THE Sydney-based African safari specialist Bench International is aiming at being the first Australian wholesaler to introduce itineraries taking in Kenya's newest national park in Laikipia, about 180k from Nairobi. 

The Laikipia National Park was formed on November 8 2011 and covers about 6900 hectares. It is within the greater Likipia Plateau which covers around 800,000 hectares between Mt Kenya and the eastern escarpment of the Rift Valley. The park will be under the management and control of the Kenya Wildlife Service.

Bench managing director Torben Rune says the region is one of the best wildlife areas in Kenya with a healthy black rhino population as well as a savanna ecosystem that supports big elephant herds and a wide diversity of species from the endangered Grevy’s zebra to the patas monkey, Somali ostrich, and Beisa oryx.