya with Odyssey Safari's was a delight. We saw the Big Five, the guides (especially Eliud) were fantastic, and the hotels were wonderful. For anyone looking to get a taste of Kenya and African Wildlife I highly recommend booking with Odyssey.
Email jennifer | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
unfortunate experience *updated*
Update February 2nd, 2017:
The owner of the company called me with concerns about my review, so I will clarify that further.
I said the food was not good, which was too blanket a statement. There was a buffet for every meal, and most people could find something in it that appealed to them. There was always a certain amount of Indian food, as Kenya has a large East Indian population. I wouldn't go expecting gourmet offerings, but the food was satisfactory. Mark (the owner) said he eats fruits and vegetables every time he goes there, but it seemed to me like no one wanted to risk it on my trip.
As for options that cost more, I was referring to side trips that are offered if you have the time.
Another point I didn't make in my review was to be sure to bring extra cash-like at least $250. There are many things you will need it for, and they gladly take American dollars, so no need to change money.
Original review:
My experience with Odyssey started out well: I though they had good communications and returned my emails and calls promptly. Where it all fell apart was when they had a problem with the return ticket and did not give me accurate and timely information. This caused me a lot of anxiety and anger, because they were not honest and forthcoming about what was happening. It turned out fine in that I did get home, but my feelings about the trip are tainted.
The tour itself seemed to be ok, with a lot of driving and very little rest or down time. Also, the food was not good. Many of the options are not really available at all, and most cost extra money.
I would caution anyone interested in this company to be aware of every detail stated in the package, and keep a careful eye on arrival times and any changes that are made.
Reply from Odyssey Safaris
Posted on Feb 2, 2017Thanks for taking my call today to discuss your trip and review. I appreciate your frustration with the return flight situation which was out of our control. I think we both understand that we were honest with what was happening, but had we been more thorough with information this would have alleviated any anxiety. For that we are sorry.
With regards to the food, thank you for your discussion regarding that comment. I hope you are able to add an update to this review with more detail. If I can summarize our discussion the food was satisfactory but because of some concerns arising from comments from health care professionals in the United States, there was anxiety about eating fruits and vegetables that couldn't be peeled. We don't feel this is accurate and I appreciate you sharing this with us so we can address this with travelers in the future. I hope we can see you in Africa again!
Email Sally Lazaro | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Odyssey Safari was more than I even hoped for. Every detail was taken care of and excellent!
The Safari from beginning to end was more than I even hoped for. Every detail was taken care of. The staff accommodations and everything in between was first class. As an American it was top of the line in Kenya Africa the way I wanted it to be. The Safaris did not disappoint. Saw all these different animals in their environment which was breathtaking. Many of the animals even crossed our paths.
I highly recommend this tour to anyone that is interested in the Safari. You will not be disappointed in any area of the trip.
Email Jack and Connie | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The trip of a lifetime, amazing!!!!! We would highly recommend it to others!
The four different accomodations we stayed at were excellent, very clean! The staff members were very friendly and knowledgeable. With all the food being inclusive, it was fabulous and you could have as much as you wanted. We saw so many animals in their natural habitat, it was really breathtaking !The sunsets were beautiful! And one of our trips to Amboseli National Park was situated at the foot of snowcapped Mount Kilimanjaro! What a spectacular sight! The weather was very comfortable and we had no problems with mosquitoes! Of particular note was our individual guide, Erastas. He was extremely accommodating, taking care of all our needs. There were many bathroom stops along the way. There was an 86 year old woman in our jeep and he took extra care to ensure her comfort. It was impressive, He was very well informed regarding the wildlife we observed and he was willing to answer any questions we had. He coordinated well with the other guides to ensure that we got maximum exposure to as many animals as possible. Additionally and perhaps more importantly he was a perfect gentleman and a friendly companion! He is a credit to your organization. Thank you for such a great experience. We will never forget it! And our pictures are awesome!
Email RandyM | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Trip of a lifetime
After receiving quotes from many safari companies and after reading many reviews, we chose Odyssey Safaris. Mark Cahill offered a private safari that matched everything we said we wanted to see. He got us good flights and helped to resolve a last minute flight change due to an American Airline cancellation. Lucy and Beatrice made sure we were fully prepared for the trip. Our accommodations were great at all locations. The food was great and plentiful. We saw rhinos, leopards, cheetahs, lions, hyenas, and a multitude of grazers. We saw the great migration and river crossings at the Mara River. We spent three nights in Masai Mara, two nights in the Serengeti, two nights at the Ngorongoro Crater, one night in Lake Manyara. On the last day we visited Arusha National Park before traveling to the airport. Our Kenyan guide, Erastus, and our Tanzanian guide, Tadei, were exceptional. They got to where the animals were and made sure we had perfect spots to do our viewing. They were very attentive to our needs and our desires. Many thanks to everyone involved in making this a perfect trip.
CA
Email Carolyn Gilbert, Trenton, Ontario | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Well organized, professional organization that cares about their clients and the animals.
From Day one when we signed up through a Groupon, we were impressed with the professionalism and consideration given by Mark Cahill and his staff. We initially were concerned about safety issues but every step of the trip was super organized and at no time did we feel our safety was at risk. Accommodations and meals were excellent and the wildlife viewing is out of this world. The guides did their best to ensure a safe trip but one with the most wildlife and daily outings. My husband became ill during our trip but with their concern for his well-being and his privacy, he was well looked after and able to continue the trip for the duration. If I am fortunate enough to travel to Africa again, I would certainly not hesitate to book with Odyssey Safaris in the future.
Experience level: first safari
Fabulous vacation; wonderful adventure
This was my favorite trip to date along with Tibet, which was also fabulous for different experiences. The entire trip was wonderful. Mark, with Odyssey Safaris, was great to work with. He was always easy to reach and so helpful with setting up our tour and answering questions. Could not have asked for anyone better. The trip to Kenya was outstanding even though the flights from the USA to Kenya were long. Everything flowed smoothly from the time we were met at the airport in Nairobi to the time we departed Nairobi. We felt safe the entire time. The lodges/tented camps were amazing with great meals and wonderful service. The people were all so friendly. Erastus, our guide and driver, was the best. We were four gals on an 8 day private safari and he had a great sense of humor and made the trip a lot of fun. He also had a great eye for spotting animals and thus we saw different animals & birds on each of our game drives. We saw 4 of the big 5; missed our leopard by 2 minutes but saw a cheetah! All other animals you would hope to see were everywhere in their glory! I would recommend everyone check out Odyssey Safaris if you are looking for a wonderful tour with easy and great planning, scheduling, lodging, meals, service, amazing game drives and an overall amazing experience.