Client testimonials

During my past 26 years of guiding, I have come to know Benson well in the safari industry of Southern Africa. It has been most encouraging to witness his growth in the tourist industry of southern Africa, in which time he has managed some of the most renowned safari camps, designed unique animal viewing hides and built a name for himself as one of Africa's best safari guides.

One of Benson's greatest attributes, is his patience and wonderful rapport with all the guests that have come out for a genuine wildlife experience. His knowledge on wildlife is leagues ahead of many other safari guides.

Benson has put more back into the safari industry of Southern Africa than most guides, in the guide training he has done within Zimbabwe and Botswana to up and coming indigenous guides. He has been an inspiration and icon to them all.

Garth Thompson, Professional Safari Guide, Garth Thompson Safaris

I have spent the past 16 years searching for the best that Africa has to offer in terms of wildlife and wilderness experience. I have been fortunate to have spent a lot of time with many of Africa's best guides...and even more fortunate to have spent time with a few who really stand out as simply the best guides in Africa - Benson Siyawareva is one of these guides! In terms of knowledge, both cultural and natural, and personality, Benson shares his Africa as only he can - with a big smile and warm heart...

Ian Proctor, Managing Director, Ultimate Africa Safaris, Seattle USA

I have travelled widely throughout the world and extensively in Africa. I first met Benson Siyawareva in November 2001 and I can honestly say that he is one of the most experienced and enthusiastic guides that you could hope to meet. His attitude is always professional, but he puts you at ease immediately with a great smile and a warm laugh. To be able to walk with Benson in the bush, following spore and sneaking up on big game, is one of life's great experiences. It is also an education, as he tells you about the medicinal use of plants as well as helping you identify the birds, insects and mammals. I look forward with relish to my next African safari with Benson. I know it will be special!
Nigel Jones, Managing Director, Ornitholidays, UK

To be with a good guide, indeed a terrific guide, is one of the things that really makes an African safari. What a pleasure it has been to spend time with Benson, whose tracking and knowledge were just great. But is was more than that: his company, communication skills and general rapport with his guests were wonderful, and I immediately felt that I was with a friend whom I had known for years rather than someone I had just recently met for the first time.
Peter Lemon, Peregrine Adventures, Melbourne, Australia

I have been fortunate enough to experience Benson Siyawareva as my personal guide and had a truly wonderful safari adventure. Benson's abilities for spotting animals and passing on interesting information about them made this trip a very special event. His natural relaxed nature was perfect as he hosted us upon returning to the lodge. I look forward to my next visit to Southern Africa and being with Benson.
Allen Mitchem, Fifth Avenue Travel, North Carolina, USA

I was very fortunate to spend a week being guided by Benson in Botswana and Zambia. Africa is always an exciting, adventurous and unexpected destination, but being in the expert hands of someone who truly knows the bush, understands the environment, has a vast knowledge and importantly a sense of humour, makes that experience one that will live with me all my life. Not only that, but I now appreciate just how many beautiful and interesting birds there are in Africa – an added and surprising interest to any safari – brought alive by Benson.

Alison King, MCI UK Ltd, United Kingdom

Incentive Travel Organiser

Benson is the perfect genial host and guide, dedicated to his guests’ requirements, with intimate knowledge of the areas enhancing any safari. His knowledge is exceptional and his genuine love of both birds and animals so obvious, turning a good safari into a true ' AFRICAN ' experience, so guests learn fully the way of life, and to awaken our dulled western senses. Benson is a rare gem who should be treasured and preserved for future generations, with never a dull moment, and a laugh that you NEVER forget.
John & Frances, Sussex, UK

My sister-in-law and I were lucky enough to have Benson as our guide when we recently visited Botswana. Our two-week trip involved lots of traveling and so we got to meet many people on our travels. It seemed to us that all of Africa must not only know Benson, but also thinks highly of him as well! We are included in that lot, for Benson was singularly the most knowledgeable (he is like a walking/talking encyclopaedia of Africa!), most insightful, and most confidence-inspiring guide we encountered on our trip. I can say in all honesty that our safari was so much better than it would have been if he had not been our guide. We are counting the days until we can go back and use him once again.
Suzanne Brown, Chappaqua, New York USA

What can I say about the best guide in Southern Africa? Benson, your intimate knowledge of the local wildlife meant that a memorable trip to Africa became that much more special and I came home not only with some superb photographs but wonderful memories as well. Benson, you are the best!
Malcolm, NSW, Australia

I have been privileged to have been on safari with Benson, his knowledge, empathy, professionalism and integrity re nature and wildlife is second to none. If you only ever do one safari, it should be with Benson.
Sarah, South Africa

In 2000, I travelled to South Africa and Botswana on safari and was privileged to have Benson as a guide - this man knows everything, and I mean everything, about every animal, bird, tree, whatever. He is great fun as well as an exceptional safari teacher and I only wish I could have had him as guide at every safari lodge of my trip. Benson is just the BEST!!
Bev, CT, USA

Private Guiding Option

Private guiding enables our guests to enjoy a unique and enriching experience. For those who are interested in gaining a deeper understanding of not just the big 5, but also the small 50 or even the tiny 5000, travelling with a dedicated and knowledgeable private guide is invaluable. Guests also benefit from a continuity of personal service throughout their safari, with detailed attention to individual requirements. A high level of flexibility on private safaris is a particular advantage to those with special interests, such as photography or ornithology.

For a privately guided safari your guide will meet you upon arrival and travel with you throughout your safari. If you are staying in camps or lodges then you will enjoy private activities, with sole use of game viewing vehicles. For group sizes upwards of 6 persons we may even be able to organise exclusive use of the smaller camps. Mobile safaris can always be organised on an exclusive use basis.

Our private safaris are normally guided by the co-founder of Ngoko Safaris, Benson Siyawareva.

Benson Siyawareva

Benson Siyawareva is one of Africa’s top-rated professional safari guides. He is licensed as a Full Professional Guide in Botswana with the Botswana Department of Wildlife and in Zimbabwe with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife.

With many years of experience, an encyclopaedic knowledge of the wilderness and an unwavering passion and enthusiasm for wildlife and conservation, Benson is the ideal guide to accompany your safari. He knows where to find the animals you have come so far to see, and interprets the language and the signs of the wild, adding immeasurably to your enjoyment. Benson is also great company - with his cheerful, relaxed nature and excellent sense of humour you can look forward to an adventure of a lifetime.

Benson’s worldwide reputation in the industry led him to be named as one of “The Best 15 Safari Guides” in the Condé Nast Traveller magazine. He also made an appearance on American live television, as the Pro-Guide on the Today Show Where in the World is Matt Lauer? Benson is also featured in the authoritative book Licensed to Guide, written by Susie Cazenove.



Benson's Background

Benson was born close to nature - in fact he couldn't wait to be born into the wild.

He came into the world on a sunny September morning in 1968, when his mother, who had set out early on the long walk from her village to the clinic at Zaka, had to find a sheltered spot in a hurry.

The clean, dry sand of a small gully in the middle of nowhere was thus Benson's first bed, and it earned him his childhood nickname - Goronga: 'of the gully'.

Family life in a traditional village in the remote south-eastern Lowveld of Zimbabwe meant that the surrounding bushveld was a resource, a larder, a teacher and a playground.

Benson was expected to contribute to the pot - this included hunting birds using birdlime or catapults; smaller animals with dogs; collecting edible insects, fruits and plants and even fishing with a spear. His father was a renowned herbalist and as the last-born in a family of six, the child 'Goronga' was given extra chores - collecting fresh wild herbs for his Dad whenever there were patients to treat.

It is traditional for young boys to herd the cattle and goats, and so Benson and the other village kids would drive the animals each day to fresh grasslands - on the way collecting fruits, honey, milk, swimming, foraging, climbing trees - all the while looking out for predators. All this gave him an early in-depth knowledge of the local wild fauna and flora. If he had a choice and his life could be rewound, he says he would gladly do it all again.

At the age of fourteen, Benson had to attend a school in the nearest town. His rural school had been closed due to Zimbabwe's war of Independence. That was the first time he saw a flush toilet and a television. This was "civilisation" he guessed! He found a place in a military run school, where corporal punishment was the rule of the day and was imposed unstintingly. Because of his rural village background, the teachers believed that he had to be "urbanised" quickly.

The macho thing at that time was to join the school's Boy Scout Movement, which of course Benson did. In this club, he was given the opportunity to do a lot of camping, wildlife tracking and viewing in one of the nearby National Parks. The seed for his love of animals and conservation of wildlife was sown here.

After completing his 'A' Levels, Benson had to put tertiary education on hold: financial pressure and family loyalties forced him initially to work as a temporary teacher, teaching 'O' levels. During the school breaks, Benson's brother, Foster, a professional Hunter/Guide would invite Benson to help out on safaris. Benson disliked the amount of "blood" involved in the hunting trips, much preferring the photographic safaris. Soon Benson had decided where his future lay and - assisted once more by his elder brother, who has always been a role model and inspiration to him - he began the long and challenging process of becoming a qualified professional guide.

Benson trained at a safari lodge in Matusadona National Park, Zimbabwe, and in 1992 qualified as a Zimbabwe Fully Licensed Professional Guide. This is Zimbabwe's (and probably Africa's) highest and most respected guiding qualification.

At the beginning of 1997, Benson was approached by Wilderness Safaris. He was to spend the next 8 years with them, initially assisting with the the construction of the 16-bedded Makalolo Plains Camp in Hwange National Park. Once the camp opened he helped guide for a few months, setting up the routes and the standards, before starting construction of the 10 bedded Little Makalolo Camp. Once both camps were completed, Benson alternated in managing each of them, whilst continuing to establish an ever-growing reputation among the visitors as top class guide.

During this time, Benson also helped train guides in other regions. After one of these many coaching sessions he decided it was time to gain additional experience outside Zimbabwe and he joined Okavango Wilderness Safaris in Botswana in 2001 as a Guide trainer and coordinator. He soon realised that he missed the interaction with guests, and he took over management of the small, luxury Savuti Bush Camp in the Linyanti, home to the famous Elephants of the Savuti. Here he added his own professional touches to the camp. It was Benson who created the now famous walk-in hide called the "Woodpile" at the waterhole, giving guests the breathtaking experience of being close to the elephants as they drink.

Benson has always believed that each of his guests should experience a unique and personal wilderness experience which will leave them enriched. His desire to be true to what he believed led him to set up Ngoko Safaris with his business partner Fiona in 2005. He now leads safaris throughout Southern Africa.

Apart from Benson's encyclopaedic knowledge of the wilderness - he will constantly point out an unnoticed bird or animal, identify it and tell you some interesting facts or story about it - his most endearing features are his cheerful nature and sense of humour. Benson is a wonderful and colourful character, befriending the guests who respond in kind. His many repeat clients attest to this.

Benson is passionate about the wilderness and much of his spare time is spent in the bush, in particular travelling through other African countries in a quest to learn more about their ecosystems and endemic wildlife.