US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great 3 Day Safari with Bonfire Adventures at the Mara Sopa Lodge!
This review is specifically about Bonfire Adventures & the Mara Sopa lodge. My friend and I booked a private, custom 3 night/4 day safari with Bonfire. The regular package is 2 nights, 3 days, but since we were traveling from far away we wanted an extra day. Bonfire is a Kenyan based (and owned company) that plans safaris & other excursions. They offer many lodging options, from budget to luxury, so there's something for everyone.
We live in the United States. Bonfire was very responsive over email and priced out the package. I was in Kenya for work, so I went to a Bonfire office to pay via credit card in person, which cost an extra 3%. Right now, the only other option is to do a direct bank transfer to their account (which I did not want to do from the United States). Hopefully, Bonfire will have an online credit card pay link soon. But, everything worked out fine.
Our guide, Duncan, was wonderful. He picked us up in Nairobi and drove us the 5+ hours to the Mara. We did 2 bathroom stops (on the way out and in). Bring snacks and extra water for the journey! It's a little bumpy at the end, but it's so great to see what Kenya really looks like.
Duncan was professional and polite and very knowledgable about the animals and plants of the Mara. We saw so much wildlife! He was very patient with all of our requests to take photos. He had a great eye for the photos himself and even helped us set up some sunset and animal shots.
We stayed at the Mara Sopa lodge, the most "hotel" of all the options on that side of the park. It's beautiful and comfortable, especially considering how remote the Mara is.
The Mara is a magical place and I highly recommend it.
PL
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Foot Slopes are excellent company which make your dreams come true.
They answer very quick on every question. Service is perfect: they care about nice accomodation, delitious food and the best safari guide who has got a big knowledge about animals . We were with Gabriel and he was really nice Guide who care about us like about his family. I reccommend all company if you would like to spent the best time in your life!
RS
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Best experience ever!!!
My girlfriend and me went to 3 days Selous safari tour, we enjoyed every second. Accommodation, food, transport, tour, everything was perfect. Isaiah was our guide, lovely guy full of knowledge, passion, energy and devotion for his job, he made this tour even better. We have seen so many different kind of animals. I would recommend this tour agency and this adventure to everyone!
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing
The experience was amazing from the booking to the drive to the hotel....the hotel Enkorok Mara Camp was great,big beds, spacious tented rooms, happy faces and we had best Safari moments with our driver Jonah Ngotho....thank you Bonfire Adventures and Thanks to our agent Nyambura for making this happen.
Would definitely recommend Bonfire
with Travel Agent Nyambura !!!!
SA
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Friendly, accommodating, wonderful!
With COVID-19 restrictions limiting our travel options, my wife and I took the opportunity to visit Africa for the first time with little time to prepare. After thoroughly enjoying Nairobi and Mombasa, we squeezed in our first safari with Benicia. Alfred and his team were so friendly and patient making us feel relaxed and happy throughout the entire process. This was not busy season and with COVID there were not many tourists around, and we were so fortunate to have a self paced and customized experience. The gem in our trip however was our courteous and friendly driver and guide George, who in addition to being extremely knowledgeable and experienced, kept us safe and secure while ensuring we had plenty of time to catch all the sights. We saw the big five including white and black rhinos, and a family of elephants descending out and about our van! Priceless experience I wholeheartedly recommend to everyone! We look forward to coming to Benicia again! Ask for George, and you will also meet the polite, young, armed park ranger Benedict who will keep you safe from hippos as you tour the Mara River where wildebeest make their famous crossings between Kenya and Tanzania past hungry crocodiles. So many wonders!
RU
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
cool safari
a wonderful trip along the masai mare, scher naivasha, amboseli, met at the airport besch zadkrzhki, taken to the hotel, the next morning we were met by the driver George with whom we began our journey, many thanks to George, we saw a lot of animals, everything is clear, punctual, the emotions are great, the hotels booked by the company were wonderful. Thank you very much, I hope to see you again!
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
"Best safari guide you can get"
Visiting Kenya and finding the right guide for you is like finding a gem in sand. George and Joe were more than a gem. We, I and my missus, Emily, had to leave reluctantly from our 4-day trip. Alfred knew what we wanted and accordingly selected the best guides who could keep us entertained and lively all the way around.
Camping under the stars, learning about a new culture, and the picturesque Lake Nakuru scenery; the whole experience was captivating. But what took our breath away was the unexpected places that George and Joe showed us. It felt like we were looking at pockets of heaven on earth. Tip: One shouldn't miss out on the exotic animals and birds here. They are marvelous.
These trips are routine for the guides, and you won't expect them to have much enthusiasm. However, these two were keeping us on our toes with their infectious energy.
When you plan for a backpacking safari in Kenya, I highly recommend you look for Bencia Africa Adventure & Safaris, and Alfred will take care of the rest. Well, we got to meet with the rest of their team on our way back, and I am sure you will be good in any of their care.
BE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Competent, serious, attentive to expectations.
Perfect trip that exceeded our expectations!
Very nice places and landscapes with wonderful observations.
Our guide was pleasant, attentive to our expectations, respectful of the environment, competent and experienced.
The accommodations were very nice and well located. Pleasant staff and excellent food.
Excellent information and follow-up from the company.
Very good value for money
We recommend without hesitation.
Thanks a lot.
CH
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Greatest tour ever
It was such a great tour, we can recommend this company and our tour guide, it was amazing... as from the beginning for the booking the transfer and the Safari. Thank you again for everything and this great time in Tanzania for our Honeymoon.
LB
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very Professional - Golden Rwanda Safaris
Golden Rwanda Safaris are very professional. They have excellent guides, that are knowledgeable and experienced. They will give you lots of information, and safety is their top priority. Guide Taufique was the best, he was helping other guides in the park as well.