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Graham Werner

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Graham Werner South Africa
Graham Werner

Tell us about the first time you travelled to Africa

In 2013, I travelled to South Africa with a small group, exploring Cape Town’s Bo-Kaap and Boulders Beach, Table Mountain, and Robben Island. However, the absolute highlight was staying at Tinga Lodge in Lion Sands Game Reserve, where we saw elephants, buffalos, lions, and more up close. As someone who loves wildlife documentaries, seeing these magnificent animals in person was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Tell us about your most thrilling wildlife encounter

The memory of my first encounter with a male lion on a game drive in the Kruger still gives me goosebumps! This magnificent creature’s sheer majesty and power left me breathless, I had to keep reminding myself to breathe and I did wonder at the time if he could hear my heart pounding in my chest. What a thrill!

Bio

After a two-year break from working as a BDM in the travel industry here in Queensland, I heard about a possible role with Bench Africa. These two words, BENCH and AFRICA, are synonymous with everything I love about the travel industry – Africa is my absolute favourite destination on planet Earth, and Bench has an incredible reputation here in Australia for its customer service, expertise, and product delivery. It was a match made in heaven, and I feel blessed every day to have joined the ‘Bench Africa pride’.

Before working for Bench Africa, I spent 15 years as a State Manager for Australian Pacific Touring and Travelmarvel. Over the last two years, I started my own photography business on a break from the industry. Travel and photography go hand in hand.

Since joining the Bench Africa team, I’ve been busy familiarising myself with the incredible diversity of tours, accommodation choices and available countries to visit. I’m amazed at the expertise and passion of our staff, each an expert in all things Africa travel.

My Top 5 Experience Recommendations

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Kruger Safari South Africa
Cape Town & Kruger Safari
South Africa
11 DAYS
FROM  $2595
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price tag Stay 3 Nights Pay 2*
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Lion Sands Tinga Lodge
South Africa
3 DAYS
FROM  $5095
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Thanda Tented Camp
Thanda Private Game Reserve - Thanda Tented Camp
South Africa
3 DAYS
FROM  $2195
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Garden Route South Africa Group Tour High end
Magnificent Garden Route
South Africa
4 DAYS
FROM  $1535
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Small Group South Africa
World in One Country
South Africa, Eswatini, L
20 DAYS
FROM  $5295
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All Experiences

Meet the Team

Julie is one of our longest serving members, having worked for Bench for nearly 20 years. Julies love for Africa first began when she experienced her first safari to South Africa and Botswana.“Words cannot express what it felt like – it’s not only about the animals, that is a bonus. It is about the people, the landscape, the simplicity of life and how you realise the simple things in life are what ground us and how we forget that. Once you have gone there, you come back with a little piece of the magic that stays with you and makes you want to go back.

Julie De Palo

Operations and Groups Director / Africa Expert
Lara Behrens was born and raised in Kenya and spent several years living in Ireland and England before migrating to Australia. Lara has worked at Bench Africa for over six years and previously ran an events company bringing with her a fantastic new insight and a wealth of marketing skills to Bench. Lara's family owns and operates safari camps in Kenya so she grew up on safari and has travelled extensively around Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and South Africa.

Lara Behrens

Marketing & Communications Director
It had always been Maria’s dream to travel to Africa on a safari, and after her first trip she knew she would just have to keep going back. Maria’s first African experience was joining a 7 week tour through Africa. Visiting East Africa, Maria was lucky enough to experience her first ‘Big 5’ safari in Tanzania which included a visit to the Ngorongoro Crater. More recently Maria visited Namibia for the first time, self driving around this huge country with its amazing landscapes, game viewing in the mind blowing Etosha National Park, but the biggest achievement of the trip was summiting Namibia’s highest sand dune “Big Daddy” – as Maria says “it was a killer, but definitely worth it”.

Maria Hindson

Africa Expert
Stephanie Osorio

Stephanie Osorio

Africa Expert
Eric grew up in Cape Town, in South Africa and moved to Australia in 2011. Since then he has been back to Africa over 15 times, mostly on safari. He has been with the Bench team for over 2 years and promoting Africa as a destination for 20 years. Nothing compares to being on a safari and once Coronavirus is over and it is safe to travel he just can’t wait to head out to Africa. Doesn’t matter where – just somewhere out in the African bush.

Eric Vos

Africa Expert
Brett has been working at Bench for 4 years and within the travel and tourism industry for over 30 years in various capacities of a support nature. He is our guy behind the scenes keeping our reservations system ticking over nicely and making our lives so much easier; ensuring our Africa experts have all the support they need.

Brett Palser

Graham Werner South Africa

Graham Werner

State Manager - QLD & VIC