Baboon Budget Safaris Team
Baboon Budget Safaris
- Located In:
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2006)
- Member Of:
- KATO, KTB & Ministry Of Tourism
- Tour Types:
- Custom budget & mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $100 to $700 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
US
Email Megan | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great Experience for the Price!
My colleagues and I were in Kenya for work and decided to add on a brief, affordable safari experience after our convening. After discussions with many companies, my colleague organizing the trip went with Baboon because they were reasonably priced and responsive to our requests. The pick up at the airport was smooth and we were quickly on our way to Maasai Mara (Miti Mingi Eco Camp stay) with our fabulous guide, Stanley. Stanley helped us make the absolute most of our few days in the Mara. He clearly communicated with us, was extremely knowledgeable about the area, and he felt like part of our team after the few short days we traveled with him. The accommodations were excellent for the price and what anyone could reasonably expect. The tents were clean and any minor issues addressed promptly (fixed hot water in a shower and cleaned up a water spill on the floor of one of our tents). The kitchen staff even made our team special chicken because some folks on our team don’t eat beef. Everyone at Miti, especially Justo, was kind and friendly.
TH
Email N. Bourung | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Good and complete as a safari should be.
It was a great experience that I didn't expect to get from a budget tour. It was the best value for money.
Most wonderful
We had the most incredible time with Baboon Safaris, and it’s all thanks to the truly wonderful people behind it. From the moment we arrived, we felt like family. A special mention has to go to our dear friend, leader, and guide, Martin. His warmth, endless positivity, and Hakuna Matata philosophy made every part of our journey feel magical. Martin’s deep knowledge of the land and wildlife, combined with his infectious smile, turned each safari into an unforgettable adventure. He didn’t just guide us; he shared his heart and soul with us, creating memories that will stay with us forever. We’ll miss him so much.
We’re also incredibly grateful for Tekla and Kim. Their kindness and care were evident from the moment we landed in Nairobi. They were there for us every step of the way, offering support, laughter, and making us feel so welcome. Tekla’s lively spirit and Kim’s warm heart made us feel at home, and we couldn’t have asked for more thoughtful, loving people to share this experience with.
This trip was unforgettable, not just because of Kenya’s beauty, but because of the extraordinary people of Baboon Safaris who made it feel like a dream come true. We are completely in love with Kenya, and we can't wait to return. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for making this adventure so special.
CN
Email Lynn | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
It’s the most amazing tour I’ve had.
The trip in kenya was so much fun. With Tekla answer all my questions, guide and driver Kioko is very good at finding animals. And other staff like Peter and Jami also help a lot during the tour.
Meet some new friends and have a great time in this trip. Gonna go back again.
IN
Email GT | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Amazing experience
Certainly! Here’s an appreciation message in advanced English for a safari guide:
Dear [Guide’s Name],
I wanted to take a moment to express my profound gratitude for the exceptional experience you provided during our safari. Your profound knowledge of the ecosystem, combined with your genuine passion for wildlife, elevated the entire journey to an unforgettable level. Your meticulous attention to detail, patient guidance, and ability to seamlessly weave fascinating stories into the narrative made every moment incredibly enriching.
It was evident that you have a deep respect for the environment and its creatures, and your dedication to preserving the natural world is truly inspiring. You not only made us feel safe but also gave us a profound sense of connection to the wilderness, which is something I will carry with me for years to come.
Thank you for your professionalism, your kindness, and for helping us see the beauty of the wild in a new light. It was truly a privilege to be under your guidance.
Do not trust.
My girlfriend and I booked a 4-day-tour up Mount Kenia from the 27th until the 30th of December 2024. We made it to the top and safely back home again. So all in all the tour was a success. Unfortunately, I have to agree with most other reviewers here. I will spare you all the details of the multitude of times we were misinformed, ignored and lied to before and during this trip. Do not book any tour with this company. They are plenty of other companies that will make sure you enjoy your trip way more.
Reply from Baboon Budget Safaris
Posted on Jan 6, 2025Dear Mark,
Thank you for sharing your feedback about your recent Mount Kenya tour. While we are glad to hear that you successfully summited and returned safely, we are truly sorry to learn that your experience did not meet your expectations due to the issues you mentioned.
We sincerely apologize for any instances of misinformation, lack of communication, or mismanagement you encountered before and during your trip. This is not the standard of service we aim to provide, and your concerns are taken very seriously.On our end we did our best to provide detailed itinerary outlining all the necessary information and also gave response to your queries both before and during the trip.
Your input is invaluable in helping us identify areas for improvement and ensuring that future clients receive a more seamless and enjoyable experience.
Thank you for bringing this to our attention, and we genuinely hope to regain your trust in the future.
Email Elizabeth | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great value for money budget group joining safari & fantastic experience
I did the 10day combined Kenya & Tanzania group joining budget safari, as a solo female traveller, in Sept/Oct. The price I was quoted initially was the best of a number of different companies and it proved to be very good value.
Airport pickup and transfers were included in the cost. When I arrived at Nairobi airport, the plane went to a different terminal than expected, getting through the airport took over 2 hours and my phone wouldn't connect at the time to let Baboon know what was happening, but my collection driver Martin was still there waiting for me - my first positive!
The safari was effectively a 6day Kenya with one guide and group, followed by a 3-4day Tanzania safari with a different guide, group and all the logistics arranged via a different company (7 Wonders), so that we transferred from Namanga border to Arusha, Tanzania, via a public shuttle bus.
I was very lucky with all the animals I saw and the different encounters, which made my safari experience very special.
My guide in Kenya, Titus, worked very hard driving us everywhere between locations and in the parks, finding all the Big 5 animals and answering all the groups questions with excellent knowledge.
The only negative on the Kenyan part of the safari was a jeep breakdown on the penultimate day and we lost a few hours. I understand these things happen, but better communication about what was happening and what we could expect would have been appreciated while we sat in a hotel waiting to be picked up.
On the Tanzanian part of the safari, the only negative was that at the border we were told the name of the hotel we needed to get taken to in Arusha, but on arrival they weren't expecting us and the hotel staff worked very hard to find out we'd been booked into a different hotel and got us there. Again, better communication would have helped.
The budget safari in Tanzania, included a cook being with our group to prepare all our meals, as we stayed at basic campsites - to hear animals at night was amazing. Dixon was our chef and I can't speak highly enough of him. The food he made was gorgeous and plentiful. He was very caring, sensitive and considerate to take care of all our drink, food and camping needs.
The driver/guide in Tanzania was Innocent and he worked hard to find all the Big 5 animals and more for us, including experiencing a lion kill. His vehicle skills were excellent, both in mechanics to ensure the car was in top condition while we were in the middle of nowhere, and his careful, expert driving. He also made sure I got to the airport in time, even though some roads were shut for the Tanzanian President to travel along!
Overall, the cost was 5/5, service was 5/5, communication was 4/5, reliability was 4.5/5 and my overall safari experience was wonderful, some of the budget accommodation was better than I expected, the food offered was also better than expected, especially in Tanzania. A 10day safari is a little tiring, as the distances covered are massive and every day is an early start, but the rewards of the animals and experiences made me completely forget about any tiredness.
For me, if I could rate a 4.5/5 I would, but it was definitely better than 4/5 and it's one of my best travel experiences ever, out of many.
Reply from Baboon Budget Safaris
Posted on Dec 13, 2024Dear Elizabeth,
Thank you so much for sharing your detailed and thoughtful feedback about your recent 10-day Kenya and Tanzania safari. I'm thrilled to hear that overall, it was one of your best travel experiences ever!
I’m glad our services, from the airport pickup to the safari guides like Titus and Innocent, exceeded your expectations in many areas. It’s heartwarming to know that Martin waited patiently at the airport, Dixon provided exceptional meals, and the wildlife encounters made your trip unforgettable.
I appreciate you pointing out the areas where communication could have been better, such as during the jeep breakdown in Kenya and the hotel miscommunication at the Tanzanian border. Your insights are invaluable, and I will ensure these are addressed to enhance the experience for future travelers.
Thank you again for your kind words and constructive feedback. Should you plan another adventure in the future, we’d be delighted to assist in making it even more seamless and memorable.
Wishing you many more incredible travel experiences!
DE
Email Halong | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
No good management
There is two things to distinguish: the safari experience in the national parks (i.e. what you see there) and the how the safaris are carried out.
I could say this is rip off, but I don't say this. We had very bad experience, especially with the owner George. When we had unbelievably bad accomodations booked by him and wanted to complain, he refused to talk to us and told his driver to stop communication with us immediately. He told him, that we could come back to Arusha and end the tour right away on our own cost! The accommodations were so bad, that we had to look for alternatives.
Even though, the driver was excellent, the car war beyond bad. Several accidents were poorly fixed, welded everywhere. The tyres were all worn out totally, almost slick! The two spare tyres were flat and unusable, the so called tools for changing tyres were unusable as well. George left the driver all alone without helping.
Over all, this manager is acting against his clients and is not willing to cooperate. So if you want to get bad value for good money, here you are right. For us: not at all worth the money spent.
Reply from Baboon Budget Safaris
Posted on Nov 29, 2024Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. I’m truly sorry to hear about the challenges you faced during your safari and the dissatisfaction with the accommodations, vehicle, and communication. Your concerns are completely valid, and I deeply regret that your trip did not meet expectations.
Our manager on Tanzania George you raised concerns about his behavior which we apologized for and action was taken against him,as for the accomodations we had shared links and details of the accomodations early on as per your request.For the vehicle we apologize for the mechanical problems ,which were completely unforeseen but we did our best to handle them and delivered your safari to its end.Your feedback is invaluable in helping us improve and ensuring our future clients receive the quality service they deserve.Once again, I apologize for the inconvenience caused
Email Sonea | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very caring and informative
Anthony was such an amazing guide and driver who took great care of us! He was so informative about the culture and the animals and ensured we managed to see the big 5. I would highly recommend anyone looking for a tour to book with Baboon Safaris!
IE
Email Peter | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A professional safari tour operator with a decent office and spartan accommodation
Despite the four star rating of the Baboon Budget holidays, their freelance guide Titos deserves the full five.
He understands fundamental rules of customer care.
He is punctual, delivers the programme as it was outlined to a client.
He posseses a good local knowledge regarding the visited places, nature and beyond.
His English is of good standard and handles the vehicle professionally. This is something you will appreciate on the roads in Kenya.
Having a professional background in outdoor activity instructing and management I would happily employ Titos myself.
As for the overall performance of the company itself.
We had booked a six day private safari tour which has brought us to Massai Mara, Naivasha lake, Nakuru NP and Amboseli National Park.
This was a great selection of Kenyan experience and the company delivered it as presented in their quotation.
The communication prior to the tour was perfect and Dennis was in touch along the tour as well.
I have taken one star off from the best rating due to few events and suggestions.
There was a confusion at the initial briefing in their office about the type of the product booked. We were promised a private tour, however the representative seemed to have us scheduled on a group tour.
The last thing you want after tiresome journey is haggling about the basics, having children besides you.
This was rectified immediately by the owner.
Another thing which dashed our experience was my delayed luggage. I asked BBS to look after the delivery of the luggage considering it a courtesy since the delivery would be happening along the regular routes of the operator. This is based on own my experience from my former employer's customer service operating similar tours around Ireland.
I was hit by a hefty charge of about €50 at the end of our tour. I could have had the luggage delivered free of charge by the airlines instead.
One more rant about the accomodation in Nakuru hotel. The receptionist has allocated a room with a double bed and single bed to a family of four. The hotel manager fixed this for us after a complaint. The bathroom cleanliness in this place could improve.
Miti Mingi camp tents were quite tight, however I believe this could have been dealt with if we complained to the camp manager.
Then again a customer should be provided with a sufficient standard without the need of pointing out flaws and anticipating client's needs in the first place.
The Nyati safari camp was at a high level of service provided with spectacular views of Kilimanjaro.
We had a great adventure with BBS.
I would recommend and use them again.