Experience the Wildlife remains at Mara Masai
Ancient Wild Safaris
- Located In:
-
India
- Size:
- 1-5 employees (Founded in 2000)
- Tour Types:
- Customizable private tours and fixed group tours
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $100 to $480 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
BE
Email Britta, Antwerp - Belgium | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Bona fide organisation with good knowledge of what foreign tourists expect (quotation, safari, etc)
This company clearly has experience in dealing with foreign tourists asking all kinds of questions and requesting a detailed programme with segmented prices.
Good communication and also once in Kenya they are easily reachable (they actually return your call, not all companies do!) and they tend to any additional enquiry you might have.
We booked a car and safari driver for 4 days/ 3 nights (stayed in Tawi Lodge and Acacia Camps which we booked ourselves), the driver Mr Joseph proved a safe and careful driver who has good knowledge of his country and the animals in general, he's good company without being the pushy kind.
The car, a typical safari minivan, was in good condition and was cleaned every evening.
Ancient Wild Safaris profiles itself as a budget operator but I find they're perfectly able to handle more upmarket tours as well, just clearly inform them what your standards are and what you expect from the trip.
My next safari will be booked again via Ancient Wild Safaris and yes I recommend them to friends and family.
Thank you Michael for making our 1st trip to Kenya a memorable one!
Email alfredo | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very nice experience
The tour was well organized. Although it was flexible in relation to what was originally planned all the visits to the parks were done. Driver guides were very nice and always ready to explain and do anything we needed. They were always ready to search the animals we wanted to sea, and were always in communications with the organizers of the tour. They know very well the parks and the local communities. Lodges and tented camps were as expected; some budget, and some luxury, as well as the food.
We could see lots of animals, and the drivers always knew how to get close to them trying not the disturb them.
There is a nice way to see the geography of the SW part of Kenya and visit the parks in one week. Very nice place and experience. Thanks Michael, Joseph and Peter.
IN
Email Radeesh | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
An experience unlike any other
We did this trip with out much planning and was so glad that we went with most of the recommendations of ancient wild safari. They are extremely helpful and very forthcoming with relevant information about each place. The only think i'm looking forward to in the next trip is the vehicle upgrade as promised ;)
RU
Email Boris | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Hell's Gate trip
Trip was almost perfect. Mike (manager, I suppose) respond quickly at all time (pre-booking, appointment, etc.) and follow any my demands. Paul (driver) made his best during trip - comfort and safe driving, detailed explanation through whole journey. But I have one disappointed thing - in itinerary written what boat ride is inclusive - that is incorrect, they charge USD50 for this option.
AT
Email Irene Strolz | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Lake Bogorio to Lake Naivasha
It was my first Safari with AWS, the second with Joseph. All and everything was exactly as planed, dreamed of. (well, the Flamingos went to Tanzania while we were at Lake Bagorio ..:-)) Joseph is the most relyable Driver with knowledge of animals, culture, history. This because I always will contact AWS as soon as I will plan my next trip to Kenya or any neighbourhood. Thank you guyes, you did a very good Job at creating your own tour Office!!! I will recommand you to everybody with very best consience - friendlyness, Fairness, respect - there never was a tiny doubt. Thank you for making trust you all the way. Thank you so much for being there, Joseph.
BR
Email Leonardo | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing experience
Great tour, nice food and great camping, near masai mara tribe.
The tour company and guides were very professional, courteous and had a very positive atour use.
The tour lived up to and exceeded my expectations. Our tour guides in Kenya and Tanzania made our trip very enjoyable. We were out on the road early and since all the goddess communicate with each other, we never had an issue finding wildlife. We saw the big 5 within 2 days and got up close and personal. The accommodations were surprisingly good. The only thing that didn't live up to expectations was the food. Not inedible but certainly not that enjoyable. Otherwise the trucks were fine and the communication with this company was exceptional. They were very responsive and accommodating.
An experience of a lifetime
Communication and service was prompt and Mike answered any questions or requests. Our Kenya tour experience was amazing.
Very basic information was given about arrangements to transfer into Tanzania and we often felt we did not know what was going on. Then on arrival in Arusha our itinerary was changed last minute by the contact in Tanzania (Abraham) this should have been addressed at the time of originally booking. Abraham stated that the time frame was not sufficient to do the tour we had booked. I feel that the change was also more convenient from Abrahams point of view.
However, our safari tours overall were wonderful and full of animals and unique experiences.
ES
Email Nieves | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A reliable company
We were on a safari trip for our honeymoon with Ancient Wild Safaris at the beginning of July. We have to say that Mike was really helpful from the beginning. We changed the itinerary several times until it was perfect for us and he was very understanding and gave us good advice.
Our guide, Charles, is a really good man with a really nice character. He took care of everything during the trip so we didn't find any trouble. He explained us the animals behaviour and answered all our questions happily.
Talking about accommodation, the tented camps and hotels were good enough for us (similar to a 2-3 star hotel in Spain). If you are looking for luxury lodgings you should request it.
In our opinion, Ancient Wild Safaris is a reliable company and we highly recommend it.
NO
Email Svenn | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A good budget option, but with some small flaws that could easily be avoided.
Made some great memories.
On the first days we went to Masai Mara and saw the great migration. I think we must have seen a million wildebest, and some of them crossed the mara river. We also saw lions, elephants, leopard, buffalos, cheetas, giraffe, sebras, ostriches, hippos, crocodiles, antilopes, warthogs and more.
On day three we went to Lake Naivasha for a boat ride. It was very beautiful, and well worth it. Not so many animals, but we saw hippos, sebras, wildebeest, and many birds. The main reason for going is the beauty of it.
On day four we went for a drive around lake Nakuru. Also a beatiful lake. The lake is famous for its massive number of flamingos, but unfortunately there was not many this time. However we saw rhinos, lions, baboons, sebras, giraffes, warthogs, antilopes, wildebeest, and more.
On day five we went to Devils Gate. We rentet bicycles and rode them through part of the national park with a guide. This was fantastic. On the bikes we past by many animals, and felt closer to them than in the safari car. We rode by gjiraffes, warthogs, buffalos, antilopes, baboons and sebras. In the end of the bike tour we went in to Hells gate canyon, that was very beautiful. The canyon is very narrow some places, and has natural hotsprings.
On day six and seven we was at Amboseli. This is maybe the best place to see elephants in the entire world, and is very scenic because of the dramatic view of mt Kilimanjaro. Here we saw more than hundred elephants, and the elephants was not so shy of humans, as many other places. This is a very beautiful place. We also saw some hyenas, sebras, gjiraffes, antilopes, hippos, baboons and more.
The food in general was ok. At the hotels and camps it was ok or even good, but we ate three times at the safari junction where the food was terrible. The accomodation, although budget was better than expected.
Miti Mingi Eco Camp in Masai Mara was right by the parks gate and rustic. The tents was quite big and had working hot shower, but no electricity. Some of the bedsheets should be thrown away. But overall a good camp with a very genuine safari feeling. The food was ok. We had two nights here.
Hotel Citymax in Nakuru was a nice and clean hotel with good food. We had two nights here.
Taphe Guest house in Naivasha was a nice quiet place. Friendly area, 15 minutes walk from town. However we did have a big outbreak of mold in our room. The food here was the best on the trip. We had one night here.
Kimana camp Amboseli was the best of the two camps. We stayed in a nice cabin with electricity and hot shower. The food was good, and both the cabin and restaurant had a nice view of mt Kilimanjaro.
The safari car was a rebuildt Hiace. The roof was liftet when on safari.
What could be better?
-The driving, especially the last 100km towards Masai Mara and in Masai Mara was terrifying. But to be fair, some of the people in our group did enjoy the ride.
-The day we where going to check in at Naivash we drove past Naivasha for 45 minutes, to eat at a restaurant at the safari junction. Everyone agreed that this place had terrible food, so why drive 2*45 minutes to eat here.
-Information was some times inaccurate. We where informed that biking in Hells gate would cost extra. The price given was the renting of the bike. But when we arrived we realized that in addition we had to pay to be allowed to bike in the park. And we also had to pay a bike guide.
The comunication was ok, but the information was not always accurate.
In Nairobi, Ancient Wild Safaris booked a table for us at Carnivore restaurant. We where told we had to pay in usd and that the price of 100 usd includet food and non alcoholic beverages. I also asked if this includet a provison for the company, or if this was the price the company had to pay the restaurant. I was told that this was the price the company had to pay the restaurant, so we decided to give something extra to the company for arranging it. Especially since it seems like it is a one person company. Arriving at the restaurant we found out that the price was lower, we did not have to pay in usd, and it did not include non-alcoholic beverages. We think it is very reasonable that the company takes a fee for arranging things like this, but doing it like this was not ok.