Bonfire Adventures
- Located In:
- Size:
- 100-250 employees (Founded in 2010)
- Tour Types:
- Custom budget & mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $100 to $550 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
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Email Neeti | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Horrible experience! Stay Away
The guide Humphreys was disrespectful to stay the least. Our trip to Amboseli was the worse trip we have taken so far. It started with Humphreys coming late to pick us up at Nairobi and taking us via dirt road to Nairobi National park to "pay" some fees where he was turned down. We reached Amboseli late and the car broke down in the middle of the park! We were on a custom itinerary and we decided to meet at7:30 am and were having breakfast in the hotel. Humphrey claims that he came and was waiting but did not bother calling us. When we came out to the parking lot he was not there and his phone was not reachable. No-one in the hotel knew where he was either. He finally came and from the minute he came he started yelling at all of us (my husband, parents and in-laws) in front of the hotel staff for being late. He called us unprofessional several times in public and threw our luggage in the car. He cancelled our safari on his own without telling us and we came to know that only after we realized we were on our way to Nairobi. So much money paid for what?
When we came back to Nairobi and called the Bornfire office, initially they were sympathetic and agreed to look into the matter, and later sent us an email justifying each and every action of Humphrey and proved us wrong. Even the CEO was cc'ed in the email and we addressed an email to him and have not received a response. We have taken many trips to different part of the world, but this has been the absolute worse! Please please stay away unless you want to be humiliated.
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Email Bob | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
It was like pulling teeth to get our agent to be responsive! Will never use again.
Two way communications between the agent and us were largely non existent unless we pressed. Even then we got partial or no answers. We booked early and were told travel insurance was required (Not so!!!) but we paid for insurance then were told they could not get it for us and would refund the money. We charged everything to American Express but were told we would be refunded in cash when we arrived in Kenya. After days of messages back and forth and resistance to paying we finally received cash but it was less than was owed. There was a mix-up upon arrival at the safari largely due to the utter lack of communication and follow through by the agent. Thank goodness the lodge manager was effective.
Email Kym | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A very poor operator with terrible organisation and incompetent subcontractors.
Bonfire was contracted to organise a safari tour to Tsavo West and Ambosselli. Day one and we have no tour bus and no communication. The day was shambolic with an alternative transport company organised by independents and eventually a 5 hour delayed arrival at our lodge. More alternative transport substituted on Day 2 in two run down vehicles. Third rate guides. Poor itineraries. And finally a broken down vehicle on the last day. Use this company at your peril.
Email Suraj | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Poor organisation and not true to their word
This trip was so bad that I don't know where to start. Firstly, they provided us with the wrong price online. When we went to the shop in Nairobi, they told us we had to pay extra because we were not Kenyan residents. They knew we were from the UK when we asked for a quote.
Secondly, it was the worst organised trip ever. We booked a 3 day/2 night trip in Masai Mara, and after reading about different trips, we were promised an afternoon game drive on day 1, full day game drive on day 2 and morning game driver on day 3. We were told to meet up with our driver outside the shop on Sunday at 6:45am and no later! We arrived at 6:30am on the Sunday and there was nobody in sight, nor was the office open. We stood outside in the cold for an one hour hoping that someone would come. After 30 minutes there was a random person with a bonfire adventure top on. When we spoke to him, he told us that we were not his driver and there were no more drivers today. It took us an additional 30 minutes and numerous phone calls to get in touch with our driver. He told us to walk 10 minutes to get to his car.
When we got to the car, it was not a 4x4 as promised, it was a small old-aged van that carried 7 people in the back. We told him what we were promised and he said that the company doesn't have any. We then had to wait for 2 hours because someone was running late. By the time we left, we had 7 people in the car and you literally had hardly any room for your legs.
We knew the journey would be long but because how bad the vehicle was, it was like a rollercoaster. No suspension at all.
Our hotel, Simba Oryx, was incredible! Both the room and the food. I could not recommend it more. Its worth noting though that the hotel was included in the costs but totally separately run so you book any hotel through any safari agency.
When we arrived at our hotel, it was already 4pm and he said the park closes at 6pm. As others were staying in different places, he said he would be back in 30 minutes. He arrived at 5:15 and by the time we got to the safari, we had to get park tickets and so didn't enter until 5:50. We literally drove around for 10 minutes.
The second day, he was late in the morning, picked everyone else up after us. This was after saying he would pick us up first. He gave us a different reason for why he was late to another couple and we ended up missing the run rise.
Now what annoyed me today was day 3. We were promised a morning game drive. Instead he took us to the Masai Village. I explained that this was not the plan but nobody else spoke up and he said that this is always the programme. They expect everyone who comes to the village to pay around $20 per person. I told them that I had paid for everything upfront (and it wasn't cheap!) so there was no way I was paying.
We left the mara at around 11am. Total waste of a day.
In summary, I ended up paying for one day of safari in an uncomfortable over-crowded vehicle. The company is a joke to deal with and don't stick to any promises. Do yourself a favour and stay away from Bonfire Adventures!
Email Margaret | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Very disappointing service
I was dealing with Mary a Bonfire Agent who from the start barely provided me with information and later hiked prices & made excuses to cover herself. Bonfire has lost its quality service and I will never use them again
Email Rich | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Terrible from the very beginning.
This company was recommended to me by some friends, so even with the terrible communication and rude service from Johnston, I decided to stick with them. Firstly, Johnston’s is extremely rude, and barely understands English so don’t bother talking to him on the phone, he literally hung up on us after getting angry that he couldn’t understand us. Prices were listed as 240$ for the particular camp we wanted to go to but he was quoting us 640 each for a week. We had to seek out someone else to deal with. Just go with another tour operator, very very unprofessional company.
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Email Dave | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unprofessional
Johnston was absolutely terrible in communicating while trying to set up this safari. He tripled The listed price of our safari and was very obtuse and vague about why. Extremely unprofessional and rude. Communication in English with this man is exceedingly difficult, he became rude on the phone and hung up on me. Very unprofessional, look elsewhere to book your safari.
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Email Lisa | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Rip off! Don't waste your hard earned money!
Poor communication, old vans for safari. Our van broke down and the safari was limited due to the status of the van. Didn't get to see all the animals at the maasai Mara. We had initially booked to stay at another hotel and they switched arrangements last minute to a mediocre camp that had bad food. Never again! Not worth it.
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Email Judy | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Horrible and misleading communication with details left hanging until last minute poor job!
We paid months in advance, yet even the day before each stay we did not have lodging confirmations. They tried to get an extra $200 from us saying the bank transfer we sent was short. They did not advise we would need cash for entrance fees until we were already in Kenya. Left some fees unpaid at lodging which we were forced to pay in order to check out. Did not respond to inquiries in a timely manner. Bonfire does not provide a carefree vacation, as you need to fight for information and details constantly. In the end we got what we needed but only because we actively worked for it. I would not recommend this company. It seems other reviewers have had similar experiences so it is likely a company problem.
Reply from Bonfire Adventures
Posted on Jul 31, 2018We paid months in advance, yet even the day before each stay we did not have lodging confirmations. ANS- that is normal for proper pre booking of services like hotel
They tried to get an extra $200 from us saying the bank transfer we sent was short. ANS - their are standard charges that bank charges all transaction and kindly note our package are nett.
They did not advise we would need cash for entrance fees until we were already in Kenya. ANS - this is well mentioned in the terms and condition where by it shows what is included in the package and what is excluded.
Left some fees unpaid at lodging which we were forced to pay in order to check out. ANS - the package doesn't include extras like drinks and laundry in hotels and its clearly indicated at the EXCLUDED column.
Did not respond to inquiries in a timely manner. ANS - this might be human error which will be rectified immediately.
Bonfire does not provide a carefree vacation, as you need to fight for information and details constantly. In the end we got what we needed but only because we actively worked for it. ANS - Our tour consultant are interactive and we have competent labor force which is complimented with a whole guest relation office to assist in clients satisfaction
I would not recommend this company. It seems other reviewers have had similar experiences so it is likely a company problem. ANS - this is very regrettably and we promise to be more responsive and every mentioned mistake will be looked into.
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Email Chique | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Very disorganized
We booked a short trip to Mombasa using the SGR. When we got to the Miritini station all the people who had booked with Bonfire we're herded to one corner. Most of us had no transportation to the hotels. Where a bus finally showed up, 2 hours late, it broke down at the parking lot! They eventually put us in 3 separate taxis after much complaining. We wasted about 4 hours that counted as part of the first day of the trip.