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 Christine | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Bad service
Service poor, tried to follow up told me they can only refund 60 dollars ,till yet no refund just apologises I been following up .never will I spent my money on them again .try at your own risk ,
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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.
Email Leonardo Dias and Brenda Wanjiku | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Horrible
STAY AWAY!!!
We were soooo unlucky to have come to this place. The employee who was “helping” us seems very sure about all our requirements and gave us the package that we wanted. However, as soon we’ve started our journey lots of issues started to take place. We didn’t get what was promised in both hotels we’ve stayed in. The safari didn’t include the park fees, which we were not told about and the list goes on...
They were not helpful at all when we contacted them about the issues and in the end it spoiled our trip.
The driver was really good (Philip) but other than that it was a real disgrace.
They should be ashamed
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 Moiz | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Rude Driver and lack of response from the company
Very poor
I was travelling with Bonfire Adventures in Masai Mara. It was the worst experience as driver treated me. He was rude and aggressive.
Moreover, the senior tour consultant was good in dealing with me but he stopped replying after the drivers aggressiveness.
I would like to claim compensation for driver's attitude and reducing the promised itinerary.
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Email ian | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
disgust
I once personally visited the next gen mall office to enquire for a booking and the customer service guy was awful, didnt care, vague, over priced i think, behaved as if they dont need guests we need them, companies are based on customer service, ithink the owner is rich now thats why when you read from the reviews you see alot of negative comments, even the roman empire was big but it fell down, treat people right, improve your guest relations, give the right information, be on time, and have work ethics,.the company is now trying to buy other tour companies, i would rather pay millions for a comfortable stay in a diani that pay a measley $300 with bonfire.
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 Olivia | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Dishonest and Disorganised
We booked with Bonfire Adventures for a 3 day trip to Mara Maasai and after our experience would not recommend Bonfire Adventures for the following reasons.
1. Disorganised.
Bonfire were highly disorganised. I felt as if I was doing most of the organisation and I was trying to organise their agent to book things for us. I had to repeatedly follow up with them about if they had made the booking and what time we would be collected to start the Safari. They only confirmed who was collecting us at 7pm the night before we were due to leave at 7am the next morning. They asked us to let the driver know where to collect us from even though we had already provided them with that information more than a week in advance.
2. Dishonesty
We asked them for a quote as to the cost, which they provided to us. It wasn't until after we paid that they informed us that they had quoted us the residents rate rather then non-residents rate and would have to pay more money. I have a very English first and surname so I have no idea why they would assume that I was a resident. They then said that I should have known that it was the residents rate as they had charged us in the local currency rather then US dollars. I asked them to return my money to me as I did not want to pay extra as this would make the safari significantly more expensive. It was only at this point they said that they could actually offer it to us at the residents rate.
Perhaps more disappointing was that they were dishonest with money. I sent them the money for the Safari and paid the bank fees. According to my calculations I unintentionally underpaid them 700 KES (Approx. 7 USD) due to the different the conversion rates. However Bonfire said that I had underpaid them by 5,600 KES (Approx. 53 USD). When I questioned this they said the difference must be due to bank fees. I went back and checked that and in fact I had already paid these fees. I asked for further proof of exactly how much they received in the transfer but they only provided an internal spreadsheet, but nothing from their bank. I have asked them to provide me with a way to pay the remaining 700 KES and am waiting to hear back from them.
3. Driver
The driver was also disappointing as at the end of our Safari we were dropped off at Lake Naivasha. He put pressure on us to pay him to drive us back to Nairobi after we were finished at the lake in a few days time. He asked us to pay him $120,000 KES and told us that we wouldn't get anyone to drive us back to Nairobi for less then $100,000 KES. We phoned a great driver we had previously used in Nairobi who immediately suggested a much more reasonable price of 70,000 KES and didn't pressure us at all to go with him.
They also ask to do a client feedback form which you then return to the staff who you are assessing so its difficult to give honest and open feedback in these circumstances.
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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 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