Personal & Genuine African Safaris
Siya Phambile Expeditions
- Office In:
- Size:
- 1-5 employees (Founded in 2016)
- Member Of:
- Southern Africa Tourism Services Association
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $15 to $905 per person per day (USD, 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
CA
Email Dan Aberle | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
A Magnificent Journey through South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana
We landed in Cape Town on Aug. 5, 2025. The face behind Siya Phambiles Expeditions is Benjamin Wilson. He met us at the airport personally and took us to our accommodations at the Moonglow Guesthouse just outside of Cape Town. Cape Town is one of the most beautiful cities in the world nestled between the ocean and the mountains. We spent three days in Cape Town. Our first day was a free day where we explored Cape Town ourselves. Thereafter, Benjamin (or Benji) took us on a wine tour and later to Duiker Island where a seal colony calls home. We were supposed to go to Table Mountain, but it was cloudy, and so Benji like the experienced guide he is shuffled the itinerary so we could get there on a better day. The next day was spectacular. We saw a penguin colony at Boulders Beach, then went to the light house at Cape Point with its amazing views, then headed back to Cape Town through the beautiful countryside, passing by baboons on the side of the road, and eventually making it to Table Mountain with its views of Cape Town, the mountains to the south and valleys to the west stopped by the sea.
The next day we got on a plane and headed to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. We spent two days at the Hwange Safari Lodge where we went on safaris in the early morning and the evening. August is winter in this part of the world, so they bundled us up in blankets before taking us out on safari as it was freezing in the open truck. But the wildlife views were worth the cold.
We then spent 2 nights in Victoria Falls with of course a view of the falls and a day expedition to Chobe National Park in Botswana where we travelled by both truck in the morning and by boat in the afternoon to see the plentiful wildlife around every bush and tree. One of the highlights was seeing a pride of female lions just lounging in the sun. Our driver got us within 8 meters of their bodies on their back or side with paws in the air.
The next day we flew to Kruger Mpumlanga Airport in South Africa. We took the Panorama Route to get to Kruger National Park. There was alot of driving, but the stops along the way to see this magnificent country was worth the drive. We stayed in a chalet at Blyde Canyon Nature Reserve, which is on the rim of one of Africa's riverine gorges; spectacular views abounded.
We spent the next four days in Kruger National Park with Benji taking us on drives or arranging drives with other guides in the morning and the evening, the idea being that the animals are moving more at dawn and dusk. Half way through our stay in Kruger we transferred to another camp. It took us most of the day to do the trip, but it was the most magical day spent in Kruger. At a lunch stop, we saw a watering hole with elephants, zebras, impala, buffalo, warthogs all gathered together in apparent harmony. A short time later, Benji found a leopard in a tree resting. Through out, Benji was the perfect guide telling us of all the animals and birds in their ecological context, being able to spot animals, especially leopards and rhinos at great distances which we would not have seen otherwise. While in Kruger, Benji make evening meals for us, including ostrich one evening (it did not taste like chicken; very close to beef).
On the last day, Benji drove us to Johannesburg where we caught out plane to end our 14 day tour. It was a great trip!
GR
Email Apollon | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
One more Unforgettable Safari Experience with Benjamin – A Journey of a Lifetime
It was the 3rd time the last 5 years we decided to fly from Europe to meet Benjamin in South Africa and start a new adventure in the wildness.
From the very first moment we met our guide at Gaborone airport, we knew we were in excellent hands. What followed was an unforgettable private safari adventure that exceeded every expectation.
Our journey began in Mabuasehube Park (5 nights), where we experienced the raw beauty of nature up close – including the breathtaking (and slightly heart-racing!) moment of seeing lions right outside our tents.
From there, we continued to the Moremi National Park (5 nights), where we were fortunate enough to spot nearly all of the Big Five. Each day brought new surprises and incredible sightings, always guided with knowledge, patience, and passion.
The camping experience made the trip even more special. We stayed in unfenced campsites, which gave us a true sense of adventure, and every evening we gathered around the fire for a delicious barbeque under the stars. It was the perfect way to end each day – sharing stories, laughter, and enjoying the magic of the African night sky.
As three friends traveling together, having such a well-organized private tour was ideal. Our guide thought of absolutely everything, from logistics and meals to safety and comfort, so we could simply relax and immerse ourselves in the experience.
This was without doubt one of the most memorable trips of our lives, and we wholeheartedly recommend this safari to anyone who wants to experience the beauty of Botswana in the most authentic and unforgettable way.
PH
Email Lino Mabatid and Family | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very professional and knowledgeable yet quite friendly and accommodating. Even cook for the guests.
Well planned schedule but very flexible as the situation changed. Excellent service and very educational. Feel very safe all the time. Highly recommended.
DE
Email Susanne | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Highlights of South Africa, very efficient guide, excellent preparation and service.
We had booked a two-week trip, the first week with Benjamin as a guide, the second half self-driving. Benjamin showed us around Joburg and had arranged special tours in Soweto with local guides, which were very interesting. Then he drove us to Blyde Canyon and to Kruger National Park, for me the absolute highlight of the trip. The three safari diverse with Benjamin, who shared his amazing knowledge about wildlife with us, and two Safaris with a ranger were a stunning experience for me. During the time with Benjamin we also got additional information about rules and habits of the country like traffic regulations, areas to be avoided, tips etc. , which helped us a lot during the self-driving period of our trip.
The second week had been prepared by Siya Pamphile Expeditions, providing well chosen accommodation with excellent service, good suggestions for activities, but also time for our own plans, for example a hike on the Robberg peninsula. A further highlight was Cape Town and the Cape of good hope with its combination of city life, nature hikes and relaxing at the beach. Thank you very much for this phantastic trip, Benjamin!
DE
Email Eva | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing experience - lots of fun and learned tons!
We spend two weeks in South Africa, one with Benjamin as our guide and one self-drive but organized by him. Both weeks were just wonderful :)
Benjamin is a really great guide: He knows so much about animals, nature and also the history of the country. He's always in a good mood and adjusts plans based on our needs and interests. Communication with him was always very open, which both enabled a super smooth trip and allowed us to ask tons of questions. Besides amazing game drives in Krueger, walking around Johannesburg, Soweto and Blyde Canyon, we also enjoyed our cooking sessions to learn a bit about South African food (Braai for the win hehe) and relaxing drives with interesting political discussions!
Also the second week went super smooth: Everything was perfectly pre-booked by Benjamin (hotels, car) and he had given us so many recommendations of what to do that we didn't even have time to finish them all. Even when a small hiccup of a hotel required us to pay the night that should have actually already been pulled from Siya Phambile's account, Benjamin resolved this and transferred the money internationally to my account.
Thank you so much for this great experience, Benjamin. We'll definitely be coming back for a second trip with Siya Phambile!
Email Cathrine | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Siya Phambile went above and beyond my expectations and then some!
Wow! - what an awesome experience it was travelling with Ben of Siya Phambile. From my initial enquiry some 9mths prior to our trip, to being on safari, in a hot air balloon or sitting around the braai with Ben was nothing short of amazing.
The countless emails with my initial uncertainties and all my requests and were never too much trouble, Ben’s knowledge and ability to pick up on what I was looking for was second to none. He helped build the perfect custom holiday for my family that didn't cost an arm and a leg, and in doing so removed all the stress, concerns and anxiety that would often come when organising a trip like this, he put all the moving parts together for us and still left room for flexibility throughout. As our personal guide along the way, we were privileged to have him travelling with us, such an easy going guy, he just ‘clicked’ with us and that made it all the more special. Some amazing yarns, a wealth of local knowledge, great cooking skills and just a bloody nice guy!
Couldn’t recommend him highly enough, to anyone travelling to South Africa, please contact him, you won’t regret it
Email Liam | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Passionate, loving, welcoming and easygoing
Ben has done a brilliant job. This has been my best travelling experience ever. His passion for travel and sharing experiences with clients is very strong. He has put in the work on the backend and in the administrative process to make the tour as smooth as possibly yet also making the most of visiting such a beautiful part of the world. He has a wealth of knowledge in every aspect of South Africa and his love for the country is very prominent. He also has a very astute and friendly personality. He has the ability to read his tour group members and do his best to fulfill their needs at every stage of the tour and is just an all round great person to travel with. He also has many valuable networks with locals who are a great contribution to the experience a great balance of typical tourism as well as a true insight to the day to day local life and culture. I could not recommend Ben enough, he was key facilitator in elevating the trip to South Africa from a good trip to a trip that I will honestly cherish for the rest of my life and will go back in a heartbeat for myself but to also visit Ben again.
IT
Email Matteo | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wonderful full-inclusive safari experience
We did a safari and cultural tour in Mapungubwe, Venda and Kruger. Benjamin was available and professional in planning the tour following our requests. He is also very passionate about nature, so very helpful during the safari tour where we saw and learned about many animals. Accomodation and food (mostly cooked by him) were also perfect.
An unforgettable, personalized safari experience with Benjamin
What makes the Siya Phambile Expeditions so special is that there’s no set itinerary when you begin planning your safari with Benjamin. He takes the time to listen to your expectations, understand your budget, and suggest destinations that you might want to explore. You can also ask him to handle all the logistics, from meals to accommodations. We even requested airport transfers, and he took care of everything seamlessly. This was, without a doubt, the most carefree vacation I've ever had—everything was organized, and we didn’t have to worry about a thing. Benjamin took care of it all.
As for the safari experience itself, it was truly unforgettable. We saw an incredible variety of wildlife, and Benjamin’s knowledge made the experience even richer. He always knew the best spots to view the animals, and his "bionic" eye could spot wildlife from a remarkable distance. He provided us with snacks, water, and binoculars, ensuring that we were comfortable and prepared throughout the journey.
In addition, Benjamin's passion for nature and his deep connection to the land made this experience even more special. His enthusiasm was contagious, and we often found ourselves captivated not just by the animals, but by his stories and insights into the ecosystem.
I’ve already recommended Benjamin to my friends and family for their safaris in South Africa, and I’m seriously considering returning in a couple of years to relive this incredible experience all over again.
Email Gary and Elva | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Benjamin was everything we could have wished for as a tour guide and companion on our journey
Our 18-day tour was fantastic! Siya Phambile has earned our highest praise for the location’s chosen, the amount of animals that we saw, Benjamin’s knowledge and identification of animals, insects and plants and even his culinary abilities. Benjamin went above and beyond to make sure we enjoyed everything. We definitely felt we got our money’s worth. We would highly recommend Siya Phambile to anyone wanting to take a memorable safari experience.