Inspired Budget Safaris
- Located In:
- Size:
- 1-5 employees (Founded in 2010)
- Tour Types:
- Custom budget & mid-range tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $150 to $300 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
ES
Email Nacho | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
They cannot be trusted
I simply made the necessary transfers. I was told via WhatsApp that I could cancel it for free up to a month in advance. I tried to cancel, but they never replied. PLEASE, do not pay attention to the positive reviews; I imagine they are fake.
Email Lestraw | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Please read all reviews carefully
I made contact with this company in July 2026 to book a dream African holiday. Reviews seemed pretty good but first alarm bell was when Lina sent the quote and itinerary and the description in the daily itinerary didn’t match the location. They had probably used AI to create the document. Then on further research I found they weren’t accredited via Kenya lead tourism body. I them messaged an accommodation provider who hadn’t heard of them. I just today thought I’d recheck the reviews and I have been vindicated by some horrific recent experiences from poor travellers! BEWARE!
Email Carolina | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
DO NOT PAY THIS COMPANY – They have kept my deposit despite repeated refund promises
DO NOT PAY INSPIRED BUDGET SAFARIS ANY MONEY!
I paid Inspired Budget Safaris a deposit in May 2026 for a private family safari for six people.
Our original agreement was clear: 30% deposit to secure the booking, with the remaining 70% payable at their Nairobi office before the safari.
After receiving my deposit, however, they began pressuring me to send further payments in advance, telling me that the hotels were requesting additional money and that there was a risk that our accommodation reservations could be lost if further payments were not made.
This was completely different from the payment terms originally agreed and made me increasingly uncomfortable. I therefore cancelled the booking.
Lina Margaret subsequently agreed in writing to refund the full deposit. They have not paid.
What is even more alarming is that, since I paid them, numerous extremely serious reviews from other customers have appeared reporting very similar experiences, including pressure for additional payments, cancelled or interrupted safaris and promised refunds that have not been received. SafariBookings itself now displays a warning stating that it has received “severe complaints from clients about Inspired Budget Safaris.”
I am also extremely concerned that the proposal they provided before I paid expressly stated “We are KATO bonded.” Yet in Inspired Budget Safaris' own public response on this website dated 25 August 2026, the company stated that it was “currently in the process of applying for membership.”
I have now reported this matter to the relevant Kenyan tourism and regulatory authorities and am contacting SafariBookings, as well as the
As of 5 October 2026, Inspired Budget Safaris still has my money.
My advice to other travellers is simple: DO NOT SEND THIS COMPANY MONEY.
I will update this review if and when the full deposit is returned.
Email Jerry | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
I suggest you do not book with this company
I booked this safari back in February this year for myself and my wife. The reviews seemed good and they offered me a good itinerary. I contacted the company and they responded immediately. I paid the deposit and started saving from my pension. I later had a request to pay an instalment earlier than stated but it seemed reasonable. I became suspicious when they requested the remainder of the money earlier than stated but by then we had bought the air ticket so I paid up. What a mistake. Two days before we were due to fly I received an email telling me that the safari was cancelled due to "operational dificultious" and that a full refund would be issued within a week. It wasn't, I emailed them again with the same responce. Now when I email or phone I have no reply. I have tried to get my money back from the travel insurance but with no luck so far.
My bank claims that this is a scam but looking at the reviews it does seem as if the company started having problems in late August. I have informed the Competition Authority of Kenya and the Tourism Regulatory Authority (TRA) of Kenya. I would recommend that anyone considering booking a safari with them look elsewhere. I doubt that I will get any of my money back.