Bench Africa

14/09/2026

This is Samburu, and if it’s not already on your safari radar, we think it should be.

Up here in the north of Kenya, the landscape is dry, rugged and strikingly beautiful. The Ewaso Nyiro River brings a swathe of green to the red earth, with distinctive doum palms along its banks and rocky mountains beyond. Among them is Mount Ololokwe, sacred to the Samburu people and a place with a long tradition of prayer and ceremony.

It’s also home to a rather special northern cast:

✔️Grevy’s zebra
✔️Reticulated giraffe
✔️Gerenuk
✔️Beisa oryx
✔️Somali ostrich

Together they’re known as the Samburu Special Five, and seeing them is just one of the highlights of a safari in Northern Kenya.

Which brings us to these photos...

We have Graham Werner, one of our very own tribe members, to thank for them. He travelled to East Africa with Bench earlier this year, and these are just some of the incredible shots from his time in Samburu.

And there’s plenty more where these came from. Over the next few days, we’ll be sharing more of Graham’s photography from his time in East Africa, so keep your eyes peeled! 📸

02/09/2026

We’re hiring a Safari Specialist to join the Bench Africa team. ✨

If you have firsthand knowledge of Africa, experience selling tailormade travel and would like to build a career with Australia’s original Africa travel specialist, we’d love to hear from you.

Join the Bench Africa team! We’re looking for passionate, travel-loving professionals to help design unforgettable African safari experiences. Explore careers in African travel and apply today.

04/05/2026

From the Big Five to big vines. ✨🍷

A 4WD wine safari through the slopes of Klein Constantia is easily the most stylish way to decompress after time in the bush. We took to the steep foothills of Table Mountain, enjoying a vantage over Cape Town that’s nothing short of iconic.

We spent the morning exploring the estate’s 300-year history before sipping the legendary Vin de Constance.… a pour so esteemed that Napoleon famously insisted on a bottle a day. If it’s good enough for an emperor, it’s certainly the gold standard for any safari finale.

Pro-tip for your next trip: This is a sophisticated way to transition back to reality without losing the sense of adventure after a connoisseur safari in southern Africa.

26/04/2026

What an unforgettable afternoon at Black Elephant in stunning Franschhoek, for the Headline Act music pairing experience! 🎶🍷

It was such an honour to spend time with owner Kevin Swart, whose stories are as captivating as his wines. Listening to his hand-picked tracks, perfectly paired with each pour, made for something truly unique.

Our highlight was sharing the “Memory Maker,” Amazing Grace Cabernet Sauvignon, with Kevin as Ladysmith Black Mambazo’s “Amazing Grace” played in tribute to his late father. It was the only wine he joined us in drinking, and we all raised a glass together in his late father’s honour. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

A unique experience for anyone who loves wine, music, and great stories.

26/04/2026

Meet the team who help bring your safaris in South Africa to life.

This is Southern Cross Safaris, our sister company in Cape Town, and while we don’t get to see them as often as we’d like, it never takes long for us to pick up right where we left off. We got to welcome some new faces to the tribe, and our MD, Glen, even made the journey over from our head office in Kenya so it felt pretty special to have all these smiling faces in the same room.

And yes, if you spotted our last post you already know the night was packed with a lot of laughter, great stories, a singalong and some very enthusiastic dance moves, especially when Jerusalema came on. The South African team absolutely put us to shame, but hey, we gave it our best shot! We just haven't had as much practice, ok?? 😆

Naturally, a little shop talk crept in, as it always does. Ultimately though, it’s these moments of connection that strengthen us as a team. We're grateful to work alongside this dedicated team of experts and look forward to all the adventures still to come.

25/04/2026

Behind every great safari is a team full of joy, warmth and soul and this is ours. 🌍🤍

Tonight, our local team in Cape Town whisked us straight off the plane to . Cape Malay feast, djembe drums, live jazz. And then the highlight of the night: Yomi, our newest member of the tribe, got up and sang for the entire restaurant.

These are the people helping to craft your safari in South Africa. And it’s nights like this that are why Africa gets under your skin. 🇿🇦✨

More to come from Cape Town… and we can’t wait to share it with you!

24/04/2026

Touchdown Jozi 🇿🇦

We arrived into Johannesburg last night, checked into and went straight to bed. Completely spent. The flight definitely caught up with us.

The Residence is everything you want after a long haul. Dark wood, velvet, big fireplaces. Champagne on arrival, a cheese platter, a little glass of sherry. It feels like a home but with all the touches that make you feel properly looked after from the moment you walk through the door.

Once you’re in a robe with a glass in hand, the journey that got you here fades away pretty quickly.

And that’s exactly the point. When we put together an itinerary, this is the kind of place we look for at the start of a safari. A soft landing. Somewhere warm and
comfortable with just enough luxury to ease you in gently before the real adventure begins. Africa is big and wild and extraordinary and we want our guests to meet it feeling their best... ready for everything that lies ahead.

Eight hours’ sleep later, so are we!

Johannesburg, it’s good to be back.

Julie and Lara 🤍

19/04/2026

Africa, we're coming for you. 🐘✨

Our bags are packed and the countdown is on. For the first time in years, the two of us are heading back to Mama Africa together... and honestly, it feels long overdue.

Meet Julie and Lara, the two women at the helm of Bench Africa. Between us, decades of experience and a deep love for this continent. This month we're on the ground in South Africa and Zambia because knowing what's right for our guests means seeing it for ourselves.

And, we're on a mission:

✔️ Tracking down any new experiences worth getting excited about
✔️ Reconnecting with the teams who make your safaris possible
✔️ Paying a visit to our Cape Town office
✔️ Finding the stories we can’t wait to share with you

Follow along for some "behind the scenes" action. 👣📸

13/04/2026

AFRICA. YOUR WAY. 🐘👣

Some travellers want a private plunge pool and a vintage Shiraz. Others want the smell of rain on red dust and the thrill of a mobile camp moving with the herds.

The truth is, there's no such thing as a one-size-fits-all safari. At Bench Africa, our expertise lies in the art of the tailor-made safari.

Bench Africa is Australia's original Africa specialists. Not simply booking cookie-cutter itineraries, but handcrafting journeys shaped around your pace, your passions, and your definition of adventure.

🥂 Drawn to the luxurious? We know the continent's most exclusive lodges.
⛺ Craving something raw and untamed? We'll take you deep into the wild with authentic tented camps.
🧭 A little of both? We've got you!

Ready to stop dreaming and start designing? Let's craft your perfect safari. 🌍🦁

11/04/2026

📸 AFRICA IS BETTER SHARED 📸

Don't let your pride-worthy lion sightings or dazzling zebra shots gather digital dust.

If you’ve travelled with Bench, we're dying to see the photos you’re still obsessing over.

Drop your best safari snaps in the comments—don't be shy! 🦒✨