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Lara Behrens

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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

What was your most Memorable Africa Moment?

I think my most memorable Africa moment would have been going on a camel safari in northern Kenya when I was 12. Seeing the wildlife on foot is a completely different experience and sleeping under canvas really gives you a feeling of being at one with nature. To this day it is still one of the best things I’ve ever done!

What is your Favourite African Hidden Gem?

Satao Camp. I never feel more at home anywhere in the world. In its rustic simplicity it lets nature do the talking. My favourite animal is the elephant and I love the fact that without even having to leave camp you can watch them all frolicking at the waterhole. Stay there in the dry season and you are guaranteed to see hundreds of elephants in camp. It’s a magical place!

Bio

Born in Mombasa, Lara grew up a "Kenya Coastie," spending her early childhood running wild and free along Kenya's incredible white sandy beaches. Lara’s childhood was shaped by her family’s safari business, which meant half terms and long weekends were inevitably spent exploring new wild places in Kenya. And there was one very special pocket of the country in Tsavo East that captured their hearts, inspiring Lara's father, our Chairman, to build a tented safari camp, Satao Camp, in the very spot where they had so often pitched their tents.

It was around this time that Lara's personal journey in the travel industry began as a teenager, working as a Reservations Consultant for Southern Cross Safaris in Kenya. After a hiatus spent studying, working and travelling through Europe, Lara returned to her true passion and rejoined the family business, this time with Bench Africa in Australia. Now, 25 years later, Lara proudly serves on the board of directors, drawing on her strong connection to her homeland, her family’s rich history in the industry, and her love for Africa and all things safari.

 

My Top 5 Experience Recommendations

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Satao Camp
Kenya
3 DAYS
FROM  $2295
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price tag * Save up to $1800 per person
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Africa Experts Kenya Safari
Connoisseur Signature Air Safari
Kenya
8 DAYS
FROM  $10195
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price tag * Save up to $1425 per person
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Stay pay deal in South Africa
Connoisseur Collection
Deluxe South Africa Safari
South Africa
13 DAYS
FROM  $7085
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Cheetah on Safari from Makutsi Safari Springs
Makutsi Classic Safari
South Africa
7 DAYS
FROM  $2120
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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