Review Time
Bench has always provided prompt and thorough information, and the booking process and holiday experiences just as described - very happy to book again and again! Our holiday this time was a bit different, stayed at Makutsi Lodge (outskirts of Kruger National Park) instead of travelling/touring, and had a wonderful time!
Wow..where do I begin, every aspect of this adventure was perfect. The trip of a lifetime ill of experiences I will treasure forever. Karen our travel conSultant from Bench, created a trip that delivered in every way. She asked what we wanted to do and see then created and worked with us to create that delivered everything and more than we expected. Everything went like clockwork there were no issues or hiccups throughout the month we spent in East and South Africa. Travelling throughout East Africa was absolutely our highlight. We saw every animal possible, vast herds on the move and in their natural setting. The Lodges and service were fantastic and we were totally spoilt in every way. Cape Town, the vineyards and Victoria Falls were icing on the cake. An amazing holiday from start to finish.
We were very well looked after on our classic Namibia safari from start to finish. The itinerary provided a good deal of variety in our daily activities. Our guide was excellent in terms of his driving, knowledge, organisation and helpfulness. The hotels were wonderful and the camping days were fun and an opportunity to see some out of the way places. We were very impressed by the delicious meals during the camping days. We would not hesitate to repeat this safari experience.Eric at Bench was so helpful and responded very promptly to email queries.
I used benchAfrica to book a week at Makutsi Safari Springs in late September. I spoke with Hank who was very helpful, and has kept in touch since I returned home by sending a Welcome Home card. He answered all my questions and gave good advice.
Very happy to recommend bench Africa! Bench arranged a custom safari itinerary in Kenya and Tanzania for our family to celebrate my husband’s 50th birthday. After two nights in Nairobi, we experienced fantastic 11 nights on Safari with our own driver and vehicle, staying mostly in luxury tinted accommodation close to within the parks. We visited Amboseli National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, the Seronera Valley of the Serengeti and then headed north to the Mara River where nature gave us the gift of seeing the wildebeest migration in action during an extraordinary river crossing complete with crocodile encounters! We finished off with five nights of beach luxury on the island of Zanzibar. A once in a lifetime experience!
Bench Africa recently organised a very personalized trip in Africa for our family. The planning and organisation was extremely thorough and consultant (Lyndal) was very patient whilst we changed our plans and dates numerous times. Once we were in Africa, our transfers, guides and accommodation were all excellent. We would highly recommend Bench Africa
This was the trip of a lifetime and going through Bench travel the best decision I made. We had Karen organise our trip and with only 10 days she fitted everything in we wanted to do from Cape town and the wine district to Safari in Sabi Sabi and Victoria falls. It was so well organised it just flowed. Karen was always very helpful and calmly made any changes we needed. Every person we met was interesting and helpful and added to the experience. In particular Sabi Sabi Bush Camp was fantastic, the enthusiasm, passion and knowledge of our safari driver Ruth and tracker Heaviness was contagious and the lengths they went to to ensure we had the most amazing experience ever was truly remarkable. They went out of their way to make sure both the other couple in our vehicle and ourselves enjoy every minute and of course tracking down the Big 5. Ruth even dined with us every night adding lots of back ground and stories to the experience and making us really feel at home. The Camp itself is amazing, as is the food and service and all the staff. Many thanks for making my 60th so special.Ilios do a fabulous job with all their drivers who always appeared on time and each added their own flavor to the trip. We were never left waiting or in any doubt we would get to where we had to be on time.We did a half day Capetown private tour which was great as we could choose where we went. The full day small group tour to the Cape of Good Hope was fantastic. We were lucky to be there in winter as apparently the ques to get in can be terrible in summer. Yes the baboons steal from you, one lady had 2 tops stolen from her hand and another her handbag with all her money and passport in it which luckily a ranger retrieved. After a private full day wine tour where we managed to go to some of the more interesting older wineries was great and ended up staying the night in a fabulous french provincial style villa the Franschhoek Country House which has an interesting tasting restaurant. The experience of going to Zambia and Zimbabwe to see Victoria falls was fabulous as was the helicopter ride and the sunset cruise. The little shops in Victoria are great as is the Elephant Walk shops and craft market. The Brewery is a great place for lunch. Easy and safe to walk around these places. Possibly The Kingdom isn't the best place to stay but it was very central and an experience in itself.A huge thank you to Bench and all their associated tour companies in South Africa for making this trip so special. I have traveled all my life and would normally organise things myself but I have to say it really was worth going through Bench who knew how to put together an amazing experience.
I booked the Grand Tour of Africa through my local travel agent with Bench Africa and as I was travelling alone and this was my first trip to Africa I was slightly nervous. My agent assured me that I would be well looked after every step of the way and he was right! I received detailed documents from Bench Africa with added tips which were very useful. The Grand Tour is in two parts, Wildlife & Warriors from Johannesburg to Durban, then a short flight to Port Elizabeth and then a Garden Route tour from there. So we had two different guides, Walter and Abdullah, both were excellent. A party of 14 for the first part and 12 for the second. Another couple from Australia and myself and the rest from UK. Kruger was a highlight and we saw the Big 5 really quickly as well as most of the Ugly 5 as well as many more! The guides in Kruger keep in contact by radio and are excellent at finding where the animals are. I was amazed to discover that Kruger was twice the size of Wales! We returned for an optional night safari which was incredible too. It was totally amazing to see the animals so close up, just that made the tour worthwhile. So many included activities and a really busy tour but we saw so much. So many animals, beautiful scenery, famous places like Table Mountain, Cape of Good Hope etc and visited wineries, ostrich farm and saw the main cities too. We were offered extra tours, one was an elephant sanctuary where I got to take an elephant for a walk and another was Tenikwa Big Cat Reserve where we had afternoon tea with a cheetah prowling outside OUR enclosure and later went for a walk with him. The hotels on the tour were excellent, a stand out was Hunters Country Lodge where the finest details are included, an open fire lit in your cottage while you are at dinner and hot water bottle in the bed were just a couple! I also enjoyed The Benjamin in Durban, smaller rooms and older hotel but amazing service, so friendly and helpful and the open cocktail cabinet in the evenings was an enjoyable place to meet people. The only hotel that wasn't up to standard was Surval which had been changed from my itinerary and was a disappointment. The hotel rooms although large were very dated and they need refurbishing badly. The meals included in the tour were excellent and food in South Africa is very reasonable when we had to pay for our own. When we did the wineries tour we had 3 on the itinerary but when we got to the 3rd one (Spier) there was no booking so we had to leave. This really wasn't an issue as I was feeling that maybe 3 wine tastings in one day was too much! So although a couple of glitches nothing major and certainly didn't have any effect on the trip at all.
Our favourite holiday ever! Karen's pre-tour organisation was excellent. The on-the-ground tour companies in Africa were efficient and timely, the accommodation was often very special and our guides were friendly and knowledgeable. We couldn't believe how close we were to the animals without disturbing them in any way. We hope to return one day soon.
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Family-run since 1969, Bench Africa specialises in small group tours and tailormade journeys across Africa, offering authentic and immersive travel experiences for discerning travellers. With offices based in Australia and dedicated local operations on the ground in Africa, every detail is carefully coordinated to maintain exceptional standards and ensure smooth, seamless journeys from start to finish.
Bench Africa designs customised itineraries that connect guests with Africa’s diverse wildlife, rich cultures, and stunning landscapes. Whether exploring iconic destinations like the Serengeti, Okavango Delta, Kruger National Park, or the Maasai Mara, or discovering lesser-known gems off the beaten path, each safari is crafted to suit individual interests and travel styles.
Specialising in both personalised private safaris and small group tours, Bench Africa provides expert guidance throughout the planning process and on the ground. This hands-on approach, supported by experienced local guides and knowledgeable teams, creates meaningful connections with Africa’s natural environment and local communities.
Beyond wildlife viewing, the safaris often include cultural encounters, opportunities to support conservation efforts, and authentic experiences that reveal the true spirit of Africa. With a commitment to responsible and sustainable tourism, Bench Africa ensures that travel has a positive impact on the regions visited.
Whether it’s a luxury safari, a family safari, a solo adventure, or a tailormade honeymoon, Bench Africa’s careful planning and genuine care deliver memorable and meaningful journeys that leave lasting impressions. The combination of extensive local knowledge, personalised service, and a passion for Africa’s wild places makes Bench Africa a trusted choice for travellers seeking in-depth and unforgettable safari experiences.See more
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