From our home near Kruger National Park – where cicadas buzz through the bushveld and late-afternoon storms build over the horizon – we often find ourselves pausing to reflect. Not in a numbers or business sense, but in a more human one. Thinking of the people we’ve met, the stories we’ve shared, and the quiet moments that remind us why we chose this life in the first place.

We’re often asked what it’s like to work in travel. Not the kind you book last-minute online, but the kind that’s shaped over months of emails, conversations, and careful choices – journeys that matter. The honest answer? It’s a strange blend of logistics and longing. On any given day, we might be comparing flight schedules and fine-tuning room configurations while simultaneously thinking about how to give someone their first moment of silence in the Namib Desert or the joy of watching first-time travellers to Africa lock eyes with a lion.

We don’t often write about this part of our work. It’s quieter than the wildlife sightings and less glamorous than the lodges, but it’s where the soul of Compass Odyssey lives.

Beverly, Irene, David, Cathe and John on their rhino walking safari in Zambia.

Some of our most meaningful moments come through the stories shared by those we travel with. Over the years, we’ve planned safaris for couples celebrating 40 years of marriage, for families honouring milestones, and for first-time visitors who, by journey’s end, were already dreaming of their return. We still hear from past travellers who remember “that guide in Botswana” or “those sundowners in the Serengeti.” These memories – your memories – become part of our own story.

What we keep coming back to is this: the work may be technical, but the purpose is always human. Behind every itinerary is trust – and we never take that lightly.

Simon and Kothari gliding along the channels of the Okavango Delta, Botswana.

When we started Compass Odyssey in 2005, we said we wanted to create journeys that respected both the traveller and the land. That remains our true north. Whether we’re mapping routes through the Zambezi Valley or helping someone choose between gorillas in Uganda or leopards in the Greater Kruger, we are always trying to hold that balance of adventure, care, and integrity.

Olga with fellow travellers, Roe (left) and Elizabeth (right) and our Victoria Falls guide extraordinaire, Mortimer.

We’ll leave you with the words of one traveller whose message reminded us why this work continues to matter:

“I can hardly find the words to express how deeply moved and impressed I was by the trip organised by Compass Odyssey… The itinerary was tailored to my individual preferences, and the entire communication was warm, kind, and incredibly understanding.”

— Olga, September 2025

If you have a few quiet minutes to spare, we’d love to share a short video that captures a little of the ‘why’ behind what we do. It’s a personal reflection on the meaning of travel, and what continues to inspire us:

Wherever this note finds you – planning your next adventure, reminiscing about past ones, or simply savouring the beauty of ordinary days – we hope it reminds you that your stories are still part of ours.