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
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Email Mike F | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An incredible experience that couldn't have been easier
I decided rather last-minute to book a solo trip to Kenya for a 6-day safari. After being overwhelmed with options from an initial google search and eliminating groups with few/poor reviews, I chose Flash McTours because (i) the gentleman (Peter) was incredibly responsive and informative to my many questions (which, as an uneducated last-minute purchaser, was extremely helpful) and (ii) they actually LISTENED to what I was seeking from the experience and customized an itinerary that met my nuanced needs. For example, whereas most groups offered a standard tour that started/ended in Nairobi, Peter recognized that I was going to Tanzania after safari and crafted the trip such that I was dropped off directly at the start of my Kilimanjaro trek, saving me a ton of time / money as it eliminated the need for a flight from Nairobi to Kilimanjaro Airport. He also was more helpful with visa / vaccination information than Google (for example if you're going to Tanzania after Kenya, a yellow fever vaccination is a must!).
As for the trip itself, my driver Patrick was absolutely incredible. He was unbelievably knowledgeable of the local wildlife (we saw all the Big-Five multiple times), was excited to share his stories and history of the local culture, and went above-and-beyond to make my experience his number one priority. The driver can really make-or-break a safari experience, and I could not have been happier with Patrick leading the way.
The accommodations also exceeded expectations, as every location was the equivalent of a luxury hotel room covered under a personal canvas (felt like I was on a solo honeymoon!). The food itself ranged from decent-to-good (not unbelievable), however given the remote locations of all these destinations I was still very impressed with the quality.
One recommendation for future travelers is to pay-up for the Land Cruiser over the Safari Van. Both vehicles are extremely sturdy but the road conditions are quite precarious and there were plenty of instances where the van would be traveling slowly over a bumpy road while a Land Cruiser would fly by as if it were on pavement. But this is not a "must".
Overall, couldn't have been happier with my experience and would recommend Flash McTours, Peter, and Patrick to anyone!
Email Martin and Lindsay | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Knowledgable guide, well organised. Fabulous game drives
We arranged our tour from Nairobi into Amboselli and over the boarder to Tanzania with Mac Flash tours and we were not disappointed. The pick ups were smooth and the driver/guide, Anthony was knowledgable and great company. Fabulous game drives both days.
Peter was easy to get hold of and the whole trip well organised and planned.
We would highly recommend using Mac Flash
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Email Stephanie | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent for all guests. Antony and Simon were excellent knowledgeable guides.
Better than expected. Great communication . Service was impeccable
PH
Email TyfC | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great Safari Trip!
Peter was quick to reply to my inquiries and made all necessary areangement so that the tour will fit our requirments. He was flexible to deal with even accommodated our last minute changes in order to get the most out of our trip.
Edward our driver guide was the best! He makes sure we get the best angle to take a photo and takes note of what we like to see so that he can look for it. He has a good eye for spotting animals and has a good network so that we can catch a glimpse of the must see for the day.
Email victoria | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Out of this world
Best trip I have ever been on
I took my time reviewing all safari trips, I choose this one because of the reviews and also had the best price.
Peter was great from start to finish, gave us all the information we needed to pick the safari to suit us.
The safari and accomadation was fantastic, we saw everything we wanted to see and more. Anthony the tour guide was lovely and very informative.
This was the best holiday I have ever been on.
Thank you to peter and Anthony for making our holiday one to remember for ever.
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Email Melissa | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great value for the money and an incredible viewing experience!
Peter provided a very clear itinerary, and he was very responsive to questions prior to the three days. Simon, our driver, was friendly, punctual and extremely competent, and we felt we were in excellent hands. There was plenty of water in the cooler, and the van seats were comfortable enough. The first day was spent getting to Oldarpoi Tented Camp, which is no frills but was clean and safe, with surprisingly good food and comfortable beds with mosquito nets. Simon's driving was never so aggressive that we were frightened by the constant highway leapfrogging, but driving in Kenya is not for the faint of heart or weak of back. We spent about 3 hours in the park on the first evening, and it was awesome. Simon left the CB radio frequency open so that he could monitor everyone else's feedback about where the animals were; it was a little annoying to have the crackly noise on constantly, but to his credit, he used what he heard to track down a ton of animals for us to photograph. The road is not smooth (and the off-roading on tire tracks into the savanna is worse), and although it was clearly hard on the shocks, Simon's excellent driving made all the difference. The top of the van pops up and riders stand inside the vehicle to watch the animals. (It is safer than it sounds.) The second day we spent 10 hours in the park, and it was exhausting but really rewarding. The packed lunch was not great, but it was frankly much better than I would have expected in the literal middle of nowhere, with a chicken thigh, boiled egg, sandwich, two pieces of fruit, and a drink. Watch out for the vervets, which are aggressive. Women take note: there is no toilet facility anywhere once you are in the park, except for a pit toilet in the parking area near the hippo/croc stop on the Mara River. Carry wet wipes, don't be squeamish, and be grateful you live in the developed world. The third day Simon offered the option to return to the park and then go to the lake to get closer to the hippos, but we elected to visit the nearby Masai village, where we were hosed on cheap trinkets. Bargain accordingly. It was interesting, though, and definitely worth the hour-long stop. The ride back to Nairobi was about 4.5 hours, with a couple of trinket stops and lunch at a budget waystation with dozens of other bargain tourists. No complaints about the food, though. Simple but filling. All stops had regular flush toilets, but carrying your own paper is recommended. Again, Simon's excellent driving got us out of the Rift Valley and out of the worst of Nairobi traffic safely and without incident.
Bring your own binoculars; they are necessary and the ones available were not good, and sometimes it's impossible to get really close to the animals. Don't expect a ton of creature comforts, as this is definitely a budget option. The van rattles, but it's more than adequate. You are going to be camping, with limited electricity, minimal but clean facilities, and no wifi between 9 pm and 6 am. Go outside and look at the stars. I personally like luxury, but for the price, you really can't beat the experience. Completely worth every penny, and then some. Seeing those animals up close was amazing!
DE
Email Fredman | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
great tour..private guide..nice tent hotel..big 5 in 1 day
great tour..private guide..nice tent hotel..big 5 in 1 day
PH
Email Sharon | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Dream Safari
We just got back from a 9 day safari tour covering Amboseli, Lake Nakuru, Lake Bogoria and Masai Mara with Africa Flash McTours. Due to some problems with the original tour operator we got, we were able to book very last minute (like 3 days before arriving Kenya) with Africa Flash McTours.
My friend was the one who interacted with Peter for the booking of our tour. I met Peter when we arrived in Nairobi and on our last day in Nairobi. He is very accommodating with our requests. On our last day, we spent some time with him before flying back. He eagerly listened to our feedback on our hotels/lodges, meals, etc
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Edward was our driver/guide for the entire 9 days. I believe having a good guide makes a whole lot of difference in the safari experience. I think that what you’ll get to see in your safari tours depends pretty much on the following: experience of guide, his network/connections (link to other guides) and luck.
Experience - You need an experienced guide to know where to go inside the parks. The parks are huge! Like Masai Mara is around 1,500+ km2. This is not Disneyland where there is a Lion Kingdom, Elephant Land or Giraffe Center. There are no street names inside. It’s all grass, bushes and trees inside. Every morning, we would joke Edward on our wish list. But he makes it so easy to show us stuff on our wish list that we tried to make it harder and harder. I wanted more than just spotting the animals. I wanted to see more of animal behavior (like hunting, mating, playing, etc) and Edward did not disappoint.
Network/Connections – I think Edward can run for mayor of Masai Mara National Reserve! Lol. It looks like he knows everyone inside the park. He does this hand raising wave whenever he recognizes the driver/guide of the vehicle across us. Sometimes he stops briefly and shakes the hand of the other driver/guide and have a quick chit chat. He would call friends and I know when the other person on the line tells him something interesting (they speak in Swahili so I don’t understand what they were talking about) coz he drives faster. Hahaha. One time, there was another van who got stucked on the mud and our 4x4 Land Cruiser was the one who helped pull the other van. Small things like this show that Edward is a good person and always helps other guides out. I think it is important to have that network so everyone can share what they see while on the road.
On our 9 days with Edward, the Top 10 things we saw:
1. Big 5
2. Migration of wildebeest and zebras in Mara River
3. Lioness carrying its cub and hiding them (there were 2 cubs!) in the bush
4. Lioness hauling its kill (zebra) and hiding it in the bush
5. Fighting buffalo (this is so intense I was afraid 1 of the buffalo would die)
6. Leopard up on a tree with his kill (wildebeest)
7. Mating baboons (they were too quick for our cameras!). Edward saw the behind of one female baboon and said it’s a bit reddish so it’s possible they would mate soon. True enough they did after about 5 minutes of waiting.
8. Zebras playing
9. Breastfeeding zebras and elephants
10. Family (dad, mom, baby) of hyenas going for a walk. Edward says it is rare to see a baby hyena outside. They are usually kept inside the hyena den.
I truly enjoyed our safari experience with Africa Flash McTours. I will definitely recommend them to family and friends and will book with them again when I go back to Kenya.
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Email Charissa | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unforgettable safari experience
My husband and I just concluded an 8-day safari tour in Kenya and were super lucky to have connected with Africa Flash McTours to help plan our trip. Knowing little about the country, we found Flash Mc via random google searches and it worked out great! We had an incredible time.
From the initial inquiry, Peter was extremely responsive, normally replying within a few hours. With prompt and helpful insight, he designed a custom and private itinerary for us based on our budget, accommodation preferences and travel schedule. He provided suggestions when necessary and was also able to fluidly change our itinerary as we fine-tuned our choices.
Once in Kenya, we received airport pickup and drop-off which granted us hassle-free service all the way to/from the parks and reserves. Our driver/guide Simon immediately welcomed us and throughout the trip helped give us the best experience. Simon’s expert knowledge on the vast reserve landscape, wildlife and Kenya in general enabled us to enjoy the ideal safari adventure. He was very friendly, really helpful and always on our time. With the excellent scheduling, we visited Amboseli, Lake Naivasha, Lake Nakuru and Maasai Mara on our trip and felt like we had plenty of time to enjoy each destination. Regarding the animals, we saw everything!
Flash Mc definitely deserves recognition for their top-tier service, swift responses and customer-friendly approach. We’d recommend them for anyone planning a trip to Kenya and will certainly refer all our family and friends. To Peter, Simon, and the entire team, Asante!
QA
Email Riddhi | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great experience. Knowledgeable tour guide and decent stays
Everything was great.. only stay at masai mara could have been better. Tour guide Edward was good.
Reply from Africa Flash Mc Tours & Travel
Posted on Aug 21, 2019Jambo Riddhi,
Thank you for travelling with us on our 6 days Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru & Amboseli Economy Safari, and taking time to provide a feedback on your safari experience.
We appreciate your positive feedback on the guide and the tour.
As for the Masai Mara accommodations, we offered you different accommodation options to choose from, and based on your budget, you chose that one you stayed at in Masai Mara, however I had given an option to upgrade the accommodation at a fee, but that was not possible due to budget constraint.
We shall however keep you observation in mind and advise, future safari prospects on the same.
Hopefully this shall not be your last Africa holiday safari in Kenya. From us to you we say, "Asante & Welcome Again!"