Meet the Team

Ted Archdale

Inspired by a multi-day camping expedition in Peru aged 15, our M.D Ted has made taking the less trodden route his life’s mission. In 2010 he met Marc, and through the fact-finding trips for Odyssey Travels that followed, there aren’t many countries Ted is yet to explore.

While Ted would spend his last day on earth enjoying the watery wilderness of the Lower Zambezi, learning about different ways of life and meeting new people is his favourite pursuit. Ted’s fondest travel memory is motorbiking the highest route in the world in Kashmir, not knowing where he’ll end up at sunset. If you want an adventure, Ted is your man.

Marc Harris

Sick of working in the city, in 1998 Marc got himself a one-way flight to Cape Town and drove the length of Africa. On his return he set up Tanzania Odyssey – one of the UK’s very first online tour operators – which expanded to Odyssey Travels as it is today. Marc’s last day on earth would be spent where his adventure began: in a secret corner of the Serengeti that’s jam-packed with cheetahs. This, with lazing on the world’s best beaches in close second, is Marc’s happy place.

Formerly a judge of The Good Safari Guide and director of the African Travel and Tourism Association (ATTA), Marc is also one of the most respected safari consultants in the world.

Dave Fuller

Throughout his 20s Dave lived for adventure, saving up for six months of the year to travel the remainder. Having explored Asia’s every nook and cranny – with decades of experience in the travel industry – Dave joined Odyssey Travels in 2013 to launch Asia Odyssey, and later fell in love with Africa too.

His last day on earth would be spent between Tokyo, Hong Kong and Buenos Aires, walking the day away and tucking into his favourite local dish. A moment that will always stay with Dave was waking up in Northern India to the early morning prayers.

Name any city on earth, and Dave will probably know its best low-key, delicious eatery that can’t be found in any guidebook.

Sam Hankss

With a pilot for a father, Sam got his first taste of travel as he learnt to walk. After graduating university, Sam wasted no time and hopped on a flight to South Africa, where he got his safari guide qualification and worked for a number of years. From there, Sam’s wildlife obsession took him to the Arctic to spy polar bears, and to India in pursuit of tigers. Sam joined Odyssey Travels in 2019 and – armed with his National Geographic-winning camera – has explored all corners of Africa and beyond.

Sam would spend his last day on earth in Kenya’s Amboseli National Park, watching elephants pass in front of a hazy Kilimanjaro backdrop. His most prized memory is seeing the elusive pangolin – a sighting most guides could only dream of.

George Hannan

Some seriously exotic family holidays in countries like Borneo, Kenya and Singapore made George’s route into the travel industry a no-brainer. After graduating university and travelling around South East Asia, New Zealand and Australia, George worked at a large tour operator before finding a home at Odyssey Travels in 2015.

Having travelled Africa and Asia extensively, George would spend his last day on earth eating Pho in Hoi An. His favourite way to get to know a country is most definitely through the local cuisine – and the quality of their gin and tonics.

Johnny Ogilvie

It’s safe to say Johnny’s first trip to Latin America in 2005 had its impact on him. After working on a conservation programme in an Ecuador cloud forest for three months, he embarked on an adventure through Peru, Argentina and Brazil.

Johnny then settled into ten years as a South America travel expert, before finding his home at Odyssey Travels in 2018. Now, he heads up South America Odyssey from Quito, where he also works as an Advisor to the Ecuadorian Minister of Tourism.

Alice Stone

In 1995 Alice taught at a school in Zimbabwe and has returned to Africa year after year ever since in search of sunsets and wilderness. Africa is home to all Alice’s favourite places in the world, so it seems logical she ended up with Odyssey Travels.

After travelling far and wide, her last day on earth would be spent anywhere with twinkling water and birds. Being a keen horsewoman, Alice also loves riding safaris and her most prized memory is seeing a wild dog hunt and learning how they communicate from a knowledgeable guide.
Alice does ‘anything and everything’ in the Odyssey Travels office as our operations whiz.

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ODYSSEY TRAVELS BROUGHT TO YOU FROM THE SAFARI EXPERTS AT AFRICA ODYSSEY