"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 $1,000 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
FR
Email Thomas & Arun | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Could have been better
Our safari in Tanzania was an extraordinary experience, and we were fortunate enough to see all the animals we had dreamed of, often in incredible situations. However, I want to separate the magic of the wildlife from the quality of the service provided by Benson’s team. There were several aspects of the organization that could have been significantly better.
1. Lack of preparation and practical information. Sleeping in a tent in the Ngorongoro Crater was an extraordinary experience in itself. However, we had not been informed beforehand that we needed to bring soap and towels. As a result, we had to shower without soap and dry ourselves with our clothes. While these may seem like small details, they reflect a lack of preparation and communication that should be avoided, especially given the price of the safari.
2. Concerns about the vehicle’s mechanical condition. Our safari vehicle sometimes struggled to start and seemed to lack power when driving uphill. We were regularly overtaken by other vehicles, which made us concerned about its mechanical condition and reliability throughout the trip. We would have appreciated greater reassurance that the vehicle was in good condition.
3. A lack of personal attention and communication. Throughout the booking process and the trip, we sometimes felt more like names on an Excel spreadsheet than customers receiving personal support. After payment, communication became less proactive, and we often had to contact the team ourselves to obtain essential information, including details about our guide and the arrangements before departure. We also received very little follow-up after the safari. For many people, a safari is a once-in-a-lifetime dream, prepared and financed over many months or even years. A little more personal attention would have made us feel much more valued.
4. Unexpected bank charges and a lack of commercial consideration. Despite paying 20 euros in transfer fees to ensure the correct payment, Benson said that approximately 200 euros were missing from the amount received. The exact source of the discrepancy remained unclear, but I ultimately had to pay the difference myself. Given the cost of the safari, I would have expected a more collaborative approach to resolving the issue, like a commercial gesture. Instead, I felt that the entire financial burden was left to me, without any real attempt to find a compromise.
5. An efficient but rather distant guide. Our guide was undoubtedly experienced, knowledgeable and highly effective. Thanks to him, we saw all the animals we had hoped to see, and his knowledge of the terrain was impressive. However, his attitude was rather distant, with little warmth, enthusiasm or interaction compared to other guides with their clients. We did not necessarily expect to become friends with our guide, but a little more human warmth would have made the experience even more memorable.
NL
Email Etienne | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Thank you for all your help
Good service from beginning to end. Thank you so much. And see you next time
Email Tayah | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Perfect Safari
We book our safari with Benson and gave them some details of our expectations. They designed a trip that far exceeded our vision. The lodging and meals were all wonderful. The guides made the trip so memorable. Carlos was an exceptional guide. Very personable kind and patient. Extremely knowledgeable of the area, culture and wildlife. Highly recommend this company!
CN
Email Shan | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Five river crossings, incredible big-cat sightings, and a memorable Kenya–Tanzania safari
We have just returned from a 9-day, 8-night private safari for four people with Benson Safaris, travelling through Kenya and Tanzania in October 2026. It was an unforgettable trip—not simply because of the places we visited, but because of how much time we actually spent watching wildlife.
Our route took us from Nairobi to Lake Naivasha and the Masai Mara, across the land border into Tanzania, and then through the northern and central Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire, finishing in Moshi before flying home from JRO.
The standout of our Tanzania safari was Zablon (Zab). His ability to plan our game drives and find wildlife was exceptional. On our very first day in the northern Serengeti, he helped us find the Big Four and witness a wildebeest river crossing. Whether it was luck, his skill, or a combination of both, it was an astonishing start.
What impressed us most was that Zab did much more than find the animals. He seemed to know where to look, and he also positioned us for the best possible views and photographic angles. Thanks to his guidance, we captured an entire wildebeest river crossing and a lion hunt—two particularly rare and memorable moments for us. Lions mating and playful cubs were other highlights of the trip, and Zab also helped us find excellent angles for photographing leopards. For travellers who care about both wildlife viewing and photography, we would wholeheartedly recommend him.
The wildlife encounters were extraordinary. We witnessed five wildebeest river crossings, including three in a single morning, and had five leopard sightings. We watched lions mating and hunting, lion cubs playing, and a leopard on a tree. Seeing rhinos in Ngorongoro helped us complete the Big Five, while Tarangire offered wonderful elephants and beautiful baobab scenery.
Of course, these sightings were our good fortune, not something any operator can guarantee. What mattered was having enough time to wait, observe and enjoy what unfolded. Across the trip, we had roughly 65 hours of game drives and wildlife activities, including several full days of around 10–11 hours. Even the days when we moved between safari areas still included meaningful wildlife viewing.
We are also very grateful to Grace for her expertise in arranging our itinerary, her tireless patience with our many requests for changes, and her help in coordinating solutions to the questions and issues that came up. We exchanged enquiry emails with more than 30 safari operators, and her thoughtful, responsive support was a major reason we ultimately chose Benson Safaris with confidence.
Thank you as well to Samson, our guide in Kenya, for being part of our wonderful safari, and to Benson for helping bring this customised cross-border journey together.
Spending time in both the northern and central Serengeti was a particular highlight. They offered different landscapes and wildlife experiences, and even after four days we were not ready to leave. Staying at KonTiki Mara and KonTiki Seronera also gave us lovely sunsets and morning light right at camp. For the final part of the trip, we arranged our own hotels separately, which gave us a comfortable change from tented accommodation.
One practical lesson for future travellers: confirm the exact Serengeti entry and exit times and the park-permit coverage beforehand. We extended our stay in the park on the fourth day and had to arrange the permit extension locally.
We came home with far more than a checklist of animals: river crossings worth waiting for, playful cubs, long days on the plains, and photographs we will treasure. Thank you, Zab, Samson, Grace and Benson, for being part of such a memorable journey.
For an unforgettable safari, choose Benson Safaris and ask for Zablon (Zab). They helped make our journey extraordinary, and we cannot recommend them highly enough.
Email Mohamed K. | 50-65 years of age
Great team
My wife and I actually did the Kilimanjaro climb with the Benson Safaris guides and crew. They set up amazing VIP accommodations for us throughout the whole multi-day hike. It was an amazing accomplishment for my wife and me, and we would have not been able to do it without their support and guidance. Their pace and suggestions helped with preventing high altitude sickness, and we finished the summitting with a very touching celebration from the whole team. We will miss these hard working guys a lot, but we are planning on doing the safari part with them as well soon.
CO
Email Martha | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Once in a lifetime safari
We had a great time during our safari with Benson Safaris. From the very beginning Fortune was helpful and attentive, helping us to design our itinerary and adjust it to our budget and preferences.
We did a cross country safari and had two guides, Edmund in Kenya and Carlos in Tanzania. They both were kind, knowledgeable and always willing to go the extra mile to make our trip memorable. They have different personalities, naturally, but share the same sense of commitment and love for their work. I will always remember this experience and will be grateful to them for it.
Email River Hu | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
very responsible and experienced team!
Overall our experience was wonderful! Responsible guide Carlos, and responsive staff Fortune. Definitely worth considering if you are thinking of a safari in Tanzania.
NO
Email DLC | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
An experience of a lifetime
Our 9 days in Tanzania was flawless, everything went as planned. Our driver guide, Liberatus, was fantastic with his knowledge and driving skills.
During our 3 day stay in Haydom ,which is a 7 hour drive from Arusha, where we visited Haydom Lutheran Hospital and the Hazabe tripe.
Liberatus driving skills were really put to a test on the way to the Hazabe tribe. We found the well hidden tribe with the help of 2 of my old colleagues from the hospital. My 3 grown children got an amazing experience.
The following 5 days were spent on safaris in 3 different parks where we saw the big five. The highlight was the lions close up and the migration in Serengeti. The tent camps were an experience with the animal sounds at night.
From Serengeti to Zanzibar by plane with one night in Stone town where we stayed in Freddy Mercurys house. The following 5 days in Nungwi..
Downside here was a mixup in accommodations, but this did not spoil our overall experience.
The 16 day Tanzania/Zanzibar trip was an experience of a lifetime as I was able to show my children where I lived and worked in 2007-2008.
This was a custom tailored trip and Benson Safaris did an excellent job and I am forever grateful for this adventure.
Benson Safaries is a locally based company and I would highly recommend them.
Email Tom | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing, experienced and warm
As a trip of a lifetime for the family, this safari had to be extra special and Benson Safaris ensured that every step of the way we were given one of the most amazing experiences we will ever have. From shaping the right trip for us, to pre-planning check lists to the most wonderfully warm and experienced staff, I cannot speak highly enough of the service we had.
We deliberately chose a local operator, not only to support local businesses but to also have a more personal touch.
Dolphine was always on hand to answer any queries while our guide Liberatus was so friendly and immensely experienced (he's been driving safaris for more than 15 years) - giving us confidence that we would have the best wildlife sightings timed to avoid the larger crowds. He even managed to find us two sightings of leopards, which are notoriously hard to spot!
The children gave up the count of the number of different species we saw at 30 plus but the incredible images and memories of four days on the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater will stay with us forever.
Email Sheryl Sanctis | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Tanzania - 5/26/26-6/6/26
Simba and his team of Zeb, Lebe, Ksey were excellent. They were on time, efficient and super friendly! Our tour criss crossed Tanzania and they were very good on keeping our tour timely. They all shared with us informative backgrounds on the parks, Tanzania and the culture. It was an unbelievable trip and one I will always cherish.