Olpopongi - Maasai Cultural Village & Museum
Olpopongi - Maasai Cultural Village & Museum
Olpopongi - Maasai Cultural Village & Museum
4.5
About
Welcome to "Olpopongi" Maasai Cultural Village & Museum - the first authentic Maasai Boma with Maasai-Museum & overnight facilities in Tanzania. "Olpopongi" provides a unique Maasai & Wildlife experience in the West-Kilimanjaro Maasailand; Just 74 km from Moshi and 85 km from Arusha. Our aim is YOU to share the authentic Maasai life & culture in a 100% traditional built village (Boma) with a unique museum, rather than taking tourists to private Maasai-Villages and destroy the Maasai native homes, behaviors and environment. Our Eco-Tourism Tours do provide the maximum respect to the Maasai tribe and a maximum education & excitement to our valuable clients.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
95 reviews
Excellent
66
Very good
17
Average
6
Poor
6
Terrible
0
ELIE O
14 contributions
Aug 2022 • Couples
One of the most striking, beautiful and genuine experience in Tanzania ! We stayed 24 hours, one night, which enabled to better understand and dive in the Maasai culture. The two guides, Kimani and Fredi, are so kind and interestind! The cooker Isaya is also fantastic. What a memorable time with all the community
Written 17 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SelmaKamm
Tanzania86 contributions
Sept 2011
What a great weekend we had at Olpopongi! When we arrived they welcomed us with a real Maasai Dance. After that we had a great tour through the Maasai museum - this sounds a little touristy but what a nice way to learn more about this famous tribe of Tanzania. The Maasai explains everything about their culture and you can ask as much as you want without feeling embarrassed, getting too close or being too much. A delicious lunch was prepared followed by a bush walk where we learned about trees and plants and how the Maasai use them as local medicines – very interesting! When we came back the BBQ was set up already, the campfire was burning and we had a amazing evening around the fire under the stars. What a beautiful country Tanzania is! In the evening we went to our own Maasai hut for the night. Sleeping on a cow skin mattress is an unforgettable experience and was not even too bad actually :)
Waking up a refreshing shower – one of the best showers of my life: it’s an outside shower where you see beautiful landscape when showering, hot water and great pressure which is special in Africa :)
Even for children it is a amazing experience. We brought our 1 year old daughter and she was in her element.
A great and unforgettable weekend and definitely worth visiting for everyone who wants to know more about the Maasai!
Waking up a refreshing shower – one of the best showers of my life: it’s an outside shower where you see beautiful landscape when showering, hot water and great pressure which is special in Africa :)
Even for children it is a amazing experience. We brought our 1 year old daughter and she was in her element.
A great and unforgettable weekend and definitely worth visiting for everyone who wants to know more about the Maasai!
Written 19 September 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Moonlight Tours Expedition
Arusha, Tanzania60 contributions
Feb 2018 • Friends
We had very special time to have lesson in this area just for one day but we experienced a lot as we were free asking so many questions as much as we can through the assistance of our guide to translate so that to bring communication between us and maasai in fact
love their culture as they can leave you with something uniqueness go and see what the beautful
love their culture as they can leave you with something uniqueness go and see what the beautful
Written 10 February 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TravelGal239
United States75 contributions
Feb 2014 • Friends
When you are out on safari, you often see the colorful and semi-nomadic Maasai tribesmen working their cows, goats and sheep. The Maasai are working hard to maintain their traditions and culture in a global world.
I was worried that the Olpopongi village was going to be very touristy, but went anyway because I was curious to learn about their culture. I was pleasantly surprised.
You are greeted by several members singing a welcome song, and then are introduced to various aspects of their daily life by different senior warriors. You review their helpful museum with a guide, see the buildings, go into the bush to see how they use the plants. You also have tea with "Koko" (a 96 year old woman who handles medicine, is a mid-wife, etc) and some of her grandsons, who translate for her. Throughout the day, we were encouraged to ask any questions we had.
Our day included a tasty lunch with one of our guides.
At the end of your visit, you are shown some jewelry that the woman have made, which are available for purchase at reasonable prices.
They have a modern toilet facilities for guests.
Overnights in one of the huts are also available (I also saw a shower), but we just did the day trip. I see one reviewer said he was bored overnight, but you must remember that you are experiencing THEIR life, so there is no electricity, and therefore their won't be any lights or TV, etc. When it gets dark, you probably just go to bed. They did add mosquito nets for guest beds (which are traditional padding over calfskin on a wooden platform - probably very hard), and a solid rather than a traditional dirt floor.
I came away with a great respect for their traditions and culture and was grateful that they are using education of others to raise funds to pursue their goals of preserving the Maasai culture. I highly recommend adding this day trip to the beginning or end of your safari (see also my review of Tanzania-Experience who arranged for a driver and this day trip for us).
I was worried that the Olpopongi village was going to be very touristy, but went anyway because I was curious to learn about their culture. I was pleasantly surprised.
You are greeted by several members singing a welcome song, and then are introduced to various aspects of their daily life by different senior warriors. You review their helpful museum with a guide, see the buildings, go into the bush to see how they use the plants. You also have tea with "Koko" (a 96 year old woman who handles medicine, is a mid-wife, etc) and some of her grandsons, who translate for her. Throughout the day, we were encouraged to ask any questions we had.
Our day included a tasty lunch with one of our guides.
At the end of your visit, you are shown some jewelry that the woman have made, which are available for purchase at reasonable prices.
They have a modern toilet facilities for guests.
Overnights in one of the huts are also available (I also saw a shower), but we just did the day trip. I see one reviewer said he was bored overnight, but you must remember that you are experiencing THEIR life, so there is no electricity, and therefore their won't be any lights or TV, etc. When it gets dark, you probably just go to bed. They did add mosquito nets for guest beds (which are traditional padding over calfskin on a wooden platform - probably very hard), and a solid rather than a traditional dirt floor.
I came away with a great respect for their traditions and culture and was grateful that they are using education of others to raise funds to pursue their goals of preserving the Maasai culture. I highly recommend adding this day trip to the beginning or end of your safari (see also my review of Tanzania-Experience who arranged for a driver and this day trip for us).
Written 10 February 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Raluca_abuletz
Bucharest, Romania85 contributions
Mar 2015 • Couples
The only good part was knowing that the money we spent for this activity went directly to this Maasai community. But I would have been better just donating the money and saving the time for other activities.
Big disappointment for my husband and I.... We were looking for the real Maasai community experience or something close to this. We understand the reason for which they have built the Olpopongi and we respect the Maasai culture BUT.... This experience managed to make me stay away from Maasai people in the future. It's sad because it's exactly the opposite of what they intend to obtain with this project.
All in one the experience can be summarized as a very expensive package accommodation+food in village camp.
The services were good, staff there ok-ish, food ok but this is not what we went there for. We could have been much better with basic accommodation and basic food but with allot of cultural insights and much more authenticity.
Big disappointment for my husband and I.... We were looking for the real Maasai community experience or something close to this. We understand the reason for which they have built the Olpopongi and we respect the Maasai culture BUT.... This experience managed to make me stay away from Maasai people in the future. It's sad because it's exactly the opposite of what they intend to obtain with this project.
All in one the experience can be summarized as a very expensive package accommodation+food in village camp.
The services were good, staff there ok-ish, food ok but this is not what we went there for. We could have been much better with basic accommodation and basic food but with allot of cultural insights and much more authenticity.
Written 4 April 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Raluca_abuletz,
Thank you for your review and it is a pity that you didn’t have the experience you indented to have. Olpopongis aim is NOT to intrude in the real home of the Maasai but give the image of the life and the culture of the Maasai by the museum tour, the tea with the oldest mama in the area and the bush tour. To stay in the Massai hut we are trying to give you the feeling how it would be in a real Maasai hut but also give you the comfort for a good night sleep. Sometimes it can be hard to combine these two things.
We would be happy if you could contact us with more information about what cultural insights you missed which parts especially of the tour you didn’t like that we can work on these points.
We hope you enjoyed the rest of your stay in Tanzania.
Kind regards
The Olpopongi Team
Written 8 April 2015
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Yvette Camille ... B
Vancouver, WA30 contributions
Sept 2013 • Family
Not recommended. Although village interesting and Maasi male dance interesting it not worth $20 per person. Viewed one hut and then escorted to see/purchase trinkets.
Written 8 June 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Yvette Camille,
thank you for your review and we are sorry you had this experience. Our tours have usually a different price and include a tasty lunch, a tour through the museum, tea with the Massai grandma in her hut and an informative bushtour to learn about the plants and animals the Massai are surrounded by. We wonder if you might did not book via our office or with the registered tourcompanies. We hope you will visit us again and get the real Olpopongi-experience! Karibuni - Welcome!
Your Olpopongi-Team
Written 8 October 2014
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Veronika & Dominika
Girona, Spain8 contributions
Aug 2019
We visited Olpopongi in August 2019 and it was an unforgetable experience. We´ve visited many community based project in other countries and this project is one of the best planned and managed. Of course it is not 100% „authentic“ village as the people who were there don´t live there permanently (they come there from surrounding villages), but one can learn a lot about the culture, history, traditions, medicine herbs and their way of living. We were very lucky as we were only group there (11 people), so we´ve got full attention. We highly recommend do the tour and to stay overnight in traditional Massai houses, enjoying delicious dinner and have a nice time around the fire. All place was very well mainained, clean and food was delicious. Only one thing would need some adjustment and that´s accessoires. The prices were a bit higher and quality lower compare to other shops in Tanzania. Some accessoires were already damaged or quiet old. So improvement of quality is recommended. Last but not the least we really appreciate that people from Olpopongi were not chasing us for tips, as it happens in many places very often. They just mentioned once at the begining that there is a tip box, so if we feel like to leave some we are welcome. So no pressure.
Thank you Masaii community for taking care and sharing your culture with us. It was an amazing experience and we will never forget singing and laughing time around the fire. We would deffinetly do it again. Worth to visit and it was one of the best experiences in community based tourism in Tanzania.
Thank you Masaii community for taking care and sharing your culture with us. It was an amazing experience and we will never forget singing and laughing time around the fire. We would deffinetly do it again. Worth to visit and it was one of the best experiences in community based tourism in Tanzania.
Written 27 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chris H
Whitefield, ME22 contributions
Aug 2019
This is a cultural education center designed for tourists. It was clean, the food very good and Maasai very open and friendly. One of our participants would not stay in the hut - so this is a caution to others.
You could likely get the same information from visiting other Maasai botas on the way to Serengeti - and much cheaper.
You could likely get the same information from visiting other Maasai botas on the way to Serengeti - and much cheaper.
Written 5 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sandra F
Brazil696 contributions
Jul 2019
The village gave us an interesting insight into the Maasai culture and we learned how they use the local plants to help with everything from tooth brushing to disease. The museum is small but very interesting. We visited the houses and had lunch there.
Written 4 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anthony Soto
2 contributions
Aug 2019
I originally planned to stay at the Osiligilai Maasai Lodge for one night but since i fell in love with the people and the experience so much, I extended may stay for an additional day and night. William, the co-director of the lodge, was by far one of the nicest most hospitable hosts I've ever encountered. I plan on coming back with family & friends in the future. Words cannot express how happy i am with the experience.
Written 29 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I will be in Moshi for 3 days before starting our trek and 1 day after the end and am looking at day trips
Written 25 December 2016
Hi, I am not sure if you need an answer on your statement, as no real question...?
Please clarify. Tom
Written 2 January 2017
Hello,
I have a free day in Moshi before climbing Kilimanjaro, and would like to visit Olpopongi Village.
I dont want a private tour, Does anybody know a Tour Operator, where I could join a group ?
Written 29 September 2016
Can we just call in to this village for an hour or so if we have time, or do we have to pre book
Written 5 August 2016
Do you want to visit for just one hour? Because honestly, it is a place you have to spend a night at to be able to enjoy.
Written 11 August 2016
I gave Olpopongi a "3" rating when if should have been a "4". I do wish that Tripadvisor had a rating between "average" and "very good".
Written 21 January 2015
Agree. Not sure if that is a question being asked or a statement being made!
Written 24 January 2015
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