GR
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
it was the worst trip we have ever had in our lives
It was the worst experience I have ever had in my life. I booked the safari at last minute but we had already done a program 1 month ago. 2 days before the safari the called me and they told me that they didn't count the concession fees and the price had to be more. I told them that this is not my problem and suddently they didn't answer my emails and phone. The evening before we arrived in Arusha they sent me a message that they will be waiting for me at the airport. Then we went to Mr Benson's office I showed the emails and the offer and after 2-3 hours they told me that we are ok. So I lost 3-4 hours from the evening safari they supposed they gave us. On the way to our hotel they sent me a program with minus 1 day and they told me this is a program. I sent them back the program I have showed them previous at the office and told me that this is not ok. After 30-40 what's up messages and email they told me again ok. The safari in Serengeti for 2 days was good. After we have planned to move to Maasai Mara region and another driver took us from there. The drive supposed to be there from the morning and I paid 250$ more to be there and he came after 3 hours. They asked me for yellow card visa to pay 200$ as the other offices told me that the cost was 80$ for all of us and the driver told us that the officers wanted and tips. The transfer to Maasai Mara supposed to be 35' and took us 3 hours so the park was closed. The driver asked us to give tomorrow 200$ more to bring us to Maasai Mara park and when I told that I have paid for 4 days safari and I have only done 2 he told me that this is not his problem and he couldn't take us to the park in the morning. Yvlyn the girl from the office told him to bring us to the park and he did it but again with a lot of messages and calls and I terrible headache for me from this bad situation. The following day after 1.5h safari to Maasai Mara they had to transfer as at Nairobi and Giraffe manor. The driver stopped every 50km and talked with people on the road and he told us that it's like that in his country. He knew that we wanted to be early to our hotel and suddenly he told us that his car has a problem and he had to transfer us to another car. I asked him if the car is ready and he told us yes. We went to a place 150km away from Nairobi and the car was not there. The driver got down of the car and we were trying to find him. after 20' he answered the phone and he told us that the car that was ready changed the tires. He took us in one place that was inappropriate for my family as I have 2 kids and we waited for the another driver to change the tires for more that 1.30. Finally we started the way to Giraffe manor and because he did some mistakes as he didn't know how to get there we went to our hotel at 16.00 in the evening. We started from Maasai Mara at 09.30 and the distance is only 4 hours. So I totally didn't recommend Benson's Safari as it was the worst trip we have ever had in our lives and thanks god that we are all back safe after all this terrible situation.
HU
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Worst Communication and Experience
We had the most horrible experience with this company! They have zero communication and literally do not care at all about you once they’ve received your payments! You’re on your own. We were basically fishing for information and even then received either none or wrong information. We were grouped in a cruiser with people from various online bookings (viator, trip advisor etc) so not with an actual spot on guide or car. I’ve done a maasai mara safari before and we had full company services with the company we used, from cars, to guides, with proper company labels and badges. This one was not it! We only booked it because a friend whose friend worked here (she’s since left) convinced us to try them and we have never regretted a decision so much! Long story short, this wasn’t it! Use more reputable companies. Even the safari itself at the Mara started at 10am!! If you ever get to do a Safari you know you start by 7am to see the animals in action. We felt really scammed and short changed on this one. Anyway, we live and we learn.
CY
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Cooks and liars - They charged us 20 USD for RENT two bottles of water!!!!!!!!
Cooks and liars, avoid this company!!!!
They charged us 20 USD for RENT two bottles of water!!!!!!!!
We agreed for day hike to Kilimanjaro for 155 USD per person.
When Issa come to our hotel the morning he told us that the plastic bottle of water is not allowed in the park (not valid as all the rest people we saw they had plastic bottle) and that we SHOULD rent bottle from him.
After the finish of the hike the guide told us that the rent for the two bottles of water cost 20 USD!!!!!
I called Issa and he told us a lot of excuses (the bottle belongs to his friend) and when i told him that i will write my experience as a review, he proposed to do not write anything and he will let me to pay only 10 USD instead of 20 USD!! and of course i didnt accept it!
I can prove what i said with the messages in Whatsapp.
Avoid this scum company. They wanted a price of 165 USD per person and they tried to took the money with this funny way!!!!!!
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fraud and theft
Talent Arineitwe of TravelTime stole from me $400 dollars meant for application for a visa to the UAE. She continuously lied about submitting the application, then stopped replying all communication. When messaged with other numbers, she would respond, indicating a careful and deliberate intent to ignore, The last review before mine on this site had the same issue. I shared my experience on twitter and got more than 10 (at the time of writing this) similar experiences. Be careful when you use this company.
CH
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
They may change plans unexpectedly and without informing the clients.
We booked a ten day safari. The original program was changed without informing us and without our consent. The vehicle was downgraded without informing us. They also decreased the number of safari day to 9, leaving us one day without activities. This is especially bad since they erased from the program one day in the Masai Mara. We found out about all of this during the trip, not before. Communication was virtually non-existent.
IS
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Hwange National Park
Hwange National Park with Victoria falls serious of fun.
Got back problem and informed the office. They told me because of this they would refund me the money. That was 2 weeks before the trip. Beginning of December. Now it’s January I am still trying to contact them every day and they only give me broken promises. Every day for a month. I am at loss for words and I only want my 900$ back. But still getting the same answer that’s it’s going to happen today or tomorrow. There is something really not right. Client should not have to fight this hard for its money that was promised back!!
CH
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very bad experience
We are still waiting for a refund regarding our last scheduled travel.
Unfulfilled Promises, Hidden Costs, Locked Out in Rwanda (AVOID!)
Rwanda trip with Starboard turned into a nightmare. Promised 20-hour bus ride took 34, activities vanished, clients locked out of hotels for non-payment (owner detained!). Choose a different operator for your African adventure!
Key Points:
* Deceptive marketing: promised comfort, delivered cramped nightmare bus ride.
* Unfulfilled itinerary: paid for activities that disappeared.
* Unprofessional & opaque: owner detained, clients left to handle hotel bills.
**Recommendation:** Book elsewhere for a safe and enjoyable African safari experience.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
No point in using them
If you are using a travel agent to give you guidance and insight knowledge about where to stay and what to do, this is not your agency. In our trip to Rwanda and Tanzania, we stayed in five hotels in total. We payed for what we thought was a luxury package. One hotel was excellent, which we chose ourselves, one was ok, but not what we were expecting, two were old, outdated and tired hotels and the last one was an all inclusive, terrible service, nightmare of a hotel. We spent the last part of our vacation complaining while being offered no real solution to the issues. They are very polite, but basically you are left to deal with the hotel yourself. If you want a luxury, smooth experience in Africa, find a different Travel Agent. Trust me on that one…
HU
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Canceled safari by operator
We booked our safari two months in advance. 4 days before the date we got a request from the tour operator to re-schedule the date due to organization issues. We managed, re-arranged our schedule. After that it was extremely difficult to communicate to the operator, we received no info, no replies to emails. Complete incommunicado. We only hope that we will receive back the deposit we paid - the safari never happened.
We could still give five star even after a canceled safari as we can understand if there are unforseen technical difficulties during organizing a tour - but at least, talk to your client! Not communicating, not answering emails for days just a few days before a scheduled and then re-scheduled safari, leaving the client in uncertainty deserves nothing but one star.