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
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
Please be aware. This "tour operator" is running a scam. Do not give them a cent!
** UPDATE MARCH 2015
After six months of hassle, I have received a full refund of the safari trip I booked and pre-paid with Africa Flash Mc Tours last year. I cannot recommend their services, as this has caused me trouble ever since I was in Nairobi in September 2014 waiting for a safari guide that never showed up and couldn´t contact anyone from Africa Flash MC Tours (including emergency phone numbers posted on the company's website).
** UPDATE FEBRUARY 2015
I want to reiterate my review submitted in October 2014. No money has been refunded to me from Peter Njenga. I have been communicating with him for many months. He has repeatedly promised to send a refund but has not been a man of his word. Please avoid doing business with him and his company.
** ORIGINAL REVIEW
I booked a tour with Africa Flash Mc Tours for September 2014 and paid it 100% up front, $1150.
Nobody showed up to pick me up at my hotel as arranged with Peter Njenga, the phone numbers of the company and Peter were turned off and no one answered my email. I never got to go on the tour I had paid for.
I complained to the Kenyan police which is now looking into Africa Flash MC Tours and Peter Njenga. I have not received a refund from the company, I hope the police will stop him from scamming tourists coming to Kenya. Please be careful and do not deal with this company.
Reply from Africa Flash Mc Tours & Travel
Posted on Apr 8, 2015Dear Inga,
Sorry for the ruined vacation and the delay in getting back your refund, 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 as advised.
Best Regards
Africa Flash McTours Team