Award-winning travel company Bonfire adventures are on the spot after a whistle-blower exposed her bad experience with them online.
As it is the festive season, many families plan to travel with their loved ones to get away and experience new things. Dr Bosire Wairimu is one such person who wanted nothing more than to give her son and his nanny a good relaxing trip to Dubai after a long year. As most Kenyans would, she chose Bonfire adventures to make the travel arrangements.
Things, however, took a turn for the worst and the disappointed client took to twitter to rally for KOT’s help.
Read her full story below.
Fam, I don't have a Merry Christmas 😭 because: A thread
In June/July I booked a holiday for my son and Faith(nanny) to Dubai because I am that mother whose work does not accord me the opportunity to be home most of the time..#BonfireRefundMamaTj@BonfireSafaris pic.twitter.com/R74ehFDokI
— Dr.Bosire Wairimu (@Lasterbosire) December 25, 2019
I went ahead and paid the fill amount to @BonfireSafaris ahead of a trip scheduled for Aug. But fam, immigration delayed in issuing my son's Passport and we had to postpone! I communicate in time and we had the tickets apparently issued by @emirates open! #RefundMamaTj pic.twitter.com/tlb5FT0aU9
— Dr.Bosire Wairimu (@Lasterbosire) December 25, 2019
My handler, Mr. Marekia of @BonfireSafaris after some pushback ensured that the ticket was left open via @emirates . Shock on me to be told that @emirates declared a no show and have to pay $ 850 for new tickets! pic.twitter.com/Ngk5BP1Ng0
— Dr.Bosire Wairimu (@Lasterbosire) December 25, 2019
Early December when I had had enough and I made a public complain on @BonfireSafaris facebook page #SimonKabu the CEO reached out to me, apologised and requested that I take the post down- I did. He also went ahead and promised to do all he could to make it happen. pic.twitter.com/VzxTH6z89b
— Dr.Bosire Wairimu (@Lasterbosire) December 25, 2019
All I want is for my Ksh 250,000 to be refunded so that I can get to pay for a holiday elsewhere for Faith(nanny), Tj and Myself. I reach out to #simonKabu says he busy and I should speak to him in Jan yet our holiday was planned for 3rd-8th January 2020, Tj will be turning 6😥 pic.twitter.com/m8ClEHi3AJ
— Dr.Bosire Wairimu (@Lasterbosire) December 25, 2019
How can we build Kenya when companies like @BonfireSafaris breaks children's hearts of dream holidays so that they can spend quality time with Mummy before the year becomes busy! #SimonKabu refund the $2,500!#RefundMamaTj pic.twitter.com/cgWcJZX5Rn
— Dr.Bosire Wairimu (@Lasterbosire) December 25, 2019
This was my child's trip. I saved up to take two people who have been patient, loving and understanding to me in the year 2019 for a well deserved break- Tj and Faith .@BonfireSafaris#RefundMamaTj pic.twitter.com/14cKGzC4ks
— Dr.Bosire Wairimu (@Lasterbosire) December 25, 2019
I have missed school events, play dates and many important moments in my child's life. This was an opportunity to have quality time with my child yet you treat it so callously! #SimonKabu while you're too busy your holidays, I am a mother heartbroken and who doesn't want to lie pic.twitter.com/ZR9lbldW6Q
— Dr.Bosire Wairimu (@Lasterbosire) December 25, 2019
@BonfireSafaris refund my money as fast as I paid you😥 pic.twitter.com/vqj25p1pbw
— Dr.Bosire Wairimu (@Lasterbosire) December 25, 2019
Other Kenyans also came out to expose the award-winning travel company for bad experiences they have had with them.
@BonfireSafaris are cons…tried booking my last holiday with them but realised it was a rip-off…I booked directly with emirates en hotel in Dubai…I spent half the cost they had proposed
— Erastus Jela (@ejelah) December 26, 2019
Tried them once! Pure gabbage! Please book your trips it's not hard!
— KATIWA4 (@mueni_4) December 25, 2019
All shall be well.. they once denied me my Bush Dinner At Masai Mara until I had to show them my true colors. @itskabusimon
— Dr Ryan Mucilih Samir ™🔁 (@Ryan_Mucilih) December 25, 2019
Simon Kabu is normally not good. Messed someone big time
— 1:59:40🇰🇪 (@ShiEunKe) December 25, 2019
this is one of the bogus companies in Kenya they buy media to market them.. let them return your money faster faster..
— S C (@sambusasosa) December 25, 2019
Was planning a Mauritius trip for two early this year and got this run around. It didn't sit right with me and I bailed two weeks to a trip I had been planning for more than a month with Bonfire. I am glad I had not forked up any cash in advance and I instead opted to go with..
— morning rays (@Kaiser_Damovic) December 25, 2019
Pwehehehe i can't book anything with these good for nothing safaris. I to God id rather go through all that hustle of getting my hotel destination by myself. Kwanza i hate that kabu na iyo tumbo yake always selling that crap everywhere. Next time fb tries to show his ads ill die
— Fredrick Nzomo (@freddyholysan) December 25, 2019
I wouldnt advise you to use them, they messed my dubai trip rather go through the hussle of booking everything yourself
— JARIELLAH MULINDWA (@JARIEMULI) December 25, 2019
Pole. I came to realize that @BonfireSafaris is actually trash. I tell everyone who cares to listen to use them as a last resort.
— Belle (@Bellerono) December 26, 2019
Don't touch @BonfireSafaris with a long stick, especially for international tours. They don't organise airport transfers from the other country and you'll probably arrive at a hotel in a foreign land only to be informed that you need to pay first,
— mzalendo (@Karoki3) December 26, 2019
The tweets went on and on under the hashtag #BonfireRefundMamaTj where more and more people came out to sympathize with Daktari and share their experiences as well. After going viral, Sarah Kabu the CEO finally spoke up. Taking to her Instagram page, she urged people not to be quick to judge before getting all sides of the story.