IN GOD WE TRUST.
Judeson Budget Safaris
- Office In:
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2016)
- Member Of:
- Magical Kenya & KTB
- Tour Types:
- Customizable private tours and fixed group tours
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $100 to $890 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
for a custom tour
Your request will be sent directly to the operator
If preferred, you can contact the operator directly
Reviews
DE
Email Kim | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A Great Adventure with Room for Better Coordination
Overall, we had a very good experience with Judeson Budget Safaris, especially during the mountain tour itself. Our guide was very friendly, supportive and experienced, and it was clear that he had done the mountain many times before. The porters also did an excellent job, and we always had everything we needed during the trek. The food was very good, plentiful, healthy and varied, with a nice mix of traditional Kenyan dishes. It was not a high-end experience, but considering it was a budget tour, the value for money was absolutely fair and more than sufficient for us.
The main area for improvement would be communication and coordination between Judeson Budget Safaris and the guide. At times, the organisation felt a little adventurous, and some details were not fully communicated or did not completely match what had been described in the original offer. However, these issues did not significantly affect the mountain tour itself, which ran very well overall.
All in all, it was a memorable and enjoyable experience with a great team on the mountain, and with slightly better communication and organisation, the overall experience could be even better.
Good safari, but let down by organisation, communication and the condition of our vehicle
We did a 6-day safari with Judeson, visiting the Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru and Amboseli. Overall, we saw some incredible wildlife and had some really memorable experiences, but a lack of communication, professionalism and organisation issues throughout the trip unfortunately affected our experience.
The start of the trip
We were told we would be picked up at around 6:40am and expected the long car journey to Masai Mara would begin from the moment we were collected. Instead, we were taken to an office where we waited for around an hour for Laurine, with very little to no communication about what was happening, why we were waiting or how long we would be waiting. We had woken up very early and were already tired, so spending the first hour of the trip sitting in an office, unsure of what was happening, was a disappointing start. We appreciate that delays can happen, but simply keeping us informed would have made a big difference. Hopefully this is something they can improve on.
Organisation and communication
Unfortunately, the lack of communication was a recurring theme throughout the trip. On Day 3, we were told we would be picked up at 7am to head towards Lake Nakuru. However, we ended up waiting around an hour for three other couples to complete the Maasai cultural tour before we could leave. We then waited for another 30 minutes even after they had all arrived, again without being told why. This was particularly frustrating because we had already done the cultural tour ourselves on the first day, after arriving at our camp near the Masai Mara, so nobody had to wait for us.
The extra waiting time could have been used to sleep, start the journey earlier, or potentially have more time at our next destination. Alternatively, we could have done the cultural tour with the rest of the group on Day 3.
Because of the 2 hour delay in the morning of Day 3, we only stayed in Lake Nakuru for about 2 hours. We felt this could have been handled much better, particularly if we had simply been told in advance that we would be waiting for another couple.
Another instance was that at the end of the trip, our driver randomly stopped at a gas station and told us to get out of the car for an Uber to take us home in Nairobi. This type of last minute and hectic communication was consistent throughout the trip.
Lack of communication and organisation was an issue during longer drives too. We were rarely told beforehand how long the journeys would take, how many stops we would make in order to stretch our legs or take toilet breaks, or when we would be stopping. Having a clearer itinerary and better communication about timings would have made the trip feel much more organised.
The safari vehicle
The vehicle was probably our biggest concern. The jeep was incredibly old and, on one occasion, was expelling smoke. We expected a mini fridge in the jeep as stated in our quote document, but our vehicle didn't have one. We experienced many tyre changes during the trip and the jeep even broke down at one point due to a broken spring. Having looked at other vehicles on game drives, this car looked like the oldest and was at points the slowest.
More seriously, on one occasion the vehicle broke down completely and we had to hitch a ride with another safari vehicle back to the accommodation. Interestingly, this gave us a very clear comparison between the two vehicles. The temporary replacement vehicle was noticeably newer, more robust and much better equipped. It was less dusty, had air conditioning and even had a fridge. The contrast made us realise just how basic and uncomfortable our vehicle had been.
Our usual vehicle also wasn't properly sealed. Even with the windows closed, we could visibly see dust coming into the vehicle through large holes and gaps itself. Given how much time you spend driving on dusty roads during a safari, this became quite uncomfortable, and at times we felt unsafe. The temporary replacement vehicle that took us back to the accommodation had no such issues.
All this unfortunately meant less time looking for animals, and arriving late to national parks due to frequent stops at car mechanic shops during the journey.
We understand that safari vehicles are used extensively on rough terrain and that they won't necessarily be new, particularly on a budget safari. However, we expected the vehicle to be in a reasonable and safe condition for a six-day trip.
Lake Naivasha and additional costs
We also weren't aware that the Lake Naivasha boat ride did not include the walk on Crescent Island. This was an additional $33 per person. Every other person on our tour had this booked prior, and it was only us that were not informed of this addition. We don't have an issue with optional activities costing extra, but it would have been much better to know this beforehand. More transparency about what is and isn't included in the itinerary, and which activities have additional costs, would have helped us budget and make informed decisions.
Food
The food was fairly basic, which is understandable given that this was a budget safari. Dinner at the camps/hotels was generally okay, and packed lunches were provided for the days when we were out on game drives.
That said, the packed lunches were often very disappointing. On one day, for example, we were given three pieces of white bread with butter, along with two boiled eggs. It wasn't particularly enjoyable, especially when you're spending a full day travelling and on safari. This isn't necessarily Judeson's fault, as the food is provided by the camps/hotels, but it's worth mentioning for transparency so that future travellers know what to expect.
Tour guides and lack of organisation
We had the safari with other couples who were spanish speakers. They were therefore given a spanish tour guide, who would mainly speak in spanish rather than English. We thought it would be okay as the driver spoke English, however he rarely spoke to us during game drives as he was concentrating on the road and he relied entirely on the Spanish tour guide. This meant we had to rely on the spanish couples to translate and tell us what each of the animals were at many points during the game drives. This is poor organisation on Judesons part as we would have preferred to have had an English guide.
Maasai cultural tour
We also did a Maasai cultural tour, which was interesting and gave us the opportunity to learn more about the local community and culture. However, we found the experience uncomfortable in parts. The person conducting the tour was extremely pushy about buying souvenirs, repeatedly telling us that purchases exceeding $40 would help support local schools. At one point, we felt surrounded by people encouraging us to buy things, which became quite uncomfortable and made us feel pressured. We understand that buying souvenirs can be an important source of income for local communities, and we were happy to look around and support local sellers. However, we would have preferred to make our own decision about whether and what to buy, without feeling pressured. This wasn't something we would necessarily attribute to Jusedson themselves, but we think it is worth mentioning for future travellers. We learnt a lot from the cultural tour and appreciated the opportunity to experience it, but the sales aspect could have been handled in a much less forceful way.
The positives
Despite these issues, there were definitely some highlights. Seeing the wildlife in the Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru and Amboseli was an amazing experience, and we had some unforgettable moments throughout the six days. The safari itself gave us the opportunity to visit some incredible places and see animals in their natural environment, which is ultimately what we came for.
We also appreciated the opportunity to experience the Maasai cultural tour and learn more about the local community, despite the uncomfortable pressure to purchase souvenirs.
Overall
We had some genuinely amazing experiences on the safari, but the trip was let down by organisation, communication and the condition of the vehicle.
For a budget safari, we understand that there will be compromises, and we weren't expecting luxury. However, basic communication about timings, delays, additional costs and the day's itinerary would have significantly improved our experience. We also think the vehicle should be properly maintained and sealed, particularly when guests are spending so many hours travelling in it.
CH
Email Matteo | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Perfect organization and knowledgeable
The organization of our 2 nights safari in Amboseli and support from Judeson and Laurine was perfect, and our guide was incredibly knowledgeable and open to listen to us and the other passengers.
SA
Email Hussain | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Flexible
Communication was smooth and flexible, price was also good
CN
Email Li wang | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
We highly recommend Judeson Budget Safaris for an incredible, well‑organised East‑African safari led
A huge thank‑you to Judeson Budget Safaris for crafting a nearly‑perfect, lifelong‑memorable East‑African safari for us.
Every detail of our journey was handled with thoughtful care and professionalism. We were assigned a dedicated, highly‑qualified driver‑guide with rich field experience. He possessed deep knowledge of grassland terrain and wildlife behaviour, and knew all the best viewing spots inside the parks like the back of his hand. He could always anticipate animal movements in advance, getting us into prime positions to watch wildlife calmly and at close range.
What impressed us most was his excellent physical stamina. Whether setting off early in the morning for game‑viewing, driving long distances across the grassland in the afternoon, or waiting patiently for wildlife late into the evening, he stayed energetic and attentive throughout. His steady, skilled driving guaranteed our safety and made every wildlife‑watching session highly rewarding.
During this safari, we were fortunate enough to spot the Big Five, together with zebras, giraffes and many other rare wild animals. The spectacular grassland scenery made our safari experience truly unforgettable.
The whole itinerary was well‑designed with a wonderfully relaxed pace. Service was reliable and consistent, with great attention paid to every small detail. This has been a fulfilling, restorative African adventure that we will cherish for many years. We whole‑heartedly recommend Judeson Budget Safaris as a trustworthy, high‑quality local ground operator for anyone planning a safari holiday in Kenya.
IL
Email Nevo maraglit | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Funny, friendly, informative!
Absolutely amazing safari experience from start to finish. The guides were knowledgeable, friendly, and made sure we saw incredible wildlife up close in a respectful way. The landscapes were breathtaking, and every moment felt like a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Everything was well organized, safe, and smooth. Highly recommended for anyone looking to experience nature at its best.
CN
Email Chen | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
I can only say this was the best trip I've ever been on.
This has been the best trip of my life. The tour company and guide were both very professional and took care of everything for us. We saw so many animals: leopards, cheetahs, lions, rhinos, buffaloes, elephants, and so much more. The scenery was absolutely beautiful too!
Email Humphrey | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Best experience ever
This is one of the best tours ever. Our tour consultant Laurine and the guide were amazing and really appreciate their effort.
I would 100% for sure recommend this tour company. Wishing to travel with you again definitely.
Thanks for the best and wonderful experience.
Email Lauren | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Our guide, Anthony, was awesome
We really wanted to visit Ol Pejeta, and found very few group safari tours that included this place in their itinerary. We ended up booking a private safari with Judeson, and they accommodated our itinerary request. We did 2 nights Ol Pejeta, 1 night Nakuru, and 3 nights Maasai Mara. We communicated through WhatsApp leading up to our trip. We had a bit of a rocky start with some confusion about specific activities that were included / excluded. Our guide, Anthony, was experienced, very personable, spoke excellent English, knew about animals and the places we were visiting, and absolutely turned our experience into a 5-star trip of a lifetime. Highly recommend that you request him specifically.
Good prize, good quality safari
Looking at safaris in Kenya, I was shocked to see how much they all were. Then, I stumbled upon this safari which finally was more within my budget and I was scared at first it would be a scam. The truth is that there are many companies with these prices in Nairobi and the tour they offer is really good, not a luxury one but who cares in the end if the places you’re staying are good, the food you’re eating is fine, you see the animals and all. So definitely would recommend.