THE consumer popularity of Bench International’s inaugural escorted tours to Egypt and East Africa this year has prompted the safari specialist to expand the range of departures for 2013 to include Southern Africa.
Product director Fiona Orton said that 2012’s fully booked departures will be complemented next year with a 18-day Southern Africa package taking in the highlights of South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana.
Bench has also added some refinements and additional inclusions in all three of next year’s escorted programmes.
All will be personally escorted by a Bench International African specialist and include accommodation in top quality hotels, lodges and camps, with all meals, transport and guided tours and game driving experiences.
Ms Orton said Bench would also expand the activities of its own luxury aircraft in East Africa. She said that the eight-day “Out of Africa” scenic air safari to Kenya’s finest game reserves would be complemented by an eight-day “Wings over the Great Rift Valley” tour which would combine the Valley with the Masai Mara Game Reserve.
She added, ” We have included a couple of new tented options in Kruger National Park and added Makweti Safari Lodge which is only three hours by road from Johannesburg and two new options in Pilanesberg National Park.
“We have also got new weekly, short guided tours from Cape Town to the Winelands and to Zulu tribal lands and historic war arenas.”
Other new products for 2013 are to be found in Victoria Falls, Botswana, Tanzania and the island of Lamu off the Kenyan coast.
More information from www.benchinternational.com.au or 1300-195-873.