Ben Dessen is a wildlife advocate, pet expert, author, and presenter who has dedicated his life to animals and the natural world. With years of hands-on experience working with species ranging from crocodiles and orangutans to kangaroos and venomous snakes, Ben has built a career around exploring the connection between people and wildlife.
For his honeymoon, Ben and his wife chose to travel with Bench Africa on the Kenya Highlights Tour. Their journey through Kenya’s most celebrated parks and reserves, including the Maasai Mara, Lake Nakuru, and Ol Pejeta Conservancy, gave them the chance to experience some of Africa’s most iconic wildlife up close.
Here, Ben shares his story.
Picture this. You’re driving through Kenya’s mighty Maasai Mara National Park which has the greatest concentration of wildlife on the African continent. You’re standing in the back of your own personal safari vehicle, the cool wind gently blowing through your hair. The sun is slowly starting to set, lighting up the sky as if a raging fire has begun on the horizon.
You turn a corner on one of the dusty tracks that intersect the park and there, right in front of you, is a mighty lioness in the long grass. She is crouched down and clearly fixated on something ahead, a waterbuck and her calf resting in the shade of an acacia tree. The driver cuts off the engine and you sit and watch in silence. The only sounds are those of birds gently chattering in the trees and your heart thumping in your ears with excitement and anticipation.
The lioness slowly creeps towards the waterbuck with laser focus and infinite patience. Once she gets within reach of the waterbuck, she prepares to go in for the kill. Suddenly the waterbuck’s ears prick up, she’s caught the scent of the lioness. The waterbuck and her calf run, the lioness launching in pursuit, but they are too quick. She misses out on a feed this time and disappears into the scrub to search for her next target.
Most people will only ever experience this kind of action from the comfort of their couch, watching the latest BBC or National Geographic documentary. However, on Bench Africa’s Kenya Highlights Tour, I was lucky enough to have a front row seat to my very own wildlife documentary playing out live, before my eyes, and you can too. Bench Africa are Australia’s oldest African travel specialists and they’ve been hand crafting unforgettable life changing safaris and adventures for nearly 60 years. After learning about their unwavering commitment to sustainability, and the wildlife, people, and communities of Africa, I didn’t have to think twice before booking the trip of a lifetime with Bench.
The Kenya Highlights tour is the perfect introduction to Africa for travellers of all ages and abilities. It is the ultimate blend of raw wildlife adventure along with the welcome comforts of a luxurious bed, delicious food and the warm hospitality Africa is famous for. The trip begins in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, and then takes you through some of Kenya’s most spectacular game reserves and national parks including the mighty Maasai Mara, Lake Nakuru National Park, Buffalo Springs Reserve and the Ol Pejeta
Conservancy.
My personal highlights included visiting the Maasai Mara, simply because of the sheer abundance of wildlife. There’s something new to discover around every corner and over every hill. It was also incredibly special visiting a local Maasai village and having a guided tour led by the chief, who even took us into his home to meet his family. Lake Nakuru National Park was another memorable stop due to the spectacular scenery surrounding the large freshwater lake. We watched a female rhino and her calf grazing by the water’s edge at sunset, while flamingos, spoonbills and water buffalo fed nearby. That’s not to mention the young male leopard we saw hunting mice in the long grass, completely un-phased by our presence.
Visiting the Ol Pejeta Conservancy was another ‘pinch-me’ moment, where we had the immense privilege of meeting the world’s last two remaining northern white rhino’s and hearing about the inspiring conservation efforts to save this species from the edge of extinction. Heading out spotlighting through the conservancy after dark was a unique way of seeing the African landscape from a completely different perspective, with many rare and unique species only venturing out after dark.
The accommodation and food throughout the entire trip were exceptional. We stayed in the most luxurious permanent safari tents – although the word ‘tent’ is used loosely. You’ll have your very own king-sized bed, ensuite bathroom and private verandah overlooking the picturesque African wilderness. The camp buffets include both local and international cuisines and we even enjoyed live music most nights performed by talented local performers.
If you’ve ever considered a holiday to Africa, but weren’t sure where to start, this is the tour for you. It’s the perfect length, covers the most breath-taking scenery imaginable, and boasts some of the best experiences Africa has to offer. The expert team at Bench Africa are there for you every step of the way and can even help tailor your own personalised itinerary if you wish to visit other countries as well. There is truly no place like Africa. The people, wildlife and landscapes will leave a lasting imprint on your heart and soul, igniting a burning desire to keep coming back to this breath-taking continent.
