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.
CY
Email Mihail | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very good organizer of safaris
We are very satisfied with organization of our 6 days safari to Masai Mara, Nakuru Lake and Amboseli National Parks. Our guide-driver gave lot of informations, chef cooked good dishes. We can recommend them
Email Eunice | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing
I loved how organized the team was…so friendly and welcoming,I enjoyed every bit of it and I will always choose Bencia…The trip was great
FR
Email GLL | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Recommendation x1000: quality of service, top availability and reasonable and consistent price!
An unforgettable experience in Masai Mara and Nairobi National Park.
Magnificent landscapes, lions, cheetahs, leopards, rhinos, giraffes, ... we left with stars in our eyes and memories engraved in our hearts.
An experience that wouldn't have been the same without our great guide, Joseph.
His kindness and his love for his profession and the treasures of his country made our stay sublime!
A big thank you to him and to the whole Bencia team who made our stay easy and comfortable despite the sanitary constraints!
Recommendation x1000: quality of service, top availability and reasonable and consistent price!
(automatic translation from French)
FR
Email Anais | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Ruined Honeymoon
We chose Bencia for a first safari experience during our honeymoon with a 6 days safari (2 full days in Masaï Mara + Nakuru + Hell's Gate, Nairobi to Nairobi).
Our initial plan had to be changed because of COVID test that we had to do at least the day before leaving. Bencia told me that last night we won't do in Naivasha/Hell's Gate but in Nairobi. What I didn't know was that we would have to sacrifice 1 full day and 1 night at Masaï Mara (which was of course the heart of our Safari) because of that. Of course they didn't tell me as day/night in Nairobi is not the same price as day/night in Masaï Mara. The safari cost didn't change at any moment.
The problem is that I never received any new plan, I think there was a real communication problem there from Bencia.
We only did one evening and full day next in Masaï Mara, not even the next morning as planned also because we had to be quickly to Nakuru for I do not know which reason because we arrived there at noon and left for safari at 6pm, all those lost hours we could have spent in Mara...
After this evening safari, I started contacting Bencia about our planning, they just said that we should do safari on the morning and head to Naivasha where we could do an activity that we would have to pay ourselves. I started to be angry and asked them (my contact was Alfred) why skipping one full day in Masaï Mara to be in Naivasha with nothing provided ? I asked them to provide us an activity as I was the one being stole and of course they first refuse. They even said that they would offer me activities in Nairobi and Hell's Gate, they are very funny in this so called ''company''. I paid for a 6 days safari, got stolen a day in Masaï Mara in exchange of one day in Nairobi but they continued talking about offering me things that I paid for... After a long discussion, I finally had a word from Bencia saying they would pay activity in Naivasha !
The next day, after only a few hours of safari in Nakuru (driver always had good excuses to quickly end the day or push us to do extra activity), we arrived in Naivasha. Other surprise there, we were not in the good hotel and when I compared rates of 2 hotels, 1 night in the one that was supposed to be booked was at USD 430 and the one we were in at USD 165. I gently asked for an explanation and a change or an upgrade during a long moment but Bencia never wanted to upgrade us, saying that it was the ''same level''. What a kind gift from them for our honeymoon !
We arrived in this hotel at 11:35 am and I had to struggle once again with Bencia (still Alfred who didn't want to get me his manager)@ to get our promised activity. Finally, at 17:00 after that our driver disapeared (even Bencia couldnt reach him) we were taken to our 1 hour boat ride, finally !
Last but not least, when we arrived at 3pm for check in in Nairobi without having any lunch, we discovered that Bencia booked only bed and breakfast. Reminder : I paid and signed and they signed to a contract for 6 days saying that all meals were included. There, once again, I had to fight during 2 hours to get our lunch (at 5pm bon appétit !) and also dinner.
This is where we met Cyprian from Bencia who listened to this story and tried to get us our meals and organized excursion the day after (of course Alfred from Bencia lied to me saying that he had booked excursions in Nairobi so we missed elephant orphanage).
Thanks to Cyprian, last day we were able to go to Nairobi NP for a last safari. That does not compensate at all the rest but I guess we will never received anything from them.
If you want an unbelievable experience, especially for honeymoon, I would not recommend Bencia, they are not tousism professionals. I would have done much more organizing it myself from Paris than them from Nairobi.
PS : Next to this comment, Bencia contacted me to remove my comment in exchange of some money, that tells the level of such company...
Reply from Bencia Africa Adventure & Safaris
Posted on Jan 6, 2022Dear Pautruat
Thank you so much for your review we respect every comment from our clients , but honestly your Safari was for 6 Days Masai Mara 3Nights, 1Night Lake Nakuru and 1Night Lake Naivasha , And we agreed with you before you leave for this safari you need 1 day to be hear so that you can go for PCR test which you booked in Nairobi Hospital because your were to catch up your flight back home the next day .. so you did 5 Days safari where by i paid for your accommodation in Nairobi Best Western Meridian in Full board meals and i took you for the excursion in Nairobi National Park and Giraffe Center and you missed baby elephant it was full booked all this was the compensation of the last day ..again you said you need your refund 500USD
In Masai mara you said you didnt do game drive the last day your a staying inside the park Mara Sarova Camp ,Lake Nakuru Still you were in side the Sarova Lion Hill and Lake Naivasha country club resort ..i paid for your boat ride..
FR
Email Valentine | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing expérience. We have seen more than we expected. Joseph is the best guide ever ! Than you
We have seen more than expected
Lions
Buffalos
Elefants
Girafs
Hippos
Crocodiles
Gazelles...
Was an magic experience ! We really recommend it
CY
Email Maria | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Professional organizer of the safari
We booked 6 day safari to Maasai Mara National park ( with Maasai village), lake Nakuru and Amboseli park. All was very good organized. We had professional guide and driver John ( Mulei) and chef George.
We saw a lot of wild animals and plants. Our guide gave interesting information
Email Viviane | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent
This was my first time traveling to Africa .I did a lot of research on safaris and places to visit.i wrote to Bencia Africa Adventure and Safaris and they always promptly responded and made the process awesome we went on a 4day safari tour and it was just amazing.Our driver /guide Wambua was the best.This trip changed my life!!the accomodation were one of the best I have ever experienced (Enkorok tented camp).thanks to Alfred and the entire fraternity
Email Tiffany | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
An absolute safari
I booked safari through Alfred together with my other three friends for three days two nights to Maasai Mara.
The safari was well organized as per our expectations and we were given an excellent tour guide driver where by we managed to see the big five .
The accomodations was quite ok.the rooms were specious and the meals was fantastic.
.
Email Stephy | under20 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
He was indeed the best. he is welcoming ,kind and hospitable
My friends and I had lost of fun in maasai mara . The tour operator organised for us a land cruiser and a good tour guide who was very willing and commited . The cook was indeed the best . He made the best dishes . Indeed Bencia is simply the best tour company