Northern Masailand Safaris
- Located In:
-
United States
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2008)
- Member Of:
- TATO & TALLA LICENCE (TOUR OPERATOR LICENCE)
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $150 to $430 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
Great safari, terrible administration
The experience was great and I loved the wildlife, the accommodations and our guide. However, the way that the company handles the business is incredibly unprofessional. First, after I wired a large amount of money to the company I got an email saying that the bank had changed routing number and to please wire the money again since "most likely" it would get rejected. After I went to the bank and emailed back I was told that the bank did get the money and that everything was all right but what if I had re wired the money like they asked me to?
After that, I repeatedly asked the owner to confirm that we would be picked up at a certain time on a certain day and he did confirm multiple times but when we arrived to the airport no one was waiting for us! I had to borrow a phone -and tip the guy who lent it- in order to get the a hold of the owner. He sent somebody right after but it does not fix how unsettling it was to arrive and not having someone ready (we were considering it might had been a scam.) When we got to Arusha the owner met us there and his excuse was that "since all their guests arrive at night he just assumed that we were going to do that as well." I confirmed with him multiple times about the time we wanted to be picked up and he just assumed???
We still rolled with it and didn't complain trying to make the vacation a fun time. Our guide was great, friendly, knowledgeable and seemed to be very into the wildlife, not just as a job but to have a true appreciation for the animals. So we headed up for a 7 day safari..., except it wasn't 7 days. We did not review our itinerary everyday because the company should know exactly what you paid for and should provide that for you but when on day 5 the guide told us that we would be ending the next day I went and checked the exact itinerary and it turns out that we were shorted 1 morning at the Serengeti. When I told the guide he said that he was going to talk to the owner and then came back saying that he would meet us in Arusha the next day to exchange ideas about what we could do to make up for that day but on the next day, of course, he did not show up. Instead he told our guide to offer solutions for us but the best one was a walking tour in Arusha which we did not care about. I paid to be at the Serengeti, not to walk in a city with nothing to see.
In the end we were fed up with the owner and his unprofessional attitude so we decided to just stay put at the hotel and lose that one day at the Serengeti except that the check-out was at 10 am and our flight was at 6 pm. Being that the owner wasn't there he couldn't handle the situation and our guide had to do his best. They allowed us to stay and use the pool but we had to give the room at 11 am which should not have happened. We should have been able to do late check-out but since the owner wasn't there to negotiate, we weren't.
We again said fine and just asked our guide to pass the information of our flight to Henry, the owner, to be picked up at 3 pm. But, you guessed it, the owner didn't show up to pick us up and the driver that he sent was over half an hour late! We requested to be picked up at a certain time because we have a plane to catch and things to do and they don't even respect that. Our driver was rude, acted like it was an inconvenience to drop us at the airport and was texting on his phone the whole ride.
You would think that after not being there to pick us up the company would do everything in their hands to make up for it but instead they were consistently careless. My wife and I had been in Africa for a while before the safari so we understand that things are not smooth and that people work differently there but when you pay the kind of money that we paid they should at least be there to pick you up.
Oh, and I asked for a receipt of payment at least 5 times which the owner kept saying "I'll send it tomorrow" but I'm still waiting. All I can think of is that he doesn't want to report the tour and pay taxes on it which I get but when your guest is constantly requesting it the company should take care of it.
Like I said, I loved the safari and the overall experience but I would absolutely not recommend this company solely based on the owner. And if you think that there are multiple great reviews that don't agree with mine, well, a lot of those come from Canada even if the listed country of the reviewer is a different one so I would not be surprised if they are fake reviews written to build up the company's profile.
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Email Chris | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing adventure!
My friends and I went on a 6 day safari. Henry was our customer service consultant. He did an amazing job helping us to decide what options were right for our group and arranging all of the details. Once we were on the road, our guide James was really incredible. Always upbeat and calm. He was really excited to see the animals too and had lots of interesting information to share about the various species of animals and birds. His driving skills really shone when we encountered some unseasonably strong rain that washed out a bridge on our route. He navigated the situation really smoothly, getting us across the river safely with minimal delay (a lot of jeeps were stuck in the mud, so this was no small feat!). Personally, I my favorite accommodations was Tanzania Ndutu Bush Camp. It was really remote and very special, and shockingly luxurious - I really wouldn't call it camping at all. We had an amazing trip because of Henry hard work. I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for an exciting and safe safari adventure with an experienced guide.
FR
Email Cyrille | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Terrible company ran by a liar called Henry
I can confirm what was written by all clients : Northern Masailand Safaris is ran by a crook named Henry who litteraly stole our money.
In short here is our story : we booked a trip including 1 week safari and 1 week stay in Zanzibar. We agreed on a defined plan (hotels / transport / catering).
We were requested to pay 30% upfront, and the rest upon arrival. 10 days before we start, I received a message that our plans were changed, with cancellation of plane transfer from Serengeti to Zanzibar, against a road trip with a stop in Arusha.
Then I received agressive message requesting the full payment, which I refused. We did not receive any hotel vouchers at that stage.
On arrival day, the hotel that was supposed to be our 1st night was different than the one planned. The next day (a Sunday) Henry wanted to get his cash, but again, without providing any hotel voucher.
This was the begining of a 15 days battle against a liar.
At every stage, the hotel was different than the one we agreed upon, and of course, at a lower category.
When arriving in Serengeti, the driver, genuinely nice and helpful, couldn't find the accomodation, as he did not receive instruction from Henry. Eventually, after having lost 4 hours, we found our deserted place - and of course not the one agreed upon.
We then had a strong argument with the liar to make sure our nice Zanzibar hotel was booked. I had to chase myself the hotel and put pressure on Henry to book it eventually.
Back in transit in Arusha, we agreed for an overall refund of 1000USD. Henry never paid his due !
Last but not least, when leaving Zanzibar, for our transit to the airport, Henry cancelled the taxi, and we had to pay for it ....
So, in a nutshell, stay away from that company, as this will lead you into much trouble. We were definitively lucky not to have any incident. Without a doubt this liar who have dropped us in the middle of the Savannah.
Reply from Northern Masailand Safaris
Posted on Nov 4, 2017You cannot make everyone happy. There is always going to be some person who feels wronged. It happens.
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Email Gary Lakin | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
To sum it up real simple, our trip was way beyond our expectations! Henry and Elias were the best y
It's our life time and memorable Safari in East Africa Tanzania.
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Email John Mckay | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Best Tanzania Safari local company
We had 9 days Tanzania Safari with Zanzibar Extension, Northern Masailand Safaris provide an excellent services, All accommodations was ewesome, we saw all the big five with an Amazing leopard try to catch an antelope, we highly recommend this company.
IN
Email Anil | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unforgettable and life changing experience ever
We had the most stunning outing this time! They were so kind and educated. We saw the most mind-blowing sights in Tanzania, including the scene and creatures!
His vehicles are clean, fantastic chefs, his staff is helpful & excellent guides. Highly recommended for others to experience too!
book with henry
Book with northern masailand safaris and you wont disappointed. They have a diverse itinerary, good clean vehicles, excellent guides, fantastic chefs. They also put us up in the most luxurious camps and hotels.
Email Shakira and Alex | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
An unforgetable adventure
My partner and I booked with northern masailand safari after reading some concerning reviews( the client was in the wrong there i noticed). We had given Henry very short notice and paid as per their terms and conditions and he delivered as promised and beyond. Northern masailand took care of all our accomodations, hotel and airport tranfers, meals, park fees and flight tickets, so we didnt have to worry about anything. Being greeted at the airport by Henry and Edward (tour guide), we started our one week safari in the northern regions( serengeti, ngorongoro, lake manyara). Edward was deeply knowledgeable about the animals, the environment and the tribes in the region. We saw all the big 5 within the first two day. I can confidently say Edward is the creme de la creme of tour guides as i witnessed other safari guides asking him for help more then a few times. My partner did get very sick and Edward made the safari was as smooth as possible for him and took him to the doctors. Henry even took the liberty of driving a few hours to give us a different car that didnt make loud noises to ensure my partner was comfortable. We also spent a few days in zanibar and dar es salaam in some amazing locations and hotels. Edward and Henry checked up on us to ensure my partner was fine and if we needed any help with anything. I would highly recommend Edward, Henry and the Northern Masailand Safaris to anyone, whether it's your first safari or 5th, as they look after all your needs so you can chill out and enjoy the adventure. They exceeded our expectations and gave us a memories for a lifetime. Thanks again Edward, Henry and Northern Masailand Safaris.
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Email Rick K. | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
A Terrific Trip!
This was my third trip to Africa and I found this company in a random search. I understand some of the hesitation from other reviewers on this site of this company, but it's important to remember that the you are not dealing with a company from the States. Henry and his team (Anna) are top-notch! When circumstances arise they are on them in an efficient and timely manner. African nationals are worried about today and may not necessarily hold your hand making sure you are 100% prepared for your upcoming experience. You need to be responsible and do some research as to the culture, governmental requirements, health issues, etc. Based on other tour companies I've used over the last 20 years, I would strongly recommend them if you keep these comments in mind. The facilities are mostly universal, so if you're spending $3000 or $10,000/person, you're probably going to the same lodges and will run into each other multiple times during your stay. Our guide James was highly knowledgeable and had a great work ethic and personality. I get the sense that Henry only works with those with a very strong customer service background. Just time your trip before or after the Great Migration (like I did last time, but not this time) or you will not get to experience the full magnificence of this beautiful and its wonderful people. I strongly recommend this company to those who want a trip of a lifetime!
NL
Email Liana Sapulette | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
It felt like we were finally home
An unforgettable experience
This was our first trip to Africa and we went in with very little knowledge of what to expect. Northern Masailand Safaris with Henry Stanley Kapolondo were extremely helpful throughout the process and also very patient as we considered our options and revised our plans a couple times. They quoted a price, gave us full details about what to expect, and answered all the questions we had before and after we chose them as our safari provider.
We do highly recommend Northern Masailand Safaris with Henry as the best local guided safari be chosen.
We are looking forward to the next visit!