Kenya safaris by a 4×4 land cruiser jeep
Tall Masai Safari
- Located In:
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2021)
- Tour Types:
- Custom budget tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $25 to $350 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
NL
Email Yonah Lekkerkerker | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Very stressful safari experience; we felt scammed!
We booked a 5-day midrange safari tour. We had a horrible experience with Benson. The night before the start of the tour we received a message of Benson if we could pay 55 dollars extra for the hotel because it had become more expensive. Of course, we would not pay extra as this was not stated in the quote, but Benson was persistent and kept messaging us for an hour straight. Then the next thing came up; the visit to the Masai village. The quote stated that this was included, but Benson called our driver that this was not the case. We sent a screenshot of the quote to Benson, but he did not agree with this. Benson kept calling us and the driver and even screamed a couple of times. This is insane! He told us that he already fixed the problem with the extra charge of the hotel, so now we had to fix this. This was very unreasonable because he caused these problems, not us! Of course, we did not pay for this as it was included. Now the third problem occurred. Before the safari, we agreed to pay extra to get another hotel; instead of the Citymax hotel we wanted to stay at the Waterbuck hotel. This was confirmed multiple times by e-mail and WhatsApp. The extra charge was paid on the first day of the safari. Our driver told us he would take us to the Citymax hotel, but we explained and showed him we paid extra to go to the Waterbuck hotel. The driver understood it, and called Benson. Benson said it was not true; we did not pay extra and we did not agree to go to the Waterbuck hotel. We discussed it for 3 hours!! We showed him multiple times the emails and WhatsApp, but he did not want to help. Finally, he wanted to pay back the dollars we paid extra, but he wanted to reimburse us in shillings which which didn't equal the amount we paid. Another hour of discussing went by and he finally paid us back. It was a very stressful experience for us. Something you do not want during your holiday. Benson did everything he could to screw us over. Fortunately, we had proof of everything, but this was the worst experience ever. I would not recommend booking with this agency!!
SE
Email Volker | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Non-delivery and bad delivery of promised service
I really cannot recommend this company Tall Masai. My pickup at the airport for which I paid extra was 20 min. too late. My free pick-up from the hotel which was included in the price was 40 min. too late, because they combined it with another paid airport pickup. Be very careful which pick-ups are included in the price and quote they offer.
However, free pick-up from the hotel was included in the quote of Tall Masai, but suddenly Bensson wanted extra money for this.
I selected Tall Masai for an 8 days tour because Bensson indicated in the quote that safari start at 6.30 in the morning. On the first morning, they did not get one customer placed in another accommodation into the care in time, thus, the safari in Masai Mara started at 7.00. Then, the 2WD car got stuck in a mud-hole and we were lucky that there was another car around to pull us out. On the second day at 15.30 the second car broke, they managed to continue to drive slowly on the straight way back to the camp reaching already there around 5pm while the parks closes at 6.30 (and the walki-talki was turned off, thus, not hearing where interesting animals could be to drive to). Hence, the “late afternoon/early evening game drive was no real one” because no walki-talki was used and because they indicated if we stop we might not be able to continue. Thus, we hardly dare to even asked them to drive slower as they already did for taking photos.
The worst thing was in Amboseli where the (fourth or fifth) driver I had indicated already in the evening that the game drive the next morning starts at 8.30 (despite the agreement mentioned above to start at 6.30). Bensson did not intervene despite being reminded about the contract but tried afterward to justify this very late start with some Amboseli entrance fee issues, but he apparently does not understand what it means to agree on terms. But he just promises and then does not deliver.
They also work together with a hotel in Naivasha called Leisure Apex Resort. When I need to get medicine with a five-minute one way car ride, the receptionist told me that he called a driver who does it for 500 Kenyan Shillings in total for both ways. But then he informed me that he has to inform his manager "Sylvia" about this. And afterwards he suddenly informed me that the trip now costs 1000 Kenyan Shillings .... . And when that driver arrived he immediately also claimed 1000 Kenyan Shillings. Guess what happened.... . I cannot recommend to stay there. Even not jam or honey was provided, also not upon request, for the breakfast bread with butter.
Apparently, Tall Masai works together with a bunch of other companies, and you feel like cars are filled up every day newly just to maximize profit. For example, People who have seen for six days Zebras are suddenly confronted with one person of a one-day safari who's main goal it is to find a Zebra (not that easy in our case in Amboseli). Customers in the same van who contracted with one of the other companies (Karibu) said that they were promised that there would be only 6 people in the car during their 7-days tour but occasionally we were 9 people in the car.
I took the 8 days tour with two full days Massai Mara at the beginning. I ended up having the same route two times (main road via the viewing point to Mara River and back). They just put me consecutively on two vans which start in the Mara.
On the vans: they provide 2WD vans also during the rather rainy and muddy season in April. While you get what you pay, it is rather inappropriate in my opinion to offer at all 2WD cars in this weather conditions. And then get stuck in the mud in the first morning and the breaking down of the van on the second day just supports this opinion. In general, I got the impression that 2WD vans tend to stay mainly on the main roads, which reduces the covering range of the safari.
I asked for a financial compensation proposal after the journey, and since then I have not heard for several days from Bensson/Tall Masai.
As mentioned, I really cannot recommend Tall Masai safari, or you should try to at least not to pay the full amount.
I do not understand how a company like Tall Masai with such an opinion about an agreement can be further listed on this webpage.
QA
Email REZA | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Bad Driver makes a tour disaster
we had 3 days safari for Massai Marra. Our driver was an old man that has no eager to stop for any good view, any animal or even enough explanation about any things. He just liked to drive whole day! First day and the last day will be just road driving and the fact is only the middle day is a real SAFARI. The funniest part is that at the end of the trip, he asked tip from all of us, not as a request, but as an order to pay! I dont want to say his name and better this company survey and monitor the drivers and tour guides.
4 days MM and Nakuru with Navasha
Safari was good itself, not the organisation. Mr. Benson didn't keep promise to side boat tour in Naivasha, even after I notified few times in advance, and only offered to pay taxi for myself back to Nairobi if to go so I had to resign. At the arrival he let me wait over an hour abandoned in a car park in Nairobi without transport until I got my own.
The driver failed in critical interaction with local authorities and after bribing them he demanded money from me to pay all to him. Very disappointing customer care
ES
Email Ari | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
All good
He has complied with everything contracted. We would have liked the guide to explain information to us during the safari. The meals are repeated every day, but the accommodations were great. To repeat.
US
Email Kc | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Disorganized
Ok I’m going to be completely honest and be the review that I wish I would’ve seen, because this would’ve led me to book differently. Let me start by saying KENYA IS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL! There were moments where I wanted to cry tears of joy from what I was experiencing and pinch myself because the beauty there is unmatched. Now for Tall Masai as a company, they were completely disorganized. To begin my pickup time was severely miscommunicated by Benson. He messaged me saying my pickup time was 6pm and actually ended up being 6am! MAJORRR difference as I almost booked an extra hotel night to accommodate for the late pick up. So I had to rush and pack all my items last min due to this major error. Then I get in the van and I’m requested to pay the remainder (being that you only pay half prior to booking) in USD. I travel with the country’s currency (Kenyan Shilling) never with usd because it’s not smart. My driver tells me Ben should’ve told you to have usd but he didn’t! So we call and I ended up going back and forth until I was allowed to pay online in which Ben asked me to pay MORE to accommodate for the exchange rate. That was completely unfair and disrespectful. These two errors happened within 40mins of being picked up so I was already super annoyed. All I received was a weak apology from Ben and nothing else. Once the safaris started because we were super delayed things got a little better.. until it was lunch time. The lunch was absolutely horrible and not safe. The meat was not properly refrigerated and the fruit was not fresh. Honestly the food at all the accommodations was pretty bad except Nyati, which was decent. Citymax hotel was disgusting and I would’ve rather slept outside. Please bring a bunch of snacks because the food offered is the worse I’ve experienced in my life. The game drivers were shady and didn’t speak much which was weird. For some of us this is a once in a lifetime experience so engage and explain to us what we’re seeing…. Some did but a lot didn’t and drove with no purpose. However the people I’ve met and the locals, Masai tribe, the wild life was absolutely perfect. If it wasn’t for me making the best out of it and being in nature I would’ve easily gave this company a 1 or 2 star. Yes I understand this is marketed as a budget tour,however no one should be fed old bread and cucumber and sleep in vermin infested hotels for $600 + dollars. NO ONE! this is greedy and not humane. To wrap this up look into higher priced options with a different company if you want to have a full great experience. I would not recommend Tall Masai at all sadly. Hopefully they can take this review as constructive criticism as this was my true raw experience.
US
Email Johns | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
the scenery was beautiful, but the overall experience was average
We joined a sharing tour of mid-range accommodation for 6 days safari to Masai Mara, Naruku, and Amboseli. The safari was fun, but it was below expectation.
Highlights:
1. Before the day of safari, they picked us up at Nairobi airport on time, and helped us to buy the SIM card outside the airport.
2. During the days in game drive, the guide tried his best to find more animals. We saw the big five in different parks.
3. Jambo Mara lodge for the first and second nights was pretty good and satisfying.
Lowlights:
1. At the first day of safari, they asked us to wait for the pick up form hotel at 6:30am, but we waited until 7:30am. During the waiting time, no one told us where the driver was.
2. Before we booked the tour, the agent said 5 to 6 people sharing a car each and person getting a window seat, but we were 8 people in a minivan and some of us should be seated at the middle seat.
3. During the days, we got 1L of drinking water a day for each person, but sometimes only 500ml of water. (There’s no drinking water in the camp, so we didn’t have enough water for some days)
4. About the food. At the third night in Naruku, the dinner in the hotel gave each person only 3-4 pieces of meet and little vegetables. At the fourth night in the camp, the food of the restaurant had run out in 10 minutes after they served it. In addition, we had the same lunch boxes for 4 days. (At the third day of lunch, we had the same lunch box, but who booked for budget tour had a buffet inside the rest area.)
5. The most disappointing thing is the accommodation.
*(1) At the third night in Naruku, the light bulb burned in the first room we stayed, and there were no water in the sink in the second room.
*(2) At the forth and fifth nights in Amboseli, it was a nightmare. There was more than 50 mosquitoes in the room, and even like 10 mosquitoes in the tent. We asked for the help to the staff and the travel agent, but no one was trying to solve the issue for two days. The camp shut down the electricity after 22:30pm, but no one informed us about it. There was no hot water or even warm water in the room for showers. There was almost no signal in the area, and the wifi of the camp was not working at all. We saw someone was complaining about the camp on Google Maps, but everything is still the same.
6. At the last day, the driver dropped us off at the Namanga border around 10am, but we wait until 13:00pm for the bus to Arusha. During the time we were in the border, the agent who helped us to pass the checkpoint asked us to give him more money to buy the SIM card for us, and even took our lunch box with him to ask for additional tips.
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Email Bisu | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Safari in Kenya NP
We, a group of 8 family member went for 12 days (8 nights at National parks, 3 nights at Nairobi) with Tall Masai safari. Benson, the director of Tall Masai safari was with us most of the time including airport transfers upon arrival to Nairobi and return. It was little longer safari than average (Tsavo east and west, Amboseli, lake Naivasha, lake Nakuru, and Masai mara national parks), Benson was very helpful to customize our trip and booking hotels of our choice. The trip was went very well as planned—— during middle of our safari, Benson realized that the Land Cruiser we are riding last 4 days might not in good shape—— he immediately decided to replace the Jeep and brought a another car from Nairobi overnight without disrupting out safari. Benson, Erick, and Martin —-all are very sincere, respectful and put their best effort to provide us with great, once in a life time Kenya Jungle Safari expriences.
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Email Sanjukta | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Great Safari experience without breaking the bank!
Benson communicated with us from the very beginning and accompanied us during most of the trip. He picked us and dropped us off to and from the airport. We had good driver but the jeep had issues. Benson realized this problem and arranged for new driver and jeep. We went on game drives, twice a day. At Masai Mara we spent two whole days at the Mara with a picnic lunch. It was definitely worth it since we were able to see the amazing migration of the wild beasts. We also saw leopards, lions, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, hyenas, and even ostriches. He made arrangements for the hot air balloon ride which was simply an awesome experience! . Other than a small miscommunication, the trip was well organized and worth every penny! I recommend Tall Masai Safari for your trip and suggest to openly communicate with Benson your concerns and he’ll make every effort to meet your expectations. Great value for your money!
LK
Email Sharon D | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Good Budget Tour
This was my first time in Kenya, hence didn't knowvwhat to expect. But I
nenjoyed this tour. The accommodation and food were basic but I enjoyed it. Loved the Glamp Tents and the food was tasty.
The safari driver cum guide did hos best to show us as many animals as possible and I was glad to see the lions.
His radio had a technical issue towards the end and that was a downer although he tried his best to compensate for this.
We also did the Nasai village tour which we thought was very strange and didn't feel real but it was ok.
Special thank you to Benson for assisting me and my friend when we came back to Nairobi and riots had broken out. We couldn't go to the hotel we had booked previously and Benson very kindly helped us book another hotel in a safe area and transported us there safely.
Thank you Benson really appreciate you going out of your way to ensure we were safe.
Overall a good tour and I recommend this budget tour.