Bench Africa Opiniões 

We have used bench Africa (via flight centre) twice now for our trips to Africa. We stayed at makutsi safari springs in South Africa and jackalberry in kasane Botswana with a few nights in between in Zimbabwe. The service from bench is amazing and I really loved where they booked us, so much that I am in the process of booking my third trip

Everything was organised fantastically !!!!! Loved our printed itinerary book & information given - not all others on our Botswana trip had that!

Our Botswana tour had 10pax. Traveled on a AC mini bus which has great with charge ports for phones etc. Both our driver & Guide were Top class!!!
There was lots of miles covered overall, however having said that, each different site / NP we moved to had different experiences & worth the effort.
It is a tour that is go go go, but for those who want to see as much as possible in 2/52 in Botswana, highly recommended.

It was great we did Robin Pope tour second as this was much slower paced. As lodges are inside the Sth Luwanga NP, there was not as much driving. Big bonus was the speed limit in NP is 40km, but mostly you traveled 15-20kph- making it feel like a 'Sunday Drive ' compared to earlier tour.
Wildlife there was great - lots more predators easily seen & far less people.
RP lodges & staff are just top class as far as we were concerned , our 3/7 safari walking part was 'thrilling!! to say the least.

Outstanding communication from Bench made this holiday one that met and surpassed our expectations. Every little detail was considered so no concerns once we were away.
We had 15 days on the road exploring National Parks in Botswana and Zimbabwe. Our driver and guide were exceptional.
The remote area camps were delightful to stay in.
Guma Lagoon: fabulous accommodation right on the Okavango, Loved the mokoro rides and evenings on the lagoon as the sun set.
Mankwe Tented Retreat: very isolated but wonderful staff, food, game drives and accommodation.
Gweta Lodge: pity it was changed from Nata Lodge as this was our only disappointment. Disinterested staff and lack of maintenance.
Chobe Safari Lodge: Just wonderful rooms, meals, game drives and Sunset cruise with wildlife galore.
Robins Camp Zimbabwe: Brilliant in every respect. Wonderful food, game drives in Hwange Nat Park.
Insika Lodge, Victoria Falls: Beautiful new resort. Great staff and restaurant.
We then had 4 days at Chisomo Lodge near Kruger. This was the icing on the cake. Just perfection. Brilliant staff, dining, amazing game drives morning and evening. Glamping styles tents with full turndown service, electric blankets and super ensuites.
If you want a worry free safari in Africa choose Bench....not one of the cheaper alternatives who provide minimal information.
Tips....take a decent proper camera, US dollars are great for tips and for Zimbabwe border/shopping, Visa credit and debit cards were accepted in every lodge (for wine and spirits.)

Our expectations for our first time in Africa were high, very high. And I would have to say that these expectations were exceeded in every way.

Bench Africa assisted us to plan what would be the most perfect holiday in Kenya, Uganda, and Zanzibar. There were delays due to Covid, changes of mind on itineraries, and differing views on what we wanted to do. Throughout all of this, Bench Africa were so very helpful, honest, and professional. We cannot thank them enough.

Each area that was suggested, and selected was so different to other regions we visited. The eco-systems so diverse. Different animals, birds, people and the cultures. Each day was memorising and magical. Each day provided so many highlights, so many happy memories.

The different accommodations were in most cases brilliant, superb. The staff so quiet, reserved, closed; but once they knew we not a threat to their well-being they became the opposite. We enjoyed the many conversations, banter, and genuine friendships that followed. The game drive guides in each place were simply the best.
In all, I simply run out of superlatives in describing each place. We had no favourites, nor did we rank them. To do so would be disrespectful to the other places. Each was different, unique, and for us they were pure luxury.

Again, thank you so much for a 30 day trip of a lifetime and one we will never forget.

Places we stayed:
Amboseli - Elari Lodge. Such a different place with many eco-systems in the 1 National Park.
Samburu - Elephant Bedroom Camp. Saw so many different animals of many different ages. Saw all 3 big cats here along with the "special 5".
Masi Mara - Mara Ngenche. Rolling plains with so many animals, including the 3 big cats, hippos, and a brief glimpse of a "river crossing".
Uganda was a 10 day tour staying at multiple places. It gave the experience of coming oh so close to Mountain Gorillas, Chimpanzees, and a visit to a Batwa tribe.

Our driver and guide in Tanzania was excellent (leopard tours)and exposed us to some wonderful encounters with the big 5 and many other exotic animals. Loved the hyenas and observing a baby antelope stand and take its first steps. He had the knack of placing us exactly in the right place to experience the animals at close quarters. Our guide in Kenya was experienced and informative and despite social unrest kept us safe. His insight into the Maasai people was insightful and mind blowing. Thank you particularly Bench for finding my laptop which I left behind early in the adventure and returning it to me in Nairobi. Well done. I can now tick that adventure off my bucket list. Food, accomodation ,company wonderful. Even the African ‘massages’ were an adventure..

Amazing trip to Zambia. Fabulous itinerary just loved the Bushcamps in South Luangwa National Park. The number of leopard and lion sighting exceeded my expectations.

We have just returned from our Southern Africa Uncovered tour which was awsome. Everything we experienced was more than what we had ever hoped for. Our driver was our tour guide Mishet was fabulous. Never dreamed we would see so many different animals in the wild. Accommodation was fantastic except for the Cresta Seaspray in Zimbabwe which was very poor compared to all our other stays. Thank you Bench we can highly recommend you for travelling in Africa. It was one of our most amazing experiences of our life.

I loved it!! We were on the go everyday, which i loved. The accommodation was way more than i expected, beautiful, comfortable and the views i had, especially of Kilimanjaro, were spectacular. I had to pinch myself everyday that i was in Kenya! I had many 'moments' where i was overwhelmed with emotion, seeing a male lion, or lionesses eating a kill or a Cheetah family, a thrill that nothing compares.
The Kenyan/Maasai people are the most hospitable, beautiful people I have EVER encountered in all my trips overseas and in Australia. The culture so different, yet speaking to the women, we have the same ideas and issues all over the world, which is a valuable, soulsister connection we share.
The Maasai Mara was INCREDIBLE, wildlife was in abundance as was the other places we visited. Everywhere we visited was a highlight, yet Navaisha is so beautiful, however we spent one night, but it truly deserves to be a 2 night stay to take in and enjoy the grounds, the roaming giraffe, zebra, antelope, monkeys etc. and get some awesome photos of up close wildlife.
Our guide Pesh, is an excellent knowledgable guide. With an friendly, caring outgoing nature, who can deal with diverse personalities, age and medical issues that may arise. Awesome woman. We had fantastic drivers, Sammy and Steve(now known as Stevo lol). Their knowledge of locations and wildlife knows no bounds, fun facts and the driving skills are incredible!! I met some lovely ladies and a couple i now consider friends, a privilege to have met them.
Question is, would i go on another tour with BenchAfrica? Yes, i most definitely would, and so should you.

Simply the best at all levels,outstanding accomadation from lodges, hotels and glamping. The food was such a cultural experience so fresh with variety. We travelled Tanzania to Kenya. Saw the big 5 we were overwhelmed with the experience. Excellent guides and service. We were emersed in these countries and learnt so much about the animals and culture.
The customer service from Bench is outstanding when I called with questions I was given support from knowledgeable staff speical mention to April you excelled yourself over the phone.

My husband and I recently went to South Africa and Zimbabwe and we booked with Bench. Julie was absolutely fantastic and she made sure that the entire trip ran smoothly. Little Garonga was a highlight for us - we just had the most magical time there. Thank you Julie for all of your hard work planning the perfect trip for us!

Strongly recommend not using bench tours, very very inflexible if have to change your dates or cancel, we lost about 5k in their fees and they were unwilling to even give a credit

10/10! Thank you April for seamlessly weaving my Makutsi Springs Safari trip in October.
I asked my usual travel agent in Perth WA who is the best for African Safari trips and she said "Bench Africa!". The price was excellent and no single supplement!! April Selby at Bench was clear, professional, and all of my questions were answered within 24 hours. My itinerary and supporting logistical/safety documents were sent on-time and were clear to read.
I would highly recommend Bench Africa for their prpfessional service, knowledge of the subject of safari in South Africa and pricing!

A wonderful, unforgettable perfect trip in Namibia.
The lodges, the activities, the flights, the food, the staff - everything was perfect.

From our first discussion with Lyndal at Bench until the last day of our trip, Bench delivers at every level. It starts with listening to what we want to achieve from our trip and making the small adjustments to make everything suit us.
Leopard Tours in Tanzania were outstanding and added to the depth of our trip throughout that amazing country. Our guide Issa, went above and beyond to provide us with not one but two opportunities to see the Migration.
The Masai Mara in Kenya provided us with memorable experience of watching animals living in their natural environment and the memories of our sundowner moments under the Acacia trees are now with us forever.
At the end it all comes back to Bench who were faultless.

Bench Africa made our family holiday in Kenya one of the most memorable holiday we ever had. Thank you to the knowledgeable Bench team for making the perfect suggestions and making sure that it all went to plan. Our safari guide in Kenya made every moment fun and interesting. The camps were beautiful and we are planning to return next year. Without question we will be using Bench. Highly recommended!

So, *SO* amazing.
Thank-you to Julia and to Bench Africa for the recommendation and then the assistance to get me and my family (wife and two teenage daughters) onto the Makutsi 7-day Safari. Julie was careful to understand what we were looking for in an African Safari and her recommendation far exceeded our expectations.
Makutsi was nothing less than incredible for all of us: so welcoming, such an *amazing* variety of animals in close proximity (leopards, lions, elephants, giraffe, rhino, antelope, cheetah, hippo... even a honey-badger!), such knowledgeable and charismatic guides, such a genuine interest in the welfare of the wildlife and the bushland.

The family rondavel was very clean and spacious, and the meals were wonderful. Very clearly a family-owned, family-loved and family-run experience.

Thank you Makutsi for adopting my family into your family for the special time that we were able to share your world.

We had our first trip to Africa with Bench some 6 years ago and longed to return. Someone said to me once if you could only visit 2 continents in this world twice, visit Africa. Never a truer word spoken. We booked with Bench again late 2019 for Xmas 2021 but little did we know what was around the corner. Our African expert Julie was with us every step of the way organising a trip of a lifetime again and has supported our changes along the way with great excitement for us. Once Covid hit we were of course like all of us in la la land and our trip unfortunately will not come through this year and maybe not nect year either. Bench's attitude with regard to Covid has been superior and they have supported their clients every step of the way. We are currently underway with refunds unfortunately. We will be back to Africa at some point with Bench once this crazy world comes good, we know that and cant wait one day to make our dreams come true once again. Bench has been around a long time and will survive these difficult days

We have used Bench for 2 of our African trips and had a 3rd booked. Everything was perfect on both previous trips and we would never use any other travel agent, why would we , Bench are the African specialists. In relation to our refunds due to Covid, it came through quickly and correctly and the process was stress free. Thanks Maria :)

we arrived in Sth Africa to find we were in an area ravaged by sudden cyclone . Despite this , our plans were quickly rearranged by Bench Africa and we had a truly epic and fantastic trip

We visited Makutsi Safari Springs for 6 nights, commencing 14 March 2020.
This was organised by Bench Africa as part of a cruise package, Prior to our departure, Bench Africa provided a comprehensive personalised booklet on what was in store at Makutsi. On arrival we were advised by our travel agent that our 27 night cruise from Capetown to Athens had been cancelled.
After a warm welcome we settled into our comfortable rondavel and decided to make the most of this now very short holiday.
It turned out to be a fantastic and unforgettable experience, even though 3 days into our stay we were advised that the Australian Govt. wanted all Australians to return home as soon as possible.
We were treated to up close and personal experiences; on our first game drive our vehicle sat in the middle of a lion and lioness and two young lions feeding on their kill. More of the pride were sitting in the river bed just out of sight.
Day two our guide found the pregnant female cheetah. He happened to be in charge of the cheetah breeding programme and after he alighted from our open safari vehicle, the cheetah got up and walked over to him .Less than an hour later in a different section of the park, three more cheetahs crossed the track a little ahead of our vehicle.
We were told we would be unlikely to see elephants during our stay as they had migrated to the southern end of the park. However, we were told we would see several on our day trip to Kruger National Park. We enjoyed our day at Kruger and saw a wide variety and number of animals. Then on our last game drive at Makutsi, our guide followed elephant tracks, and we were treated to almost an hour among a herd of 19 elephants, a huge 30+ year old bull down to two babies. These were very up close and personal (and a bit scary but SO exhilarating.) There was no shortage of wild animals to be seen during our four game drives, including a night game drive. The guides were extremely knowledgeable and enthusiastic.
Another highlight was a day trip to Blyde River Canyon in the beautiful Drakensburg Mountains.
Our stay was made very enjoyable by the friendly staff, beautiful meals, the indoor and outdoor natural thermal spring pools, and many of the animals grazing around the camp.
Sadly, due to coronavirus and the travel restrictions, the camp was to temporarily close and most of the staff leave, shortly after our departure.