The Bencia Africa dedicated Team
Bencia Africa Adventure & Safaris
- Located In:
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2007)
- Member Of:
- KWS, KTB, ECO -Tourism, TRA & KATO-member
- Tour Types:
- Custom budget & mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $55 to $325 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
Email James | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Good value for money
From a lot or research beforehand and our experience, I would recommend Bencia over other companies for a value-for-money budget safari, despite one con. The review is very long becuse it can be hard to find specific details about most tours which in the end is the difference between getting what is promised and getting tricked.
Pros
1. Accommodation at Lake Nakuru is inside the park (Wildlife Clubs of Kenya - Nakuru) which is a big advantage over other tour groups because it means we could do an afternoon and morning tour on the same 24hr ticket. A 24hr ticket for Lake Nakuru only allows for 1 entry and exit. Though other companies say they offer both morning and afternoon tours, when I actually enquired how this was possible when their accommodation was outside the park, they then stated it was either morning or afternoon, not both. Bencia was the only budget safari I found, from emailing many companies, who could actually offer what the website says.
2. Our guide was thoughtful about the welfare of the animals and didn't harass them, unlike other drivers we saw. He was also nice to chat with about wildlife and Kenya in general.
3. Great in-house chef who travelled with us and adapted well to a vegetarian menu. An example of our meals, though each chef may be different, was: breakfast (omlettes, toast, sweet potato, pancakes, fruits, instant coffee/tea), lunch ( tasty and fresh buffets on the road between locations, and a huge packed lunch for the full day safari including fruits, sandwich, juice and snacks) and dinner (rice, great mixed veges, beans, potatoes and fruits). We were always so full, no snacks are needed to complement the meals.
4. Accommodation was good for the price. Good enough mosquito protection. The accommodation in Lake Nakuru is particularly good as the animals are all around the camp gates.
5. The joining tour ran with even 2 people, as promised, which not all companies could promise us and seemed important for changing circumstances like Covid. It also meant by luck we had a private tour.
6. Really, really responsive emails from the office beforehand always getting back within minutes or just a few hours.
Con
1. We felt we our driving hours and timing was not quite what was agreed upon and we had to negotaite to remain close to our planned schedule which was a dampener. As noted below, a bit too little time for the MM afternoon (which could have simply been credited the next days but wasn't). Additionally, it was very important to us, and promised to us in emails, that we would do a morning tour day 3 in MM from 6:30-8:30am. When we were there we were told we could do 6am-5pm on day 2 instead of the morning drive on day 3. We said no because that is not what was promised. Strangely, the last day we entered quite late going from 7am-9am which was the same duration but not the hours we were promised or that we asked for the night before. It seemed strange they would offer to enter at 6am on the long day but not on the short morning. I know some companies do an afternoon drive day 1 and then a long day 2 so they save money on gate fees nut but charge you for 2 days on entry fees, despite what their website programme states. So I was pleased that they at least stuck to the promise of 3 days of driving and not 2.
Trip details:
The order of our trip changed and we ended up doing 4 days nd 3 nights with Lake Nakuru first, which in the end felt better going from a small park into the huge expanse of the Masai Mara.
There is a lot of unavoidable travel in between parks, though I think we spent too long between Nakuru and Masai Mara trying to arrange picking up some more passengers which cost us time that afternoon at Masai Mara and this was never made up later.
Rough timing; Nakuru to MM - 7 hours (should be much quicker), MM to Nairobi - 5hrs, Nairobi to LN 7am from hotel to 3pm arrival.
Reply from Bencia Africa Adventure & Safaris
Posted on Jul 30, 2024Thank you for your detailed review and valuable feedback! We're pleased to hear that you found good value for money with Bencia and appreciated the unique advantages we offer, such as accommodation inside Lake Nakuru National Park and our commitment to animal welfare.
It's great to know that our in-house chef provided delicious meals, including vegetarian options, and that our accommodations met your expectations, especially with the proximity to wildlife. We're also glad that our responsive communication and the promise of a joining tour with just two people made your experience smoother, even allowing for a private tour in this case.
We apologize for any confusion or inconvenience regarding the timing of the game drives. We understand how important it is to adhere to the agreed schedule and are sorry that this aspect didn't fully meet your expectations. We appreciate your understanding of the logistics involved and will use your feedback to improve our service and ensure clearer communication and better scheduling in the future.
Thank you for choosing Bencia and for sharing your experience in such detail. Your insights help us to enhance our services and provide more accurate information to future guests. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back for another safari adventure!
CH
Email Lucca | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Awesome Safari experience
We loved the 5-day-Safari to Masai Mara, Nakuru and Naivasha and Hell‘s Gate! It was our first Safari and it couldn‘t have been better! We already saw the big 5 after day 3 but all of the days were packed with amazing moments! The hotel choice of Bencia was outstanding and the food at the Lodges just excellent! Our driver George did a great job and always drove safely!
Reply from Bencia Africa Adventure & Safaris
Posted on Jul 30, 2024Thank you for sharing your fantastic experience! We're thrilled to hear that your 5-day safari to Masai Mara, Nakuru, and Naivasha, including Hell's Gate, was everything you hoped for and more. It's wonderful that you saw the Big Five so early and had many memorable moments throughout your trip. We're glad you enjoyed the hotel choices and the excellent food at the lodges. It's great to know that George provided a safe and enjoyable journey. We appreciate your kind words and look forward to hosting you on another unforgettable adventure!
CY
Email Ksenia | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing
It was amazing safari with Benica Africa. Everything was organized at the highest level - accommodation, transfers, excellent guide and driver!
Reply from Bencia Africa Adventure & Safaris
Posted on Jul 30, 2024Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're delighted to hear that you had an amazing safari with Bencia Africa and that everything was organized to the highest standard. It's great to know that you were pleased with the accommodation, transfers, and our excellent guide and driver. We appreciate your kind words and look forward to welcoming you back for another exceptional adventure!
FR
Email Meli | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Very good trip with bencia
Everything was ok, the tour operator, the guide, the organisation, the safari. Thank you.
Reply from Bencia Africa Adventure & Safaris
Posted on Jul 30, 2024Thank you for your review! We're pleased to hear that you had a great trip and that everything met your expectations, from the tour operator and guide to the overall organization and safari experience. Your satisfaction is our priority, and we appreciate your kind words. We look forward to welcoming you back for another adventure in the future!
CR
Email lu.zuniga.autora | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Efficient and cooperative
Hi, I'm from Costa Rica.
The customer service from this company was wonderful. They always cared about every detail.
Through WhatsApp, the managers of the company follow up on you, but it is not necessary because everything happens as agreed.
My guide was George, who was always on the lookout until he opened the door for me. We made some changes to the itinerary based on how tired we were, but all agenda items were always met (just order changes).
Despite it being low season, we saw all five big animals.
I chose the budget option, so the accommodations weren't luxurious, but they have what it takes to sleep and leave the next day.
I recommend you bring:
Water and additional snacks (it is a long trip).
Mosquito repellent.
Disinfectant wipes to clean the sandals that they give you in the bathrooms (they can also be used to clean the toilet bowl in public bathrooms).
Paper tissues in case you have to go to the bathroom in the park (we are in the middle of the jungle, so there are no restrooms).
If you are picky, like me, you can bring your own cloth or towel, because the ones in the lodges don't look so new.
Mask to cover the light (if you sleep in tents, it will be dark, but if it is a hotel, light can enter).
Thank you Alfred, George and John, I was really happy during my trip. I hope you can have more clients from Costa Rica and Latin America in the future. You will enjoy it too.
(automatic translation from Spanish)
Reply from Bencia Africa Adventure & Safaris
Posted on Jul 30, 2024Thank you for your detailed and thoughtful review! We're thrilled to hear that you had a wonderful experience and appreciated the attentive customer service from our team. It's great to know that George provided excellent care and flexibility throughout your journey, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable safari.
We're glad you could witness the Big Five, even during the low season, and that our budget accommodations met your needs. Your practical tips for future travelers are invaluable and will surely help others prepare for their adventure.
Thank you for your kind words to Alfred, George, and John. We hope to welcome more travelers from Costa Rica and Latin America, and we look forward to providing them with an equally memorable experience. We appreciate your recommendation and look forward to seeing you again!
NL
Email Naomi | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Highly recommend
Initially I booked a 2 days/1 night safari to the Maasai Mara through WhatsApp (awesome and easy way to do it I must add) I was picked up on time by my fantastic guide, dropped off at BAAS offices to finalize my booking and for payment. Unfortunately (not really in the end) another of my tours got cancelled and I was convinced by the very helpful guys at BAAS to book an extra day, which I did. Best decision I made, because the second day we did a full day safari and we basically saw all the wildlife possible. Absolutely amazing experience with an even more amazing guide (some top notch driving was displayed). Overnight stay at the camp in “tents” was above expectations (hot showers and electricity). Also super flexible at fitting a safari tour to everyone’s needs, which sometimes makes it all a little chaotic (different agencies, companies use the same camp/guides to do the tour, so people might have different itineraries), but the guide was very flexible and wanted to give everyone the best possible safari experience, so we came to a decision as a group. Would definitely book with these guys again, highly recommend.
Reply from Bencia Africa Adventure & Safaris
Posted on Jul 30, 2024Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience! We're delighted that you found booking through WhatsApp convenient and that our team could assist you with extending your safari. It sounds like the extra day made a big difference, allowing you to witness the incredible wildlife and enjoy a full day of adventure.
We're glad to hear that your stay at the camp exceeded expectations and that our guide provided top-notch service and flexibility to accommodate everyone's needs. It's great to know that you appreciated the teamwork and adaptability in ensuring the best possible experience for all guests.
Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we look forward to welcoming you back for another amazing safari adventure in the future!
AE
Email Ricardo | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very reliable and trusted
Great experience. Well organized safari with very friendly treatment and adjustable to personal necessities.
Reply from Bencia Africa Adventure & Safaris
Posted on Jul 30, 2024Thank you so much for your kind words! We're thrilled to hear that you had a great experience and found our safari well-organized and accommodating. It's our goal to provide friendly and flexible service to ensure each guest has a memorable adventure. We appreciate your trust in us and look forward to welcoming you on another journey in the future!
ES
Email Ana Navarro | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing staff
We have a great time with this Safari Agency. They are very professional. They take care of you as a mother would do. We have been extremely happy. Philip , the driver makes the best for us too see the animals and you will feel absolutely safe with him. Bernard is the teacher that you need when you're in the middle of the savanna. He takes care of you in all the details. George , the chef, cooks meals as you were in a good restaurant of Nairobi, even though you are in the middle of nowhere. And finally Mimo, who is the smile of Kenya, and will make you feel at home.
What's more for a very good price. We will choose this agency again in
If we travel again to Kenya. Thanks guys for everything.
Reply from Bencia Africa Adventure & Safaris
Posted on Jul 29, 2024Thank you so much for your glowing review! We're delighted to hear that you had such a memorable experience with us. It's wonderful to know that Philip, Bernard, George, and Mimo made your safari truly special. Their dedication and care are what make our safaris stand out, and your kind words about their efforts are greatly appreciated.
We’re thrilled that you felt well taken care of and enjoyed both the wildlife and the delicious meals. It’s our goal to provide a top-notch experience at a great value, and we’re glad we achieved that for you.
We look forward to the opportunity to welcome you back on another adventure in Kenya. Thank you once again for choosing us!
BE
Email Kathleen | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Well organised
We really enjoyed our Bencia safari. Especially thanks to George (our driver and guide) and George (our excellent coock) the trip was an unforgettable experience, and we really enjoyed their company.
We saw the big five and experienced the great migration... a wonderfull experience.
Thanks George and George for the good care, we will never forget you!
Reply from Bencia Africa Adventure & Safaris
Posted on Jul 29, 2024Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear that your safari with Bencia Africa Adventure was unforgettable. It’s fantastic to know that George (your driver and guide) and George (your cook) made such a positive impact on your experience. Seeing the Big Five and witnessing the Great Migration is truly special, and we're glad you had such a memorable time.
We’ll be sure to pass along your thanks to both Georges. Your kind words mean a lot to us, and we look forward to welcoming you on another adventure in the future!
Email Habib | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Very professional and friendly Staff
Me and my friends we had a bless time in Masai Mara. The Driver, the cook, the travel assistant, the owner were very professional and friendly. The Safari and Game drive was beautiful and what I liked the most is the customer service and how responsive and friendly the Staff are. Highly recommended. Thank you for the wonderful experience.
Reply from Bencia Africa Adventure & Safaris
Posted on Jul 29, 2024Thank you so much for your kind words! We're delighted to hear that you and your friends had a fantastic time in Masai Mara. It's great to know that our team—driver, cook, travel assistant, and owner—contributed to making your safari experience memorable with their professionalism and friendliness.
We truly appreciate your recommendation and are thrilled that our customer service stood out. Thank you for choosing Bencia Africa Adventure, and we look forward to welcoming you on another adventure soon!