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
KR
Email PARK | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Not recommendable
It occurs to me quite clear that this travel agency has very little inflence to the guide, who normally works as a freelancer. Don't fully believe agency's word, once payment is being made and hit the road, only person you could argue or meet is a guide whose working relationship with agency is quite limited.
We've got confirmations of many things from this agency before we made a reservation, only few were true. Every day, guide were showed-up late, travelers were being instructed to take different vans every day or every trip, usually up to 7~9 people on one van which made people quite cramped.
Drinking water were provided, as promised, but at first day for 3~4 days, therefore every trip and acommodation we heaved heavy weight luggages along with given bottle of waters.
At Masaimara, accommodation were overbooked and moved to another camp which provide no water and no electricity inside the tented camp. Notwithstanding, no one felt sorry about it although some of the traveller contended heavily.
Guide was less likely acting as a guide but more like a boss or merely driver. Almost zero explanation was given regarding the schedule.
Unnecessary detour or idle time happened due to the fact that groups all had different itenery.
Kenya itself was amazingly nice place but my trip was degraded by all abovementioned facts.
It might be impoved if you select private tour.
Reply from Ancient Wild Safaris
Posted on Sep 20, 2016Mr. Park, Hey from Nairobi Kenya. Hope the rest Maverick are fine. We have gone through your feedback about the experience you had in Kenya during your 6 days trip. We accept the mistake for the trip and apologize for this. Actually from the point of view you had booked the tour 3 persons. It is confirmed that you had 1 driver guide Joseph whom you used for the rest 6 days and there was no change of vehicle you did, The season was very busy and talking on behalf of other tourists from different agencies is giving us a lot of downfall. This because People sell various packages and upon agreement has to a bid with it. Please confirm that you had Joseph as your guide and the car you used was 4* 4 safari van. If you check at the review posted on 8th Sep 2016 by Mr. Lukas, you can write to them since they did safari with same driver guide/ same vehicle.
We are sure 100% that those other travelers whom have used our services/our agency will prove to you right that our guide Joseph is not a Free lance guide sorry for this. It is because you met with lot of travelers whom you shared the experience together and their agencies could not meet clients satisfaction. You had the special request even before coming that you prefer to have one guide for the last 6 days trip which was fulfilled. You were about 7-9 in the car at Masai Mara which actually has daily departures and the rest part Nakuru and Amboseli were 4 persons only. This is something still to be mentioned since group tours do have a lot of challenges. Once you have confirmed the tour at times you get the last minute cancellation and nothing to do rather than making sure that the few clients you have must go on safari as agreed.
You did mentioned to us on the way to Amboseli about the few things on the same trip but for the sure reconfirm to us that your itinerary went smooth as agreed starting on 10th Sep Saturday at 9:00 am and ended on Thursday 15th direct at airport by 2:00pm for your early evening flight same guide Joseph.
If there was not enough information regarding the Flora and Fauna from your guide we shall look on that, very sorry to hear this. At sometimes when the expectations are too high kindly any time let us know about it for us to work extra hard to meet your need. We shall always value you all as our esteemed clients. Our main objective is to meet our people as clients and leave each other as friends for tomorrow business. Thanks for everything you remain great to us.
Kind Ancient Wild Team.
IN
Email Ashwin | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A wonderful holiday experience.
The precommunication and suggestion offered by ( Mike) was just great. He polite and patient as possible. We opted for budget safari trip and that what exactly we got. We did 3day Masai mara, 2day nakru $ navisha, 3 amboseli trip, eveything was arranged for including the daily bottle of water rations to airport pick up and drop off. We stuck to our plans. No extras. We had smooth and wonderful trip.
Masa mara is was definetly worth it.
Advise
Have clear itenanry
Communicate every single of your needs
Add no extras (implusive decision) from your itenary
Have smooth and wonderful trip
CA
Email Randy | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wonderful experience with Ancient Wild Safaris
My wife and I enjoyed a wonderful experience with Ancient Wild Safaris. I had been talking with Michael for several months before we arrived in Kenya asking him all sorts of questions. He was very prompt at replying back to me with all the answers to my questions. The itinerary provided to us was followed through completely to detail as provided . The only change made was a request made by myself which they accommodated . We were on a 7 day safaris that took us to Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivashu and to Aboseli park. We also used Ancient Wild Safaris to provide two days after our safari on day trips around Nairobi. All of the guides we had did a great job and we want to especially want to thank our guide Joseph who spent 5 1/2 days with us and was an awesome guide. I would highly recommend using Ancient Wild Safaris
IN
Email Basu | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wonderful Holiday in Kenya.
Mike and Joseph, we would like to thank you for the wonderful trip planned and executed by you in Masai Mara-Nakuru-Amboseli. Everything went according to plan and we were really delighted at this experience. We wish to come back again and travel with you.
Email Sanjay and Sree | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wonderful Safari Experience
We had an amazing trip with Ancient Wild Safaris. The 6 day trip included us driving around Masai Mara, Lake Naivasha, Lake Nakuru and Amboseli. Michael was very prompt in responding to all our queries prior to our travel. Our Safari Guide, Stanley, was really nice as he put up very well with our fun loving group! We asked Stanley to show us an animal, and he did; we wanted to capture a certain photograph and he helped us do it! He always understood what we were looking for and tried his best to get what we wanted. We were always informed about our day and stops in advance and there were no surprises. On the last day, Joseph took us to the Masai Market in Nairobi and the restaurant Carnivore for the experience (which I would recommend if you have the time). It was definitely an amazing experience with Ancient Safari! Thank you guys!
IT
Email Sergio | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Didn't get what I paid for!
I have booked a three days and two nights private safari to Amboseli National Park.
On our way to Amboseli the car broke down (I understand it happens). We waited for a taxi to take us to the park and then we finally joined a couple who was on a private safari and not so happy to have other people joining their safari.
For me it was my first safari and I ended up seeing a lot of wildlife and the car wasn't even stopping or explaining anything (it wasn't my safari of course).
The next day I had my own plan but since I had no car and no guide (that I very much paid for). I joined the same couple again and I had to comply with their plan. At 8am on the second day I returned to the hotel after a morning drive and until 5pm I had nothing to do! This day I wanted to do a full day game drive but again, no car and no guide and most of all no words from Michael. He didn't try to call me even once (despite he had my kenyan number or he could have contacted the hotel). I wasted a whole day and no apologies were presented nor different activities were planned for me. Simply nothing, just abandoned.
At 5pm Joseph the guide finally arrives after fixing the car and took me on a game drive (1 hour). The drive was awful as we only had 1 hour before the park closed. So we couldn't go deep inside the park.
On our last day we had finally one proper game drive (one out of the 4 we paid for).
Again we contacted Michael and tried to get him to meet us in Nairobi. He agreed and then once in nairobi, of course he was not available.
He apologized over the phone but I wanted a partial refund. I paid a very expensive private safari with a private guide. I didn't get what I paid for at all and then he tried to talk about religion and making excuses.
They don't don't how to deal with customers and I practically paid $540 for a 3 days private safari with 4 game drives (I got one real game drive). As my first safari experience it was awful and it was disrespectful to be treated this way.
Reply from Ancient Wild Safaris
Posted on Dec 23, 2016Mr. Dorian and Sergio, Greetings and Merry X-mass from Kenya! Thanks for your feedback regarding your 3 days trip to Amboseli with us in November. It is always very good to express yourself and honest feeling about the services your had with us. To start with you booked with us 5 days with us on Tanzania side Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Lake Manyara and Tarangire on group tour + 3 days Amboseli Kibo safari camp private for 2 persons. Ok the positive side of the trip was that we did arranged your pick up from Kilimanjaro airport on 11th November to hotel Mvuli at 20:50hrs. Then you did the first 5 good days with our partner company with no confusion at all under our rules and terms.
On 17th morning we, especially Mike arranged well your transfer from Hotel to the boarder to meet Sergio and Joseph. Negative side of the trip: We did and again apologized for the breakdown of the safari vehicle few Kms from the boarder. A day before the trip we did met with Sergio at the Hotel to brief him about the safari since he had no ideal which company is taking him on safari since all arrangement was done by you. Joseph our guide arrived on time at the hotel early 17th and picked up Sergio by 7:00 am to make sure that you meet together on time at the boarder. All this happened. Until the time when the car broke down on your way to Amboseli. At least i (Mike) had no your personal contact since all communications are done through the guide to let the office know of anything. The time we were informed that the car already broke down the first thing we did was to get the quick solution on how you get to the park for better rescue.
At the point where the clients are in problems at the middle of the bush the first thing is to look for any safest way, that is why Joseph was to rely with the very few companies that used the same route which is not always busy to give rescue only that were going to the other directions. It is very true you had booked the private tour and once we realized that were only about 4 hours time before the park close we had to look for the small car from Namanga boarder to transfer you to Michenani gate and then we relied with already a company that we had the contract with to come and get you from the game to proceed to Kibo safari camp.
The few companies at Amboseli park we only requested the car that had the 2 persons only so that you have space too for game drives. We did this because there was no enough time to send another car from Nairobi to the place of breakdown since things would be tough and not recommendable to drive during the night. Always for those whom have visited Amboseli knows that always bad network connection that is why Joseph communication to you was easy as Mike could do due to close network from Namanga to Amboseli.
We used the same car to offer you morning game drive which was done on time and very necessary and by 9:00 am you were taken back to the Lodge where you were given the Masai people to give you a walk and have lunch then to wait for third game drive from 4:00pm but Joseph picked you 1 hour late this was as per the final agreed itinerary. You already mentioned that you did booked the full day game drive the second day, Kindly see the request you made on August 18th at 11:31 pm
"Dorian Statom <
Aug 18
to Ancient
Hi Mike,
Thanks for your patience in answering all my questions. Just for clarity, let me state below what I would like for the game drives/Amboseli private safari.
Day 1 - pick up from border, drive thru Amboseli to Kibo Camp (we can view some game along the way), arrive at Kibo Safari Camp for lunch and to relax, late afternoon (4pm) game drive, overnight at Kibo Camp.
Day 2 - early morning game drive, lunch at Kibo Camp, visit Masai in early afternoon, late afternoon (4pm) game drive, overnight at Kibo Camp.
Day 3 - morning game drive, drive to Nairobi
Let me know if this works."
As per the above yes we failed the first day to car breakdown and this was due to "FORCE MAJOUR"
The second day we did as per the above only 1 hour late between 4-5 pm.
The Third day was excellent.
To make sure that you recovered the few hours wasted, we did requested Joseph to make he talks to you after the second day game drive and arrange to have longer game drive on third 3 so that you have time recovered and see all you needed where you were to leave the park after lunch, Only that you told him you want to be at Nairobi by around 2:00pm, We already talked to Sergio before the tour that his flight was late night and no need of getting earlier at Airport to stay longer before the flight so was to stay even more the third day where all this turned opposite. It is then on the way to Nairobi you mentioned to Joseph that would like to meet Mike then once was called of course it was on Sartuday 19th was out of Nairobi so i told Joseph to let you know that i am not within but will try to get Nairobi and come to Hotel.
I could not manage to arrive on time though before drop off i asked you through Joseph Phone to get in touch on Whatsapp since is easy and faster communication. Later after we arranged with Paul whom picked Sergio on time back to Airport and then Dorian on the following day back to Airport.
We really apologized very much for this, as same car Joseph has used for the many trips he has done and most of our clients have been happy, this was just something Un expected occurrences which we hope will not happen again to you.
Anytime there is problem we ask all our clients to communicate, with both positive aspect and Negative as well. We take all our clients with much dignity, so We would like to wish you a happy and merry Christmas and prosperous new year 2017. Best From Ancient Wild Safaris.
US
Email Dorian | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Our private safari was ruined due to the incompetence of this company!
I booked a private 3-day safari in Amboseli National Park with a friend at the end of November. I spent six months arranging all the details of the safari via email with Michael, the owner of Ancient Wild Safaris. This was my fourth safari, so I was very clear about the services we wanted.
I was coming from Tanzania and met my friend Sergio and the driver Joseph at the Namanga border. 15 minutes on the road to Amboseli the car broke down. The driver was clueless how to fix the problem and didn't communicate any information to us. We waited for two hours on the dirt road until a taxi arrived to take us to the entrance gate of Amboseli, an hour away. The driver, Joseph stayed with the broken down car. Once at the park entrance, we waited another hour for a van to take us on our first "game drive". We booked a private safari, but were forced to join a Danish couple's tour. This game drive was really just driving across the park to our hotel, on the opposite side.
I contacted Michael several times during the first day, but he never communicated to me what the plan was for the next day. Eventually, Joseph told us that we would join the Danish couple's safari again the next morning. This became our second group game drive during the trip. Also, it was not our driver or tour company, so we had no choice in what we visited or where we stopped or for how long. We were just along for the ride.
After the morning game drive, we were dropped off at our hotel with no driver and no car. I had originally arranged an all-day game drive on the second day. Instead, we spent most of the morning and afternoon being bored around the camp. Eventually, Joseph contacted us to say he would pick us from the camp at 5pm! He arrived with the mechanic and we did a one-hour game drive before the park closed.
The next morning we did the only full, private game drive before returning to Nairobi. So we got 1 proper game drive out of the 4 we paid for. In Nairobi, Michael failed to show up at our hotel to discuss the poor service. He kept trying to make excuses instead of taking responsibility for the problems with the safari. I kindly requested a partial refund since we didn't get the private safari that we paid for and he refused. There was zero accountability!
I would never use this company again due to the lack of professionalism and costumer service. Throughout the entire ordeal, there was almost no communication and direction from the owner.
DK
Email Steen Christensen | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Secured a very successful safari
We were four adults and one child touring Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru and Lake Naivasha. Our driver was Joseph. We were very satisfied with both the information before the trip, the planning and the execution of the safari, and will highly recommend their services to other Danes intending to visit Kenya. A special praise for Joseph who went out of his way to make us comfortable and make the safari a great experience.
RU
Email Anastasia | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing emotions
I agreed all details about my trip with Mike, which have been recommended me by my friend. It included 4 days safari in Ngorongoro (Wildlife lodge, 1 night) and Serengeti (Serena camp and lodges, 2 nights). We started our adventure in Kili aeroport without luggage :) Agency did their best to take luggage day after from aeroport and take care about it till our return to Arusha. It is absolutely "must" to have some clothes in hand luggage)))
Safari was organised excellent, guid was outstanding, his name was Kosmos and we liked him! We saw Big 5, of course, and very close to the car)
Then we came back to Arusha, spent 1 night in very simple Grace Hotel and next day began our climbing to Meru Mountain (height is 4600m). It is not easy but absolutely worth to! Third day we had flight to Zanzibar at 5 pm, it was really a risk. However our guid Ali agreed for us a car from first camp, without the car it would had not been possible to catch the flight.
For climbing we rent sleeping bags and walking sticks. Paid 120$ for 2pax, the quality is not good, honestly.
I want to say great "thank you" to Mike, who made our dreams true. Moreover I couldn't imagine so incredible hospitality, quality, speed of reaction and care about us. It was really amazing and unforgetable!
IT
Email Giustiano | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unforgettable experience
We spent 16 days in Africa, travelling in Kenya and Tanzania.
As first, unforgettable experience, we've done everything we could think of: safaris with the Big 5 spotted, climbing the very top peak of Africa and, in the end, a relaxing conclusion on the coast.
Ancient Wild Safari, thanks to their responsibles and guides, has been a tremendous companion in this adveturous journey, providing all the necessary support to enjoy every single moment spent in these fantastic territories where it all originated.