"Benson Safaris: Thrilling Adventures Await!"
Benson Safaris Tanzania
- Located 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:
- $250 to $1,200 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
CA
Email Jan and Roman | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Thank you Benson safaris for an incredible “once in a lifetime” trip!
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 vehicles. 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.
CA
Email Sue | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Benson is the best!!!
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 baboons 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.
CA
Email Rina and Frank | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Truly an amazing experience
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 allowing 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.
IL
Email Ziv | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
We enjoyed a week of Safari which was extremely well organized
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.
CA
Email Cheryl | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Benson Safaris made our safari an unforgettable amazing experience
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 how much they care.
Email Gay AHMED | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
What a wonderful, once in a lifetime experience!
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.
US
Email Vladimir Kogan | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing trip!
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 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.
US
Email Jennifer Bennett | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great experience from start to finish
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.
US
Email Loretta | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Benson Safaris created an amazing trip for my family to celebrate my daughter's Make A Wish trip!
Our guide Nelson was wonderful and so knowledgeable about the Serengeti and the awesome wildlife that we saw each day. Nelson was great at spotting the animals and answering all of our questions. We loved our accommodations and especially enjoyed staying in the tents and seeing the zebras, elephants and wildebeests from our porch. The service at all of our lodgings was top notch. The Tanzanian people are very polite and extremely helpful. This was a trip of a life time for our family!
Email Andrew | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
We experienced tailored service from start to finish
We had no idea about what to look for in a safari holiday, so we got quotes from a number of operators we found on the web. All we told them was our planned dates. We went with Bensons because their response was full of positive suggestions and a detailed itinerary from the off. Pendo was a very responsive correspondent as we thrashed out the final itinerary and she got us hotels in all the price brackets we requested, mostly mid-range but one luxury two-night stay.
The only question mark in our minds at this stage was over payment of the deposit (and subsequently the balance of the account); if a potential client does not have a first-hand recommendation, it does feel a little risky to transfer large sums of money overseas to people we have never met! Surely there is a way to facilitate credit card payments? PS FYI sending scans of cards isn't a lot more reassuring than money transfers.
All that said, we couldn't fault the care taken of us when we got to Tanzania (a late arrival due to a missed connection was accommodated seamlessly). Throughout, we were in the care of our guide Amini, and travelling in a very comfortable Land Cruiser. We started with a long day's drive (10 hours) to the Western Serengeti. Even though this must have been a challenge for Amini, he still accommodated our desires to stop regularly to see wildlife, just because it was the first time for us, although he knew better views were available later in the trip. The Lahia Tented Lodge was a very special experience, all-inclusive with great service and excellent facilities, perched on a commanding bluff.
Amini took us for two days seeing every animal the Serengeti had to offer, we visited a Masai village then Ngorongoro, a staggering "lost world" where we enjoyed picnicking next to the hippo pool. Then we went to Lake Manyara, experiencing our only disappointment of the safari in not seeing tree-climbing lions (no fault of Benson's!). After a night at the Farm of Dreams, we rounded off our tour with a tour round the village of Mto wa Mbu. We got a great insight into a number of traditional lifestyles and crafts, followed by a nice lunch. We did rather regret having bought wooden souvenirs at the African Galleria when we visited the very craftsmen who were making and selling those products!
In summary, we had a wonderful trip with a friendly and knowledgeable guide, and from initial enquiry until our departure we were well looked after throughout by Benson's.
