Reliable safari packages for international market
Africa Flash Mc Tours & Travel
- Located In:
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2008)
- Member Of:
- KATO, Ecotourism Kenya & Travelife
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $100 to $500 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
BE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amboseli 2 days, 1 night at Kimana Tented camp
Let me start by saying that the communication with Peter went good.
He replies very quickly on his e-mails.
(Which, in my opinion, gives you confidence that it's not a scam)
When I had to pay half upfront, I started wondering if it would be a scam or not.
After paying I received a receipt. 2 days later, the driver was at my door to start the Safari as aggreed.
Conclusion: No scam
In our original itinerary it said we would be staying at Kibo.
I decided to stay in my own tent. Peter forgot to mention that it was not posible at Kibo. Therefore he booked us at a less luxurious camp. With, lets be honest, basic facilities. That was a dissapointment since I was expecting Kibo. Which, according to the website, looks very nice.
The driver was friendly.
I also liked the fact that he didn't take many crazy risks on the busy road towards the park.
In the end, I had a good safari.
TH
Email Elliott | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing experience - bad organisation
I did a 6 day safari and the organisation here was very poor. Despite being assured i’d have plenty of time for my flight out of kenya, i almost missed my flight whilst the driver insisted in dropping every other person off first as it was a more convenient route for him (they were travelling between 4 hours to 1 day after me, so not urgent and dropping me off first would have added max 15mins to his driving). Everyday of the safari there was a late pickup, a failure to communicate changes in the schedule. What was worse that the driver generally seemed to have not been told, or had forgot, the agenda of my tour from the africa flash so was constantly asking me things I had not been told either (eg the name/phone number of the driver i was going to be dropped off with for the next days, where the meeting point was).
I’m an easygoing traveller and usually dont mind this sort of thing on normal holidays but when you’ve paid a lot of money (as these safaris are expensive) you do expect that the organisation at the very least would be in place.
In retrospect, i think it would have been less stressful and cheaper booking the hotels, transfers and safaris myself. Even one of the hotels I booked in the tour was not where I ended up staying because according to the tour operator supposedly the hotel had overbooked so I needed to be moved to another hotel (given all of the other things i experienced - i suspect that they had just failed to book my hotel).
I’m giving it two stars because despite my complaints above i did have a wonderful experience, i’m just not sure how much the tour organiser contributed to that.
Reply from Africa Flash Mc Tours & Travel
Posted on Nov 7, 2024Dear Elliott,
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We're genuinely sorry that we did not meet your expectations. Creating a seamless and enjoyable safari experience is our goal, and we apologize for any stress or inconvenience you encountered.
It’s concerning to hear about the issues with pick-up times and communication around your itinerary. We recognize that, as a Group Joining Safari with guests staying at various hotels, staggered pick-up times can lead to delays. However, this should have been clearly communicated, and we’re addressing this internally to ensure all guides are fully briefed on each guest’s itinerary, especially for group safaris. We're sorry for any impact this had, particularly regarding your timely arrival for your flight.
We also understand the disappointment of an unexpected accommodation change. Unfortunately, due to an overbooking for one of the nights, we made the decision to upgrade your stay to Basecamp Masai Mara and adjusted your safari to be private in the Masai Mara. Our aim was to maintain the quality and comfort of your experience, and we regret any inconvenience caused.
Thank you again for your constructive feedback. We’re pleased that you were able to enjoy Kenya’s beauty, and we hope you’ll consider giving us another chance in the future to provide the experience we strive to deliver for all our guests.
Warm regards,
Peter M
US
Email OZo | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Needs improvement
The Masai Mara is an incredible place with incredible animals and landscapes. Peter was excellent at communicating with us in a timely manner to answer all our questions and set up our itinerary for our safari trip.
However we were not satisfied with the behavior of our driver who tried to convince us to enter and exit the park at the times we suggested. We think he was doing this in order to avoid paying the park fees for one day (each entry fee is valid for 24 hours). However we wanted to have as much time as possible in the park, as per what we had paid for, and in accordance with park timings. When we asked to stay in the park a bit longer than the time the driver was suggesting, he proceeded to avoid driving us out of the park through the main gate and instead drove us off track and trespassed through the Masai village at high speed. There were small children on the path and adult men and women (who carry sticks) started yelling at our van and throwing stones as the driver sped through. This was extremely embarrassing for us, as well as dangerous, as it was very dark and there were small children in the way.
Then the driver stopped and a man who seemed to be a Masai chief entered our car and spoke to our driver the entire way back to our hotel. We don't know what they negotiated or what they were talking about, since we don't speak their language and our driver wasn't communicating anything with us.
We hope Flash McTours will work on improving their services. This kind of experience is not conducive for a pleasant safari experience. It is unsafe and likely to make your visitors feel very nervous and uncomfortable. Furthermore,
It is essential that safari companies follow park rules and regulations and respect the Masai community, and their land.
IE
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Refunded for day 1 of trip
** UPDATE APRIL 2015
Thanks to peter for refunding us the cost of our first day's travel as promised
** ORIGINAL REVIEW
We booked transport from Nairobi airport to Masai Mara for 7.30am dept time so we could do an afternoon game drive. We left nairobi 8 hours late at 3:30 pm having waited all day and arrived at 9:30pm and missed entirely one of our two days of game drives. We were given continued excuses over and over again and several requests for money en route for expenses etc. We had paid upfront and in full. This company almost ruined the entire trip. Thankfully we had independently booked great accommodation who provided their own good driver and guide for our game drive the next day. This company is not anywhere near good enough and should be avoided at all costs. They have promised a refund but continuously have deferred about paying this.
Reply from Africa Flash Mc Tours & Travel
Posted on May 21, 2015Dear Patrick,
Sorry for the delay in departing for the Maasai Mara on the first day and missing out on the game drive on that day! This was as a result of change in vehicles for the safari and the vehicle assigned to you was late from a safari thus failure on our part to depart for the safari on time. This has been rectified by having a vehicle in standby just incase one of our vehicles does not make it in time for a pick up.
I am also sorry for the fact that you paid for some expenses, although all that was refunded this was not supposed to have happened and I have dealt with the issue permanently to ensure it never happens again.
Best Regards
Africa Flash McTours C.E.O
HK
Email Kelvin | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Stay away from this company. Still owed a refund
I travelled as a group of 4 and booked a trek and safari trip with Peter at Africa Flash McTours and paid in full before my vacation. He never showed up for the safari trip and I was left on my own to book another tour when I was in Africa. He promised to refund me my money (a couple thousand US dollars) and after 6 months, he still has not.
There has been mixed reviews on this company on safaribookings. Im sure Peter (who runs this company) has had some good tours in the past, but there are also many many poor reviews you need to be mindful of because they are in fact true. His company is NOT registered with the tourism board and he has a history of not showing up on time, changing itinerary and cheating people their money.
For the past 6 months he has continued to say he would send the refund that he owes my group. Every week he fails to do so. He has stolen over $2000 USD from my group.
Do NOT risk your vacation with this company. Do NOT put your trust in Peter. There are so many other safari tour companies you can go with.
US
Email James | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Our guide, Dennis, was never on time, and never even showed up the final day, leaving us stranded!!!
Everything leading up to the safari dealt with Peter, who led me to believe everything would go seamlessly. The safari was an absolute disaster. We never even met Peter, and our guide was so late each day that we missed activities in the morning, afternoon and evening each and every day. Moreover, on the last day, he was slated to pick us up for a private tour at 3AM at our hotel, and never showed, never called/texted, and to this day, we have never heard from him or Peter. After 10 African countries, this was the worst experience we had by far! Stay far, far, far away!!!
Reply from Africa Flash Mc Tours & Travel
Posted on Sep 5, 2016Hello James,
Greetings from Africa Flash McTours.
Thank you for taking time out to post your review of Africa Flash McTours on Safari Bookings.
Kindly allow me to clarify that at Africa Flash McTours, my team and I value all our guests and treat them all as valuable since they are the reason for our being. Services offered to all our valuable guests are also of the same standard. Any variation of the service standard is most of the time supplementary which the individual guest may have paid for separately. In regard to your complaints;
I want through it, and realized there was much that was not tended to, but on following up with your guide I also realized you made some arrangements with him that were not part of our initial itinerary, that caused your disappointment;
1. You requested to be taken to be local town center in the middle of the night, which only exposed you to threats that were unwarranted for. The guide could not do this as this would mean putting you in harms way.
2. Planning a 3 am safari to Amboseli that, never went through the office, and was not part of the itinerary, and I only came to learn of it through your review. This is not allowed with the ministry, to move our guests in the night. You should have consulted with me on this.
I only disputed the above, because of the above information, which should have been communicated to me. Should anything have happened to you, I would be fully liable yet I was not even consulted.
I am sorry for the bad experience, and sorry that I couldn't meet on the day of the safari, but this is because I was not in town and all the safari arrangements had been made prior. I have taken further disciplinary measures with the guide, to ensure this never happens and also put a team in place to ensure that all our clients are met not only, by our guide for the safari but also the an office representative of the company.
Please plan to your next safari with us and we shall ensure you have a memorable one.
We at Africa Flash McTours always endeavor to exceed our guest expectations.
The team and I look forward to hosting you again.
be careful - wrong itinerary
I'm so sorry, but be careful. You can't trust the company.
The itinerary was wrong (5 days Mt Kenya, 2 days Samburu NP)
and you can't trust the stuff:
I left my luggage in the office, and after the Climbing, I missed my electronical values.
Reply from Africa Flash Mc Tours & Travel
Posted on Aug 6, 2016Dear Eva,
Greetings from Africa Flash McTours.
Thank you for taking time out to post your review of Africa Flash McTours on Safari Booking.
Kindly allow me to clarify that at Africa Flash McTours, my team and I value all our guests and treat them all as valuable since they are the reason for our being. Services offered to all our valuable guests are also of the same standard. Any variation of the service standard is most of the time supplementary which the individual guest may have paid for separately. In regard to your complaints;
1. For the mount Kenya trekking safari, you were supposed to join a group, but the other members of the group that you were to join, changed on the dates of their safari, this however does not mean that we have to cancel anybody else trip booked on the same dates, even if it cost us more to take you alone, as the cost for hosting on person alone while trekking is the same as if we had 3 people. Thus there was no saving on our end.
2. You also requested we change the route while at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro, from Sirimon to Chogoria, which I was fine although there was a higher cost implication on our end. You can check this online based on the cost for the trek I offered and the one the route you requested, thus you asked we change the itinerary for you and we obliged.
3. For the Samburu safari, the park is divided into 3 parts, i.e Samburu NP, Buffallo Springs and Shaba. Once we enter into the gate of any of this park we have to pay our clients park fees for the 2 nights. With this park fees you are supposed to utilize the 48 hours you are there and we take our clients to this 3 parks as the cost of the park fees allows. From previous safaris we take this seriously and ensure you get to enjoy all the park has to offer, which we did, so I am sorry if this was a mistake and we since you wanted to visit Samburu alone.
4. As for the Ipad, I requested you come to the office after your safari, but you declined. I however followed up on the same. You did not mention of any valuables in the bag that was left at the office. I made a formal complain on this, but you didn't come so no one could back for the insurance to cover for this. Also we have not had any such incidence before.
Please plan to your next safari with us and we shall ensure you have a memorable one.
We at Africa Flash McTours always endeavor to exceed our guest expectations.
The team and I look forward to hosting you again.
HK
Email Rebecca | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Unreliable and dishonest company
** Update September 22, 2016 **
We still didn't receive any refund from Africa Flash Mc Tours.
** Original review **
Beware when booking with this company. Peter who runs this company is a very dishonest man and his company is NOT registered with the ministry of tourism in Kenya.
I booked a trekking/safari tour with Africa Flash Mctours and made the full payment a month in advance. After flying 12hours to start my safari tour, peter and his tour guide was no where to be found. He claimed to be sorting out money issues at the bank but after waiting several hours for him at the hotel, peter never showed up.
This issue was brought to the ministry of tourism and found out that his company is not a legally registered tour company. DO NOT put your trust in booking with this company.
Peter offered to make a full refund to us as we never got to even start our safari tour. Til this day, Peter still has NOT refunded all our money. It has been almost 4 months.
CA
Email Lucien Rodrigue | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
It is one of the worst experiences I have lived so far in my life.
Very soft talk on internet before booking.
Usurps identity, says that his name is Isaac on internet while his name is Peter in the real life.
Late for the apoinments 20 minutes the first day, two Hours and 20 minutes the second time. I therefore missed the shuttle to Tanzania so we started chasing after it finally reaching it after a 120 km race.
Chose a driver that was urinating outside of the car instead of in the latrines. This one forgets that I have booked a different hotel, takes my box lunch without asking me, forgets to tell my hotel manager that I need early breakfast to join the tour.
Asked (Peter) for more money (160US$) the first day we met saying that he needed it for the park fees. I had paid everything at least 2 weeks earlier. I was said that he asks extra money to all his clients.
Entered into a fight with the brother of a former employee right in front of me.
Set a transfer downtown Nairobi knowing the traffic Jams while it could have been done outside of the city.
Did not send enough money to the mountain operator so that I had to wait 36 hours in Moschi Tanzania, before going to the mountain. I finally had to do the climbing in 5 days instead of 6.
Was saying that the money was coming in the minutes to come but it took a whole day.
Did not give enough money to my Kenyian guide so that he has to take his own money and I had to help him with mine.
He was supposed to reemburse that guide 150US$ but I have no confirmation it has been done.
To me he (Peter) suffers of a antisocial personality disorder.
I do not recommend this company and wonder why it is in NATO.
Reply from Africa Flash Mc Tours & Travel
Posted on Aug 10, 2015Dear Lucien, thanks for the review, in regard to your review;
We have a team of 4 people who handled your emails but your main contact was Isaac. Peter (I), was handling the logistics and operations.
In regard to time, your hotel was a bit hidden and was difficult to locate, thus one locating it and picking you on safari, we had to make sure we reached you to the shuttle on time, despite the heavy traffic from your hotel which was due to the preparations of the arrival of the US president.
As for the driver, I am deeply sorry for his misconduct, as I have only known this from your review and will take the necessary disciplinary action on him.
The $160 you paid on the first day was uncalled for, and I am sorry for that, but I gave it back to you as you continued with your safari to Amboseli.
There was a disagreement with a former employee, and I explained everything to you.
It was the US presidents visit and there was nothing I could do to avoid the traffic as most of the roads were being repaired and your hotel was on the same route.
The Tanzania Kilimanjaro safari was outsourced and I made it clear, and the reason for the delays is that they changed their terms once you arrived in Moshi and on asking for extra cash I did sent them via Western Union, and due to their systems failure there was some delays.
I offered a reimbursement for the trip, which you said I should give to your guide, and I did that the next day after your request, and the guide did sent you an email.
All this being said, I have put all your issues into account, and have put up measures to ensure, it never happens again. Thanks for the insight.
20-35 years of age
This company ruined my vacation!
After my fully-paid safari to Maasai Mara with Africa Flash MC Tours did not go through, I was eventually fully refunded by the company four months later. This, however, was a highly nerve-wracking process which included many meetings with the local police. Furthermore, the fact that the safari was not organized as promised seriously ruined my vacation, as I had visitors coming from Europe. There are a number of tour operators who offer safaris in the same price range and who actually deliver and do not ask advance payments. For anybody looking to go on a low-budget safari in Kenya, these might be safer options than Africa Flash MC Tours.
Reply from Africa Flash Mc Tours & Travel
Posted on Apr 3, 2015Dear Anne,
I am sorry for the ruined vacation, although we did a full refund I know I can not compensate for the lost time. I however will give a full complimentary trip on the same to ease the burden as I proposed.
I have put up mechanism to prevent future safaris from not taking off as having 4 of our staff undertaking and monitoring each of the safaris that have been booked with us and a back up vehicle throughout the safari.
We have also changed our stuff, and put up a new management team, to avoid any future misconduct from the top to the lower management personnel.
Best Regards
Africa Flash McTours Team