Top Safari companies merge
Australia’s oldest wholesaler of African safari holidays, Bench International is to merge with one of its key African suppliers, the Mombasa-based Southern Cross Safaris.
Bench has been in business for 39 years and has been working with SCS as its East African operator for the last eight years, with SCS owned by former world renowned rally driver Mike Kirkland, who started his company in 1957 and now employs more than 350 people.
Current managing director at B.I., Charles Bench will be chairman of the group and will continue to run the business with existing staff.
He said today that the union would provide an enhanced safari product for Australian consumers due to the closer relationship with East African operators.
Mr Bench said that Bench International would move forward by having better availability to new lodges in Kenya and expanded SCS operations in neighbouring Tanzania and Uganda.
Both companies have been frequent award winners in their respective fields with Bench most recently being named as Australia’s best African wholesaler by South African Airways and Southern Cross winning a range of Kenya’s highest awards for tourism 11 times over the last five years..
The merged company will continue to operate as Bench International and will remain at its offices at 36 Clarence Street, Sydney, with the same telephone numbers and emaiL addresses.
Report by The Mole
John Alwyn-Jones
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