"Benson Safaris: Thrilling Adventures Await!"
Benson Safaris Tanzania
- Office In:
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2006)
- Member Of:
- TATO, TTB & IGS
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $300 to $1,200 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
Email Abigail | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Professional local tour operator
We booked a 8 night tour with Benson Safaris, including the Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, Lake Manyara and a day hike in Kilimanjaro. Right from the outset, I found the company to be highly professional and responsive to all requests. I looked at a range of tour companies before booking and found Benson Safaris to be the one that was willing to personalise our tour, make suggestions for different options and provide advice to help us chose the best experience for our budget. I was keen to use a local tour company, but Benson's stood out above even some of the large international companies in terms of customer service and price. All of the people from Benson's that we dealt while in Tanzania were friendly, professional and willing to be flexible to meet our needs, even collecting us at 3am for our return flight, when our travel arrangements changed at the last minute. Our tour guide, Paul, was excellent - knowledgeable and good company. The accommodation was all top notch, very luxurious in wonderful locations. I would not hesitate to recommend Benson Safaris.
CA
Email John | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Absolutely Amazing Safari Experience
We had a trip of a lifetime with Benson Safaris in northern Tanzania.
I had first contacted Benson early January based on the excellent reviews on this site and we were not disappointed. Benson designed a 9 day mid range safari of the major parks for our family. Working with criteria I had provided him, Benson created a custom itinerary and chose lodges that perfectly fit our needs, and exceeded our high expectations.
Our guide Amani was simply excellent, extremely knowledgeable on the animals and flora and fauna in the parks; gracious, patient and kind to our two children (aged 13); and very safety conscious. As a very experienced and trained professional, Amani knew exactly where to take us to ensure we viewed all of the major animals on our wish list (including all the big five), and used his strong contacts with other guides to ensure we had a number of unique viewing experiences, including a leopard, rhino, pride of 30 or so lions, a large family of elephants, and a lion feasting on a fresh kill, along with countless other animals.
Benson was easy to communicate with, payment was easy to arrange, and the logistics of the trip were perfect with Benson arranging for a very early morning pickup at the Mount Kilimanjaro airport upon our arrival and a drive to the airport on our departure. And it was a pleasure meeting Benson personally at the end of the safari.
I highly recommend Benson and his firm, the quality of the lodges, food, and experiences, and feel we received excellent service and value for money.
US
Email Julia | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Company did ok but guide was disappointing
I communicated via email with Benson on a 1-week itinerary for me and my 3 children and he presented a comprehensive mid-range safari package in a timely manner. Everything went well until we started out with our private guide. Logistics were smooth with one exception that was clarified with a quick call to Benson. Otherwise, the guide was obviously more interested in chatting with others on his 2 cell phones and car CB than in providing information to us, his clients. Some of the communication was between guides sharing animal sightings in the area and there was no shortage of those the guide pursued but there was more than one case of me seeing an animal in a place that required backing up and the guide disregarded my request. This was my 3rd time on a guided safari but my childrens’ first and they missed out on so much, even with my advocacy. I prompted the guide several times to provide information - differences in species, etc. - and answers were one or two sentences at best. It got to the point at one meal where, after loudly reminding my daughter that using electronics during dinner was rude and unacceptable, I had to ask him to put his cell phone away minutes later. He never asked what kind of animals we were interested in, never pulled out a field guide, and offered very little personal insight. I felt like my family was a load to be transferred between locations rather than a family who had crossed half the globe to appreciate his homeland. We met other Benson guides who showed far more interest in their jobs (and us) so I think we got the guy who’d grown tired/bored after 15 years of guiding. One other minor thing: Benson claimed he would come by to meet us which he never did. The week was good in the sense that the animals are everywhere in the parks, camps and food were good and we didn’t have any catastrophes but I know the trip would’ve been MUCH better with a different guide.
Reply from Benson Safaris Tanzania
Posted on Jul 9, 2018Hi Julia,
Thank you for your review and feedback. I am very disappointed to hear about your Guide behavior.
I have chosen all of our Guides myself so this is very bad feedback and will be investigated. All of our Guides are very experienced and familiar with international standard and we always get a great feedback from guest.
We welcome all feedback and I real appreciate you taking the time to tell me. I can tell you this will be dealt with right away.
Kind regards, Benson Benard (Owner)
Email Ros & Jeff | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
A first class tour operator who is very efficient and really cares about his clients.
We decided to choose a local company to go on a safari in Tanzania and selected BensonSafaris. From the start, Benson replied almost immediately to our questions, and was extremely helpful at every stage which gave us confidence in him and his company. Benson helped us to choose lodges and a tented camp for our accommodation and each place we stayed at worked well.
We arranged our own flights from UK to Kilimanjaro International and everything else was organized superbly by BensonSafaris. We were met at the airport by Zablon, and taken to our first lodge in Arusha. Benson came to meet us on our first day which was a really nice gesture and he introduced us to Peter who was our driver/guide.
The safari was superb! We had game drives in Tarangire National Park, the Serengeti (staying in a tented camp), Nogorongoro Conservation area and the Crater, and Lake Manyara National Park. Our guide, Peter, was excellent and he has the most incredible eyesight – he could spot animals that we could only see with binoculars! We saw the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant. rhinoceros (including a black rhino with a baby), cape buffalo, plus lots of other animals – cheetah, zebra, wildebeest, hippo, giraffe, jackal, hyena etc, and the birds were really colourful.
On the last day we went on a city tour of Arusha with Zablon, and the local market was fascinating. We had lunch in a local hotel and Benson called in to say farewell before we were taken back to the airport for our flight home.
We have no hesitation at all in recommending BensonSafaris – it is a small company that really cares. We went as clients and came away as friends.
DE
Email Margrit | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent Trekking with Benson Safaris
This was my first Trekking holiday in Tanzania. I travelled with a group of 6 people to the Kilimanjaro (Marangu route). I were scared before because I never travelled in the mountain. After I had a long talk to Benson (owner from this company) every doubts were removed, felt save.
We had a good guide: His name was Shabani. He explained the whole Marangu route and told us he is doing this Hiking different times since he is a child. The chef "Waziri" prepared a real deligous African food for us!
Before travelled to Tanzania we heard a lot about crime in Africa and also about visiting East Africa. In this holiday I never saw crime and felt safe. I really recommend Benson Safaris to have a good, authentic holiday: He takes the responsibility for every client individual.
DE
Email Werner | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Natural Tanzanian Holiday with Benson Safaris
Me and my wife went to Tanzania first time after we travelled in different countries in Africa. We decided for Benson Safaris Tanzania because of the good offer (price), personal contact and they spoke fluent English. Every time I could contact them for questions, wishes and details for our trip.
Thank you all from Benson Safaris for your very good caring of me and my wife, the big pleasure in our Safari and the great African food. We never tasted food like this and had the feeling we are "closed integrated in the Tanzanian culture". We really recommend Benson Safaris and would be prefer to travel to Tanzania after we saw a lot of different African countries.
DE
Email Katharina | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unforgettable holiday
On this way I want to say >>Asante sana<< to the whole company Benson Safaris in Tanzania.
I had a first great and impressive time in Tanzania. I were looking for my first holiday in Africa to make some safari. During my searching found Benson Safaris Tanzania and got a quick response from the owner Benson. He really made a good offer staying 14 days in Tanzania. At all my time in Africa I felt safe on my own, had a nice lodge (booked from Benson Safaris) and an excellent Safari.
After they picked me up from the airport I met the owner Benson at the lodge. I really appreciate that he cares of his clients personally-I didn't know something like this from all my holidays. It isn't naturally - I am really greatfull for this personally caretaking!
Special "thanks" to Paul (my safari guide). He really made my time in safari, we lough a lot and he explained everything about my preferred animals as well. We had a great break in Tarangire and a really good African lunch. I really enjoyed this experience.
All in all I can recommend Benson Safaris to have an unforgettable time and stay in Africa, learning about culture, have a safe trip and organization for your holiday! This won't be my last stay in Africa...
DE
Email Heinz and Christina | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
GREAT!!!
Four days Tarangire, Ndutu, Serengeti, Ngorongoro. An unbeleavable adventure with the Big Five and so much more. Best accomodation and Service. And Paul? An excellent Driver and guide, prudently and always with a fine flair for places of interest. Indroduced as our guide, gone as our friend. Chapeau, Benson - Five stars!
Email Dominic | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Designed a perfect schedule to fit our itinerary and in two days saw masses of animals.
Excellent. Our guide was experienced and brilliant at locating and then spotting animals no matter how well camouflaged.
Email Emanuela | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Wonderful Safari!!!! c
Everything was perfect. Thank you Benson for making my birthday really special.