Who we are...
Odysseia is not just a travel company or a content creation agency - it is a philosophy dreamt by passionate guides, photographers, conservationists and lovers of beautiful things. One of finding a sense of home within the self and within nature; one of creativity, Beauty, wonder, inspiration and doing good. Thus, we cannot dissociate conservation from what we do. We truly believe that the main guide for our inspiration and happiness is the incredible and perfect masterpiece that is Nature, and we can't wait to take you on this exciting journey with us (pun intended).
Our safaris are tailored for small group sizes so that an intimate experience can be had an each guests can get maximum input from our experienced expedition leaders.
Understanding the cost of making it to Africa for a dream safari experience, we guarantee an ethical and competitive price as well as safaris that range for ultra exclusive and sometimes expensive to incredible experiences that we try to make as budget-friendly as possible.
With decades of experience in the safari world, from remote camps throughout the continent to the most luxurious lodges, you can be assured that in the hands of our professional and friendly expedition leaders, you will be well taken care of.
Odysseia is a family-run company, and our pledge is to treat this business and those within it (that's you) like family. Never to take on too much work that would mean our product standards drop. Never to put social media or gathering content of our own before the experience of our valued guests and friends. You are first and always will be!
The Odyssey is one of the oldest pieces of literature humanity has access to. Written over 3000 years ago, it sings the story of a triumphant hero’s journey home from the Trojan shores and battlefield. A voyage that took Odysseus ten years, laden with obstacles, from giant one-eyed islanders to the Sea God Poseidon’s wrath, from the dangerously charming Sirens to the beautiful nymph Kalypso’s offer of immortality. Yet the call home superseded all perils and temptations – our hero longed to return, and with the protection of the wise Athena, he returned: balance was restored.
In Greek, the oikos is the home, birthing words like ecosystem and ecology – the science of the home, the study of nature. As lovers of art and nature, we found meaning and relevance in the figure of Odysseus. A hero who lost himself along the ways of war and unmeasured pride, who was humbly reminded by the gods of his mortality and fragility.
An Odyssey is not just a journey home, it’s a journey to the self, and a journey to our true home, Nature. So travel with us. Let us show you our home, and help you unleash your creativity as you get lost in the golden pools of light on the banks of the Zambezi, as you dine under the inky starry sky filled with African magic, as you breathe in the bush and let its musky smell enchant you.
Our Conservation Mission Statement
Odysseia is founded by three nature lovers, who have always sought to give back where possible to the natural world. The ‘eco’ is our home, and we so believe in bridging the broadening gap between man and nature, reconnecting people with the wonderful world we live in.
Odysseia is a vector for this. We design every single trip with the hope that you will find your home in nature, understand its value and why we need to protect it. By travelling with Odysseia, you contribute to the crucial funding of conservation projects in Africa by paying park fees, wildlife permits, supporting tourist operations that employ people who are then intimately tied to conservation efforts.
PLANT TREES WITH US
Each Odysseia trip supports a tree-planting and carbon offsetting project in Malawi called ‘Root to Fruit’. Deforestation is a hot topic in Malawi, a country once known as a place ‘where trees endlessly dotted the horizon’. Reforesting the country is crucial to support communities who now suffer from heavy flooding when the rains come. Trees act as a natural line of defence to help balance out the intensity of water, supporting soil absorption and limiting river run-off. Immense community benefits are also achieved by Root to Fruit, including job creation, environmental awareness and training, youth integration through partnership with Children in The Wilderness, and it is an organisation we are truly proud to support. You can read more about it here.
STORIES AND ART FOR CONSERVATION
But we always wish to do more. Part of our philosophy is storytelling and supporting conservation projects that are meaningful, reducing our footprint on the planet. We want to connect people around the world with incredible teams on the ground, and hope that you are inspired by the organisations we support and work with. Meet some of our favourite organisations.
The individual artists we showcase are all selected for their talent and how their narratives and work is intertwined with the natural world and giving back. By supporting them, you support their efforts to communicate conservation and bridge the gap between people and nature.
ECO-FRIENDLY ISN’T JUST A LABEL
We strive to partner with the most eco-responsible, sustainable, and meaningful properties and operations on the ground. Today, ‘eco-lodge’ is a label most properties proudly display, from luxury lodge to budget friendly options. We ensure they have their own conservation mission statements in order – Alice, with her academic background in best practice community-driven conservation, and conservation governance, is very adamant on supporting businesses that do more than simply hide behind the ‘eco-tourism’ label. Andrew and Paul’s years of experience in lodges and the guiding industry across Africa is also invaluable as we handpick the most ethical and respectful operators for you – never compromising on comfort, of course.
“A husband with the heart of a lion, and who among the Danaans surpassed in all virtues, a great man” – Penelope in describing her husband, Odysseus – The Odyssey, Book IV
Meet the team...
Alice Péretié - Director
PHOTOGRAPHER – CONSERVATIONIST – STORYTELLER
Alice is a French photographer who fell in love with Africa at a young age. Passionate of all things nature, conservation, art, literature and philosophy, she’s made it her mission to reconnect man and nature through Beauty and self-awareness. After graduating with a degree focused around best-practice in conservation, she continued teaching literature and philosophy to pay for camera bills and trips. Alice loves exploring off-the-beaten track destinations, and taking people on meaningful adventures across the continent, sharing her approaches to creativity as a powerful tool for doing good. She has also organised international photo exhibitions in support of conservation, and works as a creative consultant to help brands with their storytelling. Also known to dance all over the house and sneeze outrageously loudly.
Andrew Danckwerts - Director
SPECIALIST GUIDE – PHOTOGRAPHER – TREE SHAKER
Born and addicted to Africa’s beauty and wildness. An insatiable need to explore and to experience led Andrew into a decade of work as a guide and expedition leader for some of the most renowned outfitters and in some of Africa’s most remote camps to some of the most luxurious and prestigious lodges. Andrew got into private guiding for the purpose of taking others on these unforgettable adventures. His goal was not to simply connect the dots between destination and route but to connect others to Africa’s limitless space and stretch the aperture of their mind and soul with her internal mystery and wildness.
Discover some of our favourite conservation organisations
AFRICAN PARKS
Park and community management and development. Ranger training and equipping.
COMACO
Community development and training of sustainable farming practices. Bridging the gap between people and nature.
CHENGETA
Delivering specialist anti-poaching training in conflict areas, Chengeta also focuses on capacity building and community empowerment.
ROOT TO FRUIT
Planting trees, environmental training and providing valuable food sources to vulnerable communities.
CHILDREN IN THE WILDERNESS
Empowering the leaders of tomorrow, and connecting children with nature, CITW is a wonderful project going 20 years strong.