Book with Benson safaris and you will not be disappointed! We started planning a year before the trip and Pendo in the office was amazing, answering countless emails and Skyping with us a couple of times. She was so patient with our many inquiries and responded very quickly, She even met us at the hotel in Arusha the first night to welcome us. Thank you Pendo!
We were a group of 10 in 2 safari ve ... Read morehicles. Our guide and driver Peter was amazing. He was such a knowledgeable, kind and caring person. He made sure we were able to see so many animals up close and provided information throughout the safari. We saw 11 lions pass right behind our safari vehicle, as well as a lion kill (wildebeest) among many other animals including elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, hyenas, leopards and cheetahs. Amini was the guide and driver for the other vehicle and he was also wonderful. Ask for Peter or Amini as your guide and you will be very happy with either of them!
The luxury lodges were so beautiful! We stayed at Kubu Kubu, Maramboi, and Serena Manyara. They all had infinity pools overlooking the African landscape. Kubu Kubu had the most amazing outdoor shower and we could see some of the wildebeest crossing while in the infinity pool!
The people we met were all so welcoming and friendly. Africa is such a beautiful country and it is worth visitng for the landscape alone. The sunsets were also incredible.
At the end of our trip, we met Benson at the airport for a few minutes and he kindly gave us a departing gift of African coffee to take home with us.
Thank you Pendo, Peter, Amini and Benson. It truly was the trip of a lifetime. We will not forget the wonderful experience you provided for us.

The Benson Safaris provided a good services during our trip. The tour guide - Kessy has good knowledge and experience and he also good at driving. Besides, the accommodation was perfect.

Benson was fabulous and went out of his way to make our Safari everything we could want.

At our request he interviewed and hired Erasto Martin as our Safari guide, and we saw many, many animals- cheetahs and cubs, lions sleeping, walking, mating, hunting, and Cubs. We witnessed the wildebeest crossing, saw elephant troops, saw a female in estrus, babies, elephants bathing and eating. We saw ba ... Read moreboons and babies, vervet monkeys and babies, blue monkeys and colobus monkeys. We saw giraffes, zebras, hippos, and many many birds.

Our accommodations were great. Beds were comfortable, showers were hot with plenty of water, but what made them all so memorable were the friendly staff!!!

Benson met with us near the beginning and at the end of the Safari, and made additional arrangements for us when we wanted more.

From the start Pendo was terrific and very patiently and quickly answered our numerous questions. All our accommodations were exceptional with great food and amazing staff. Special thanks to our very knowledgeable and friendly guides Peter and Amini who made this trip so memorable. Each day (no matter how early) they met us with great enthusiasm and eager to show us more wildlife up close al ... Read morelowing for great pictures. During our drives we enjoyed many conversations regarding the wildlife and the environment not to mention all the laughter with their great sense of humor. We sincerely appreciate the hard work from all the staff at Benson Safaris in making this a very memorable trip.

The communications before the trip were perefct: Clear and very effective. The service was very friendly and dedicated. The safari tour guide was professional and very knowledgeable.
We were a bit dissapointed we didn't see any leopard or hunting scene but that's not something that can be guaranteed.

We booked a year ahead and had numerous questions.
Pendo was always good at responding promptly to all of them.
During the safari they made sure we were well taken care of.
Our guides Peter and Amini were always pleasant and catered to our requests.
The accommodations booked through Benson were amazing.
We were fortunate to meet Benson on our way to the airport. Just another gesture to show ... Read morehow much they care.

Pendo was excellent at answering questions in advance of our trip.
The accommodations were lovely. Our guide, Amini is enthusiastic, knowledgeable, calm and fun.
We saw a great range of animals. Amini wanted to make sure we were all happy with the extent of animals and time spent on safari. He was very amenable about timing.

Our family of 5 traveled to Tanzania for two weeks. We visited Tarangire, Serengeti National Parks, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manayara and Zanzibar. It was an unforgettable trip, which was arranged through and organized by Benson Safaris Tanzania, and to which we are so grateful for making it a remarkable and memorable adventure. Starting with Pendo, who was very patient and helpful in accommodating ... Read more our ever-changing plans and schedule for the trip, and the owner of the company, Mr. Benson, who greeted us when we arrived, to our very knowledgeable and friendly guides Amini (during our safari trips) and Taib (our Zanzibar adventures in Stonetown, spice plantation, etc.) Our entire trip and all the tours were amazing, it was a life time experience, and we are very thankful to Benson Safaris Co. and all the people we met.

I selected Benson Safaris because i was looking for a local safari guide vs. using the ones affiliated with the US. i thought that they would be more economical. I asked a friend what he used, and he told me it was Benson Safaris. I selected the Luxery tent and lodge and i thought the price was better than if i had selected the one from the US. I give positive stars for all the good things they di ... Read mored. Pendo was quick to respond, which i liked. The positive stars are for all the things that they did good, as one would hope for. I'm cutting off some stars because I had indicated I was very interested in the Great Migration. I had actually wanted to see the river crossing,but i guess i didn't spell that out. When my friend told me he used Benson Safari, I went directly to their website. Their website does not have an option for choosing the Northern Serengeti Trail where i found out that was where I would see the River crossing. I only found out after the tour that option was available in this Safaribookings.com. I think that its silly not to have that option in their own website, which was where I went to directly. Otherwise I would have gone to Northern Serengeti to see the river crossing, which i really wanted to.

I also wasnt happy that after I made selections on the lodges, after making payment, i am told that they are booked, and i have to pick alternate lodges. The alternate lodges were good; but their locations were not as good as the original ones. And only after i reached Africa did that dawn on me. Location, location, location. For example, I had been told reservations were going to be made for Kubu Kubu; but after payment, i was told that place was booked, so i would be reserved for Lahia Tented lodge. It was under the same ownership, and the quality looked the same, so i said ok. Only during the tour did i realize Kubu Kubu was in Central Serengeti, which was where most of the big cats were. We lost a lot of time driving to Lahia. I was quite disappointed that we did not get to see much of Central Serengeti. My children had really wanted to see leopards and cheetahs. We saw one leopard. We did see a lot of lions (but that was mostly in Ngorongoro). Our jeep broke down in Serengeti too + got stuck in the mud. But i won't make much of an issue of that, because that was just bad luck. I liked our guide and the owner and the staff, but I wasnt able to get the experience i was looking for.

I went with my wife and 2 kids (9 yrs and 6 years). We were given double rooms but they were huge. Like I indicated above, we booked luxury lodges. Each room were huge. We only used one room.

The following is not really a review of the safari guide, but of the optional package selected. I had also gone to Oldovai Gorge, but I don't think it was worth the money. Also, it took away time. Also night time safari in Lake Manyara, didn't really think it was that great. We saw a hippo, some birds, a chameleon, some monkeys, but nothing great like a lion, etc. Even the day in Lake Manyara wasn't great. Didn't see any lions in mountains, etc.

My main disappointment is that due to the website, I didn't go to see the river crossing even though I had said I was interested in the great migration. And the time in Central Serengeti got limited due to various reasons, and therefore my kids didn't get to see leopards and cheetahs. One leopard. No rhino. I had gone to Tarangire Park, Lake Manyara Park, Serengeti and Ngorongoro.

But I did give positive stars for quick communication; wanting to do the best; getting to see lots of lions in Ngorongoro crater; lots of elephants, and zebras, and wildebeests, and other animals.

Thank you so much to Taz and the Benson Safaris Tanzania team for their support. The experience was really great especially for the time constraints in executing the trip. Taz was communicative and very supportive and thorough. I would highly recommend.