"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
CH
Email Nico | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Our honeymoon could not have been more perfect.
After reading Benson’s reviews on this website, we contacted him about a two-week honeymoon in Tanzania (one week Safari, one week in Zanzibar at the beach). Benson responded within a few hours with two different offerings, each containing additional options we could pick. Although he is specialized in Safaris, he managed to organize a very beautiful hotel in Zanzibar, too.
After discussing some details with Benson, we booked our trip nine months ahead and payed a deposit. Benson sent the confirmation that he received money, which is a very good service, as it was not an insignificant amount.
Our plane landed in Arusha with almost 3 hours delay, but the driver, Zablon, had been waiting for us that long. He was very welcoming, helped us with the baggage and gave a quick and funny introduction to Swahili while driving us to our hotel.
On the next day, Goodluck, our safari guide and driver for the upcoming week picked us up. While driving to the first national park, we realized that we forgot our wallet (money, credit card, bank cards, identity card) in the hotel safe. Within an hour, Benson himself went to the hotel and looked for it. He kept it in safe custody for some days. This is exemplary for Benson’s commitment to his job. Thank you very much!
Goodluck showed us around the national parks with great knowledge about the animals, plants and the history of the country. He drove very securely and listened to the ranger’s radio to know where to look for animals. Without him, we would have passed a lot of animals without notice; he has really good spotting capabilities. Goodluck let us as much time as we liked to observe the animals and did not hurry from one spot to the other. We enjoyed that and often saw lot more as other tourist groups stressing around to mark the “Big Five” with a tick as fast as possible.
The jeep was designed for 7 people (+ driver), so the two of us had plenty of space. We were provided with cold water, cola and other drinks all the time and there even was a (good) binocular we could use. Extra cushions helped to soften the “african massage” on dirt roads.
All the hotels somehow knew that we were honeymooners and gave us their most beautiful rooms with very romantic flower decoration. We were really amazed!
After the safari, we flew to Zanzibar for another week. Again, we were picked up at the airport. The next day, we had a very informative tour around Stone Town before we were taken to our hotel at the east side of the island. For this drive, we met Taib from “Authentic Zanzibar Tours & Safaris Ltd”. He was contacted by Benson to care for us while in Zanzibar and he did an excellent job. Taib told us so many things about politics, the ups and downs of the country and generally about life in Tanzania. With Taib, we did day excursions to the Spice Farm, Cheetah’s rock and Jozani Forest.
To summarize, we had a perfect trip to Tanzania and Zanzibar. We are really glad that we booked our trip with Benson and can highly recommend it. He and his crew cared about us very well! Thanks again!
FR
Email Hubert Jobbé-Duval | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Flawless experience for our honeymoon
When I started to look for a Safari, I contacted many agencies based in Arusha. Of all the offers I received, the one from Benson Safaris caught my attention because of how compliant it was with my initial request. Pendo, the manager I spoke with, was able to give me valuable advices on how to improve my safari and still stay on my budget.
The safari itself was amazing. They took care of everything, including getting in touch with an orphanage where we wanted to make a donation.
Thanks to our french-speaking guide, Frank, we saw more wildlife than we could ever have dreamed of. The big five of course, but also dramatic scenes of hunting along the Mara River and deep inside the Serengeti. We might had some luck, but the experience of our guide and his ability to spot animals was impressive.
About the comfort you have nothing to worry about, the vehicle was equipped with many power plugs, we had more drinks than needed, and breaks were organized on request.
I would strongly recommend Benson Safaris to any person willing to discover all the wonders Tanzania has to offer. Everything was perfect !
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)
BR
Email Diego Aranha | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Everything Perfect
We stayed 8 days and 7 nights with the Benson team. Our guide Joshua had extensive knowledge of the routes, animals, good direction, really knew what he was doing. It was an unforgettable trip, everything went as planned.
Highly experienced tour operator - we are so happy to have booked with Benson!
The best guides we could ask for in our first trip to beautiful Tanzania! We hired Benson Safaris for (1) a 5-day safari and (2) a 3-day Mt. Meru trek. From the moment we arrived in Arusha to our airport drop off for Zanzibar, we were taken care of by Benson’s team the whole way through.
We were picked up on arrival into Arusha by Zablo and transported to the Ilboru lodge…where Benson was there in person to go over the details of our trip. The very next day we were picked up by our Guide – Peter – for the next five days to the Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorogoro and Lake Manyara parks. Peter was extremely knowledgeable and friendly.
After our safari we were then picked up (again from Ilboru lodge) by Shaban and his team of ~4-5 porters to climb Mt. Meru over the next three days. This entire team again was very friendly – and patient! – with us throughout the entire climb. We felt very safe and in good hands for the duration of the trek.
In summary, Benson Safari is an excellent tour operator with some of the best guides that we’ve ever travelled with!
BR
Email Cecilia de Nielander Ribeiro | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Best safari Ever !!!!!!
Benson Safaris Tanzania Was amazing. Our guide, Liberatus, was the best! He found so many lions, leopards, chitas hiding in the vegetation. The organization of the whole week was very good and we could show the big 5 and other animais to our grandchildren.
We had been twice in South África and never saw before chitas and leopards in the wild.
Liberatus could spot the animais far away. We had the best time.
CH
Email Cristina | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The most amazing memorable experience
Excellence. Everything was organized down to the detail with sympathy. I went alone with a 6 year old child, felt safe and taken care of eveywhere, not only from the safari organization, but also the different hostings along the way. From the beginning the responsiveness was immediate, transparent and well-rounded options. Our super knowledgable guide was flexible and we felt at home. What an adventure, we loved it ! Special thanks to Yvlyn and Zablon, who took great care of us.
Reply from Benson Safaris Tanzania
Posted on Sep 8, 2023Dear Cristina,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your incredible experience with us. Your feedback warms our hearts and motivates us to continue providing memorable adventures to our clients.
We are delighted to hear that your safari experience with us was not only amazing but also safe and enjoyable, especially when traveling with a young child. Ensuring the comfort and well-being of our guests is a top priority, and we're thrilled that you felt taken care of throughout your journey.
It's wonderful to know that you appreciated the attention to detail and organization of your safari. Our team takes great pride in planning every aspect of the trip to perfection, and your words of appreciation mean a lot to us.
We're also pleased to hear that our responsiveness, transparency, and flexibility met your expectations. We understand that every traveler has unique needs and preferences, and we aim to tailor our services accordingly.
Your kind words about our knowledgeable guide are greatly appreciated. Our guides are passionate about sharing their expertise and making sure guests feel at home in the wilderness.
We will certainly pass on your special thanks to our team who played a vital role in ensuring your safari was a success. They are dedicated to providing exceptional service, and your recognition is well-deserved.
Once again, thank you for choosing us for your safari adventure, and we hope to have the pleasure of hosting you and your 6-year-old on another memorable journey in the future. If you ever decide to explore more of the world's wonders, please don't hesitate to reach out.
Wishing you many more incredible adventures ahead!
Warm regards, Benson
Managing Director
CH
Email Martin Affolter | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater - Great experience with Benson Safari and our Guide Zablon
The overall experience with Benson Safari was perfect. Starting with sending offers in a very short time, consulting and finally the whole trip from A to Z. Special thanks to our guide Zablon who did a great job, was very kind, share a lot of insights/knowledge about the wildlife. We can highly recommand Benson Safari and will book definitely again if we travel again to Tanzania.
Reply from Benson Safaris Tanzania
Posted on Sep 8, 2023Dear Martin,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your wonderful experience with Benson Safaris Tanzania and our exceptional guide, Zablon. We're thrilled to hear that your safari to Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater was such a success, from the moment you contacted us until the completion of your journey.
We're especially grateful for your kind words about Zablon. He is indeed an invaluable member of our team who goes above and beyond to ensure our guests have a memorable and educational experience. Your praise for his knowledge and kindness is greatly appreciated, and we will make sure to pass along your compliments to him.
It was a pleasure having you on board, and we would be absolutely delighted to welcome you back to Tanzania for another safari adventure whenever you decide to return. Your trust in us means the world, and we can't wait to create more incredible memories with you in the future.
Safe travels, and once again, thank you for choosing Benson Safaris Tanzania!
Warm regards, Benson
Managing Director
CA
Email Justin | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Goodwin: A good honest man who is very well rounded with the national park
Benson safari team was great. From organizing, friendliness, coordinating and meeting my budget, It was all well worth it. I would be more than happy to recommend their team to others. They are very experienced and have SUV’s you can trust out there.
Reply from Benson Safaris Tanzania
Posted on Sep 8, 2023Dear Justin,
Thank you so much for your wonderful review, We're thrilled to hear about your positive experience with the Benson safaris Tanzania team during your national park adventure.
It's great to know that Goodwin and the team went above and beyond to ensure your trip was well-organized, friendly, and within your budget. We take pride in our team's dedication and experience in creating memorable safari experiences.
Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we truly appreciate your trust in our SUVs for your journey. If you have any friends or family looking for a similar adventure, please don't hesitate to send them our way.
We hope to welcome you back for another incredible safari in the future. Until then, happy travels and enjoy your memories from the national park!
Kid regards, Benson
Managing Director
DE
Email Nannie-Ana Kuntx | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent and very quick service!
From booking the tour to it's end, I only have praise. Our fluent in German and English tour Driver/ Guide Michael, arrived punctually with a 100% well equipped A/C Jeep. Cold drinks, binoculars, Information guide about wild life and plants we would see, were all part of the amenities. Michael the guide, was "simpatico" and really knowledgeable about wild life and culture in general. He made the experience richer by providing us with very Professional Information. Michael took care of "everything" like the check in at lodges, entries to the national Parks and was a very good driver on some very precarious roads. We booked a 7 day Safari beginning with Manyara Nalt. Park, Norongoro Crater, Serengeti and finishing in Tarengira Nalt. Park. The coronucopia of experiences of seeing all the big 5 animals and a mirade of birds ( Michael was an expert in Bird life) made this tour a "life time memorable experience".
We would highly recommend booking with Benson Safari!
Reply from Benson Safaris Tanzania
Posted on Sep 8, 2023Dear Nannie,
Wow, thank you so much for your fantastic review! We're delighted to hear about your outstanding experience with Benson Safaris Tanzania especially with our guide, Michael.
It's wonderful to know that from the moment you booked the tour until its conclusion, you had nothing but praise for our services. Michael truly sounds like a gem, being fluent in German and English and providing such a well-equipped Jeep with all the necessary amenities, including cold drinks, binoculars, and informative guides.
We're thrilled that Michael's knowledge and professionalism enriched your safari experience, making it a "lifetime memorable experience" with sightings of the big 5 animals and a wide variety of birds. His care and attention to detail, from check-ins at lodges to navigating challenging roads, are truly commendable.
Your recommendation means the world to us, and we couldn't be happier to have been part of your 7-day safari adventure covering Manyara Nalt. Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti, and Tarangire Nalt. Park. Thank you for choosing Benson Safaris Tanzania and we hope to welcome you back for more incredible experiences in the future. Safe travels, and cherish those wonderful memories!
Kind regards, Benson
Managing Director