Mike Kirkland, Chairman, Bench AfricaBench Africa this week celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2019 with an event in Sydney. The Africa travel pioneers invited select media to lunch at Quay on the harbour, toasting the milestone with Peter Gilmore’s famously inventive cuisine (including a “ridiculously decadent” dessert) and a look back at the company’s achievements. Guests were treated to an ebullient drumming and dancing performance by a duo from Guinea and Zimbabwe, while illustrious partners, including Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve and The Blue Train, wished Bench Africa a very happy 50th anniversary in a celebratory video.Chairman Mike Kirkland said the occasion was “truly auspicious”. He launched his business with one second-hand Toyota Land Cruiser, guiding Americans on a three-week exploration through Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. Over the next 49 years, Kirkland has organised safaris for thousands for happy clients, and now his award-winning company, Southern Cross Safaris, has over 100 vehicles and safari camps in Tsavo East National Park and Amboseli National Park.Twelve years ago, Kirkand bought Bench International (which rebranded as Bench Africa). The companies shared a similar length of experience in selling African holidays to Australian travellers. He approached Bench as they were the original Africa travel specialists for the continent, with a very consistent reputation within the industry, seen as a “perfect match” for his businesses.“Making it 50 years in any business is an enormous milestone and we don’t take it for granted. This is especially the case working in an industry and with a destination what we all know is temperamental in nature,” Kirkland said.Kirkland said that Africa’s abundance of natural beauty and deeply rooted heritage is something he believes every traveller should have the chance to encounter.“And I guarantee, they too will become ambassadors and in turn safeguard the future of these captivating countries,” he added.A range of Signature Specials has been released by Bench Africa in 2019, including an eight-day Connoisseur Safari that includes three nights at Elephant Camp and four nights at Mara Ngenche in Kenya, priced from $6,960 per person twin share. A 13-day Luxury Safari incorporating four nights at More Quarters, three nights at Franschhoek Country House and five nights at Garonga Safari Camp is also available, priced from $4,995 per person twin share.More at benchafrica.com
Mike Kirkland, Chairman, Bench AfricaBench Africa this week celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2019 with an event in Sydney. The Africa travel pioneers invited select media to lunch at Quay on the harbour, toasting the milestone with Peter Gilmore’s famously inventive cuisine (including a “ridiculously decadent” dessert) and a look back at the company’s achievements. Guests were treated to an ebullient drumming and dancing performance by a duo from Guinea and Zimbabwe, while illustrious partners, including Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve and The Blue Train, wished Bench Africa a very happy 50th anniversary in a celebratory video.Chairman Mike Kirkland said the occasion was “truly auspicious”. He launched his business with one second-hand Toyota Land Cruiser, guiding Americans on a three-week exploration through Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. Over the next 49 years, Kirkland has organised safaris for thousands for happy clients, and now his award-winning company, Southern Cross Safaris, has over 100 vehicles and safari camps in Tsavo East National Park and Amboseli National Park.Twelve years ago, Kirkand bought Bench International (which rebranded as Bench Africa). The companies shared a similar length of experience in selling African holidays to Australian travellers. He approached Bench as they were the original Africa travel specialists for the continent, with a very consistent reputation within the industry, seen as a “perfect match” for his businesses.“Making it 50 years in any business is an enormous milestone and we don’t take it for granted. This is especially the case working in an industry and with a destination what we all know is temperamental in nature,” Kirkland said.
Kirkland said that Africa’s abundance of natural beauty and deeply rooted heritage is something he believes every traveller should have the chance to encounter.“And I guarantee, they too will become ambassadors and in turn safeguard the future of these captivating countries,” he added.A range of Signature Specials has been released by Bench Africa in 2019, including an eight-day Connoisseur Safari that includes three nights at Elephant Camp and four nights at Mara Ngenche in Kenya, priced from $6,960 per person twin share. A 13-day Luxury Safari incorporating four nights at More Quarters, three nights at Franschhoek Country House and five nights at Garonga Safari Camp is also available, priced from $4,995 per person twin share.More at benchafrica.com
