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
US
Email Taylor | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
6 Day Joining Safari (Masai Mara, Nakuru, Amboseli)
Our trip itinerary included 6 days and covered Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru, and Amboseli parks. First off, I want to say what a pleasure it was dealing with Peter, the manager. He not only responded promptly to all of my emails but was able to answer all of my questions and made me feel very secure in my decision to book with him. There are literally thousands of booking companies, many of which that will overcharge you for essentially the same things as budget safaris. Our $950/person budget safari came to about $160/day/person which is standard and fair when you factor in qualified drivers, 3 meals a day, and good accommodation. You can always stay somewhere nicer but I feel like the budget tented camps are all you need, you are on a safari after all!
Our guides were Peter (different gentleman than the manager) and John. We spent the first few days with Peter who was quite knowledgeable and the second part with John. What you may not realize about Group Joining Safaris is that you'll likely be with different people at different times of your trip, the booking companies do this to maximize the amount of people in the fewest cars, and like air traffic control, make sure everyone has a ride to the next part of their itinerary. Peter was able to make all of this happen seamlessly and even helped ferry people to different parks himself in his personal car. He really wants you to have a great time and it shows.
I won't comment on the different parks, just assume they are amazing because they are.
I only have two small critiques. First, on the Africa Flash MC website (which is one of the more organized websites I looked at), the explanation of which camps you would be staying in for which price was a little off. We thought that we would be spending our Amboseli nights at Kibu luxury camp as it was listed under the "budget" safari we chose. We were a little disappointed to find out that once we had paid and Peter sent us the itinerary that Kibu was not listed and another place was. However, halfway through the safari Peter called us to tell us that we were going to be "upgraded" to Kibu for our final two nights as a way to make our trip special, which was very nice of him because it really did. Whether this is a sales tactic for getting a good review or just an honest mistake on one of our parts really doesn't matter, although the website could be clearer Peter still made the experience memorable and magical. Perhaps they could update the site to be a bit clearer, or, just clarify your accommodation with Peter via email so you don't leave somewhere you want to stay up to chance. He'll get back to you right away.
The second critique were the vans. Most companies in Kenya seem to run these converted minivans with the standard safari car pop-top. These are different from the Toyota Landrovers you see more often in Tanzania. While you can still operate well enough in them they are cramped when full, especially when they have a three-seater row which some do. That makes it harder to stand because the aisle is occupied by an extra seat. The first van we were in had this and it was rough, especially because in Masai Mara you go off-road and it was VERY bumpy. That same van had a lot of sharp edges in it that tore at my clothes and left me wondering if I should put on my gloves to not cut my hands. Finally, as a 6'1" man this van's roof was too short for me to stand in, not so with other vans I have been in on safari. Bumped my head A LOT. The second van was much better, it didn't have the middle seat in the front row so there was more room to stand and the padding was better. No sharp edges, and a higher head clearance. And yet, not perfect, half of the windows were stuck closed. If I were Peter I would retire that first van or at least give it an interior overhaul.
That's it! A long winded way to say how much I enjoyed this safari with Peter. He's trustworthy, fair, honest, and very easy to work with. The company operates smoothly and he makes sure everyone gets to where they are going and has the best experience possible. Highly recommend, can't go wrong with Africa Flash MC.
US
Email Sherrie Cronin | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A well-run and friendly company
We did the six day Maasai Mara-Lake Nakuru-Amboseli safari, and an honest review is complicated. (1) The company itself is five star. They are reliable, honest and easy to deal with and I cannot recommend them more highly. It is a little scary making arrangements with people half-way around the world in a place you've never been, so please let me assure you that if you use Flash McTours you are in good hands. (2) The Guide. He (I think they are all hes) is the most important part of your trip. Ours was top-notch. Leonard was knowledgeable and friendly, and he made our safety and enjoyment his priority, often going out of his way to make things right. He is undoubtedly a five-star guide and is probably a five-star human being as well. (3) The equipment. Here we didn't fare so well as two out of our six days were marred by car trouble. This happens. However, we spent two hours standing by the side of a dirt road on our first day due to electrical problems, and finally had to be sent on to our camp in two other vans kind enough to stop and give us rides. At the end of our game drive the second day, the problems resurfaced and although we wanted to go back to camp, we had to join another group willing to take us and spent hours more crowded in with them before we could get home. Leonard did his best under the circumstances and he deserves to be commended. Owner Peter apologized for the inconveniences, but of course it did detract from the trip. (4) Itinerary. It's hard to hold the tour company accountable for travel difficulties, but not offering more options and information is my one complaint. I do have suggestions to help others. You need to ask a lot more questions than I did! (4a) Travel time. Maps and tour descriptions gave me the idea that driving between game reserves would be a 3 to 4 hour process. This is NOT TRUE. Four out of the six days we spent 8 or more hours just traveling from place to place. Not game viewing. This is the time (not mileage) equivalent of deciding to drive from New York City to Salt Lake during a six day vacation meant for other sight seeing. The time on the road itself is exhausting. (4b) Road conditions are worse than you imagine. In particular going to Maasai Mara involves over four hours BOTH ways on a highly rutted single lane dirt road. I live off of highly rutted single lane dirt road in the mountains of North Carolina, so I'm pretty comfortable with one, and I thought the drive was brutal. (4c) Lodging. We all want to travel cheap but it isn't always wise. We paid $90 apiece to upgrade lodging for our single night in Lake Nakuru after reading reviews about the budget alternative, and we are so glad we did. The standard lodging in Amboseli was wonderful. But for our two nights in a budget camp outside of Maasai Mara, we got a substitute for the Rhino camp called Lenchada and we found it to be awful. (Read my review for the many reasons why.) I don't know what options existed for upgrading there, but I highly encourage prospective travelers to ask about them, or at the least to insist on the Rhino camp ahead of time.
Suggestions. Mitigate the driving situation. I wished we had cut out Lake Nakuru completely. While it was lush and pretty, we saw no flamingos and few rhinos and it had nothing else unique to offer. Cutting it would have eliminated 2 entire long days of driving, and another day in the massive Maasai Mara reserve, and one just relaxing in the beautiful Amboseli resort, would have been so much better. Also, consider flying either into or out of Maasai Mara. We were told it is about $300 per person and it would have eliminated one brutal 8 hour drive. Or consider upgrading to one of the jeeps. We thought about it, but it was about $300 more per person and according to Peter, just provided a little better suspension system. Trust me, a better suspension system would have done us a world of good in retrospect.
In summary, Flash McTours is a highly capable company dedicated to showing you as many animals as possible in a short time at a reasonable cost. You need to take responsibility to turn that into an enjoyable vacation. I found Peter to be quite flexible in making modifications that I asked for. I just didn't know what all I needed to modify. I highly encourage others to work with them to design an itinerary that is right for you.
IT
Email Elia & Ilaria | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unforgettable wild Kenya experience!!!
The safari trip has been really awesome!
We admired fantastic scenarios, and watching animals was really exciting.
Peter organized for us an unbelievable experience, providing a fantastic organization of the tour and accommodations as well. We had the opportunity to interact with local people and local fauna in a unique way.
We strongly recommend this tour operator as it allowed us to visit and fooling in love with Kenya
IE
Email Barbara | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent Safari and Great Value for Money
I had an 11-day awesome, unforgettable trip across Kenya and Tanzania.
Peter, the owner was incredibly friendly, professional, very responsive and helpful throughout the whole booking process and even got me some local mosquito repellent that I requested. Both the Kenyan and Tanzanian crew made sure that I am having a great and memorable time and helped me in every possible way. They provided very personalized attention.
We saw the Big Five animals within the first three days of safari - and saw plenty of other truly unbelievable sights along the way. Cannot say enough good things about Peter and Africa Flash McTours! I highly recommend this company!
Email Magnus | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
There was so much about this trip that was great, that it's difficult to put into words
The idea of a safari had been on the cards for quite some time, but it wasn't until my girlfriend researched safari providers that the idea came to fruition. She had come across a Guardian article that recommended Africa Flash MC Tours to us. We went onto the website and found a whole host of options for us to choose from, and at extremely competitive prices - seriously, they were great prices; check out the website. Once we had agreed upon packages and dates, my girlfriend went about contacting Peter, the owner, through the contact form. Communication could not have been more pleasurable and informative. I really give Peter kudos for this because he was more than willing to exchange email after email, filled with information so that we would be fully prepared for everything. He also made himself available on the phone - I believe he saved my number because one time he picked up he answered and immediately said hello using my name. The customer service was immaculate.
Now, onto the Safari. I honestly do not possess the vocabulary or eloquent enough command of English to fully convey how life changing safari was. It was ridiculous. We saw animals, habitats, ways of living, and people that have been the domain of televised national geographic since childhood. Our trip was comprised of two packages - 4 days on the Maasai Mara and 3 days in Tanzania/Arusha. The 4 days on the Maasai Mara were insane and probably my favourite. Before I get ahead of myself let me rewind and begin from when the trip actually started....
We arrived and stayed in Nairobi (which was an experience in itself) and were picked up from the hotel by Peter himself and dropped up at a meetup spot where we were placed into a safari bus with 5 others from our new group. Our driver, Isaac, upon introduction I could tell he would be a cool guy - he was always so chilled and seemed to know everything about safari. We drove to our camp in Maasai Mara, which was like a glamping tent with a en suite bathroom. Really great stuff. The next 4 days were insane. We saw everything except the leopard. I took so many pictures.
The next leg of the trip was to Tanzania for a 3 day Safari to Taragire, Lake Manyara, and Ngorongoro Crater. This was a personal safari with just us and the driver and no other guests. Our driver, James, was a young guy who'd been a driver for no more than 3 years. We got on with him like a house on fire. Our camp was great - we even had a personal chef. Once again, the sites and views while on safari were insane, and James did a great job of showing us around.
We finished our safari and headed on to Zanzibar for some couples time, but we couldn't help but feel a sense of loss that we had left safari. I now am seriously thinking about coming back, maybe on my own so I can take pictures, and if I do it will be with Peter and his company.
Something important to note is that these trips felt so well organised that I'm not used to it. There were basically no hiccups, we felt extremely well taken care of, and at no time did we feel we were not in good hands. It really was that good. It was visceral. What a great show. We wish Peter every success and I hope to meet with him again in the near future.
You can see some of the pictures I took next to this review.
CH
Email Krithika | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great experience. Well organised yet flexible tour
Really enjoyed the tour. Peter (the organiser) was always prompt, friendly and very helpful in responding to any questions we had.
The service was great as we had the luxury of a private vehicle with a good driver (important on poor road conditions in the game reserves) who was also experienced and knowledgeable which enabled us to maximise the value of the tour.
The accommodation was in line with expectations and of the standard promised whilst the good definitely exceeded expectations.
Overall, a really great, fun experience put together by Flash Mc Tours
MY
Email Steffie Chan | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Best Africa Safari Trip Ever!!!
Amazing tour company had such great fun on my 6 days trip in Kenya. Peter (owner) is a great guy! incredibly friendly, professional and helpful throughout the whole process from booking my trip until leaving Kenya. Response rate is 100% and always replies me on WhatsApp when I'm in doubt in the middle of the trip. As a female solo traveller I highly recommend this tour. Detailed itinerary is provided which is very helpful. Peter always make sure I'm enjoying the trip at all times n even sent me to the airport at night. Safari drivers are friendly, well knowledge bout the animals and safe drivers as well!
Thank you for making my safari trip the best experience!
TW
Email Jerry, Chin-Yu | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Friendly and flexible safari tour without any compromise in Kenya and Tanzania.
First time safari tour in Kenya and Tanzania, four of us really enjoy the trip. Everyone said Peter is a good guy, initially I feel everything is well organized. The two-weeks' safari trip including Aberdare, Mt. Kenya, Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha, Masai Mara, Lake Amboseli in Kenya, as well as Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Lake Manyara in Tanzania. The Kenyan guide Leonard and Tanzanian guide William (from Gosheni) are professional and patient with very good eyesight. We were not only able to see different wild lives, but also have the chance to watch their behaviors of predating, mating, playing, etc. Although the black rhino is very hard to see in distance, we collected all big fives in this trip.
By the end of our trip, Peter shows up and presents very good hospitality, very nice to chat with and knowing each other between Kenya and Taiwan. We did experience good treatment by heart and nice faces from Kenya and Tanzania. With best wishes and respective to the both countries, who are willing to reserve such big lands for wild lives.
TW
Email Jerry, Chin-Yu | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Friendly and flexibility without compromise in quality.
Everyone says Peter is a good guy. Indeed, he's well organized manager and also provide the flexibility of our safari planning in very beginning. The local guide Bonnie Faces in Mt. Kenya trail, impressed me of himself as a modern Kenyian guide with good education and knowledge, we chat all the way in the trail. The Kenyan guide Leonard and Tanzanian guide William from Gosheni, both are very good in eyesight to track the wildlives that we are looking for, also very kind and patient during the safari. That's why we saw not only the animals, but also some important behaviors. The accommodation is very satisfactory, including high-level hotel in national park, and well-decorated tents in different styles and locations. Although the whole traveling route is bumping, we did enjoy the trip a lot. In the end of the trip (our last night in Nairobi), Peter personally showing-up, present a very good hospitality, all the way until we left to the airport.
SE
Email Sebastian | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An unforgettable experience
Me and my girlfriend signed up for an 11-day trip with the best of Kenya and Tanzania. It was supposed to be small group safari but since our arrival to Kenya went 34 late due to flight troubles, we ended up with a private safari except for the first 4 days when we had company by one person. We had to pay some extra because of the private tour but we were glad that Peter could postpone the trip one day.
Our first guide, Edward were truly services-minded and patient. He always made his best to give us good spots where we could take the best pictures! After 6 fantastic days in Kenya where we spent the nights at mid- to luxury hotels, we switched to survival mode and started camping in Tanzania. We think the trip were perfectly planned where we had to test a bit of each. During the Tanzania-part of the safari, we always had company of our private chef Tom who cooked us delicious food! And our guide Ephraim was always glad and positive.
I'am pretty sure we paid less for our trip than many other people out there on the savanna, but we still looked at the same animals, got great guides and slept at nice places. I Never thought I would sit on tripadvisor and write a review but Africa Flash Mc Tours (and Edward ofc.) are worth the best of recommendations!