100% committed to cultural tourism

BENJAMIN Kenny has a serious passion for sharing his stunning country.

The Western Arrernte man is the proud owner and managing director of 100% Finke River Culture and Adventure, which hosts cultural immersion camps for visitors out west of Alice Springs.

His tours take in bucket-list locations, including the West MacDonnell Ranges, the iconic Larapinta Trail, the Finke River Valley, and Palm Valley. He also takes tourists back in time with trips to former mission sites at Hermannsburg and Jay Creek.

“There are a lot of visitors who come to Central Australia who want to learn more about the Aboriginal culture, so just to have Aboriginal people around the camp, Aboriginal people to do cooking and guide them,” Benjamin said. 

“It’s something that people from all over Australia want to see and do. Being out on country with Aboriginal people and feel and learn, and understand things the way we do.”

Benjamin started the business three years ago and is proud of its evolution. But employing other Aboriginal people from Central Australia is what makes him proudest.

He currently employs 15 Arrernte people, many of whom had previously been disengaged from work.   

“It’s full-on work, but it gives our mob an opportunity to be out on country. It helps them to feel a connection to where their ancestors come from.

“My main priority, my main goal and the future that I want to see is to employ more local Aboriginal men and women. There’s so much opportunity out there. They can even come and do some work with us and see how we do it, and then go on and start their own company with support from us.”

2024 is a growth year for Benjamin’s enterprise. He recently secured backing from Aboriginal Investment NT to purchase vital assets.

Two new buses allow him to take more tourists to more locations, while purchasing a transportable kitchen means he can now cook up a storm for guests wherever they’re camping. 

He also purchased 20 new safari tents to expand his permanent campground at Standley Chasm, upgrading the overnight experience from camping to glamping.

“When clients arrive at camp, a lot think that they’re going to stay in a small little dome tent on the ground, but when they see our tents, they see luxury.  They’ve got a stretcher bed, a swag and enough room to put their luggage. When they see it, they say it’s more like a five-star hotel room.

“Aboriginal Investment NT has been a really big supporter of what we’re doing here, and I’d encourage other Aboriginal businesses in the NT to make contact with them and see how they might be able to assist them also.”