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
KZ
Email Vladimir | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Very credible operator capable to organize great safaris for a family with kids
Our family of five (including three kids of 11, 8 and 5 years old) has just returned on Feb 8th from an 8 days safaris to Kenya and Tanzania. We decided to go with Ancient Wild Safaris based on positive feedbacks left on this website by previous travellers and we are happy we chose this company.
Mike was always prompt to reply to emails and very operative in helping us adjust our program to our needs in best manner. The whole trip was arranged very smoothly and accommodations were picked wisely to make sure we had a great varied experience not only in wild life but in staying in different lodges, including deep-dive into savannah's life at the camping site in the heart of Serengeti.
During the trip everything was up to expectations and beyond. Very safe travel given our pre-trip hesitations of taking little son and daughter with us. Tons of wonderful experiences and positive emotions. Our guide Joseph was above all compliments; he always went an extra mile to make every day memorable. Given the dry season and, hence, smaller quantity of animals (compared to rainy season) Joseph went to every possible corner to explore and find animals otherwise hiding in the bush. So we managed to see all animals (well, except rhino which is hard to see in any season).
Afterwards our kids are happy. So we are. This operator proved to be reliable and, given their small size, quite flexibly and quick in organizing customized program.
And we would recommend Anciant Wild Safaris to any friend now and will definitely go with Mike and Joseph next time. Thank you guys!
Very Nice
Well organized and amazing safari! It was very nice!
US
Email TJ | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent safari
10 out of 5 stars. Literally.
As a ridiculously seasoned traveler, and someone who had already been to Kenya, I'm still mesmerized about how I could still be thrilled by a trip that I have already done years ago. (although nothing years ago was as good as this trip--not even close).
I wish I had done my first trip with Ancient Wild Safaris. My heart is so happy that I brought my 10-year-old daughter and my husband on this trip.
As a pediatrician in New York City who talks to hundreds of families every few months,
I have told everyone in New York City about this trip because so many people defer to me for travel because of my experience --and I must say that I am still so indebted to this group because of the seamless experience, comfort and most importantly, first class service that AWS has given us.
I heard about this group from another seasoned traveler and now I understand how Important a personal connection is. Take this review seriously. I can't recommend them more whole-heartedly than I am now.
Our guide was named Joseph and my daughter still wants to send him pictures and letters to his children. I feel like he is part of our family now.
Josphat, the lead travel plan administrator who set up our trip, made everything so easy that I felt like I had nothing to do other than show up at the airport in Nairobi. But before we showed up at the airport, he made sure that he attended to every detail from immunizations to passports and travel details that you would never even think of. He answered all of our questions and made any anxieties before the trip become something as simple as going down the street to your friends house. He treated us like family.
We were met at the airport, and then we didn't have to think about anything. It was perfectly planned and if we wanted to make a change, it would've been done but their ideas were so much better than ours. We saw that clearly. We are all idiots in comparison to their experience. Don't rely on Google, rely on their wonderful experience. Human experience is much more important than the Internet as seasoned travelers understand.
I am a planner and it is the first time in my life I actually relinquished my duties because I felt like someone had me beautifully in their hands the entire time. That is something I have never felt comfortable with and I felt like I had finally found the perfect travel group ever.
Our guide Joseph, was never at a loss of information, history--he was never stumped by any question we had and we are history freaks. When we had Wi-Fi at our base camp, we tried to stump him with other questions and he always beat us. It became a funny joke and he gave more information to us than anything.
Our accommodations were top notch and unbelievably accommodating and Masai Mara tribal visit made our trip.
AWS recommended the Masai Mara balloon ride and we were initially resistant at first because it was a little bit expensive and to this day it is the BEST part of our entire trip. We are jaded New Yorkers and we still can't believe it was the best thing we did. Do it!!!
So basically, I packed my bags, showed up, had amazing trip and then went back to New York City feeling completely fulfilled and amazed by our trip. You can do all the research you want but it will never compare to the amazing intellect this group can offer you.
Thank you ancient wild safaris.
Email Brenda Turakira | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
It was amazing!!
The tour was great. Our guide Joshua was particularly helpful in ensuring that we were comfortable and enjoyed our Safari. Everything was up to my expectations as agreed with Ancient Wild Safaris.
Well, who knew one could experience so much at such an affordable amount. Thank you Ancient Wild Safaris. Looking forward to more adventures with you.
God bless you!
AR
Email Roberto | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wonderfull experience
From day one Mike was helpfull and set up a 2 days visit to Amboselli and a 3 days visit to Masai Mara for us. I travelled with my wife on a private tour with Ancient. First transportation was quire old. We asked a different car for the second safari and Mike acceded kindly. Our driver found the best spot for watching the animals and gave useful explanations. Mike was allways in touch via whatsapp and responded promptly to our requests. Advisable company to hire.
ES
Email Pedro | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Safe and precise. Everybody knew our timing and planning. Enjoyable! Very friendly people :-)
We started preparing the safari around two months in advance. Communication was very clear and quick.
Working over email with Mike we defined a safari schedule that included everything we wanted withing our available budget. Ancient did take care to book everything, and even they upgrade one of the hotels on their account, as the one we had originally defined was full book.
Once we got to Nairobi, a driver was waiting for us with a label that displayed our names for clear identification! :-)
Next day the safari started. Masai mare is amazing and you can get really close to animals. Balloon trip is really expensive, but i think it's a must do!! It's a superb experience to flout on the air with no engine noise around. Magical!
In Serengeti we had more chances to see animals, but you can not leave the road! So, a good zoom is mandatory if you want to have good pictures.
Hotels along the safari were good, and hotel in Zanzibar was excellent!!! Just as we need it to be in order to end the trip with a good rest :-)
I think Ancient Safaris people (Mike and is team) did a great job! So we could just enjoy the experience, he animals, and the great people we have meet along the way.
All in all, I'm very happy!!! I wish we could repeat it at some point!!!
RU
Email Mira | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wonderful Kenya
It was my first safari experience but I think that I made a good choice by choosing Ancient Wild Safaris. Mike was on-line since my first minutes in airport in Kenya and it was as a friendly support for a lonely stranger in an unfamiliar country )) Except safari he organized for me a lovely tour to a tea farm for less money. Cyrus - my safari-guide was polite and well mannered man with sincere love for animals (sometimes it looks like he admires of wildlife more than I do)). Safari was well organized, with a good choice of hotels, in one of which I saw a leopard coming to the hotel for feeding, and in another hotel - a sweet couple of lions coming to the watering place or just for a romantic walk )) For 3 days we visited Amboseli and Tsavo East and West. I did not see only a rhino, but for this I had to go to Masai Mara.
Maybe other time ))! And I sure with Mike and his excellent team!
AE
Email Sarah | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Do not book with Ancient Wild Safaris
What was meant to be an amazing experience was tainted by our experience with Ancient Wild Safaris.
Fortunately we didn’t let the complete lack of management ruin our trip however it added an immense amount of stress to what was meant to be a relaxing break from work.
There was not a day that went by that I wasn’t worried about the next part of the journey and spent my time trying to get in contact with you or information from you.
I had started to get concerned before we left when I had to continually chase up the details and request copies of tickets and bookings. We were assured everything was in place and that a file of the printouts would be provided in Nairobi. It wasn’t.
1. Our 1st driver thought he was taking us back to Nairobi and it wasn’t until he asked how many days we were staying in Nairobi after Amboseli that he called and was made aware he was driving us to Lake Nakuru
2. After chasing and chasing on the booking receipts we needed one of your team met us before we flew to Mara and promised that we would get a copy of the remaining documents we needed at Neptune. I made it clear at this time that I was not happy and that you should be making sure I had them emailed to me
3. Our 2nd driver who was meant to pick us up from the airstrip didn’t show up - he had been sent to a different airstrip
4. The Masai village experience was terrible. We paid the 100 USD each and then they tried to charge us 450 USD for souvenirs. They then also asked for money for their school. All in all it was a 600 USD excursion and not worth it one bit.
5. Our 3rd driver was not aware of when we were flying out to Zanzibar and neither were we as we still didn’t have any flight details
6. I called and emailed a number of times once we reach Ngorongoro as again there were not details as to our flight the next day
7. Your manager on the ground in Tanzania said he would meet us before we got to the airport. He didn’t. He then asked us to come to the office. He then called and said he would send someone to the airport. 20 mins later still no one. The driver called again and he then said he would send ticket numbers through. Another 20 mins and no ticket numbers. The driver then called back again and was told to take us inside even though we had no tickets to show the security.
8. We then arrive in Zanzibar and there is no driver - we have to pay 60 USD on top of what we had paid you for the transfer and arrange a driver ourselves
9. We then get to the hotel and they ask for our booking voucher which we didn’t have as we still had not been provided any details in paper or email form
10. The new contact in Zanizbar, Kondo, then called and was at that time the 1st person who had actually apologised for any of this - there had been no apology from Mike and his team at Ancient Wild Safaris only excuses and blame pointed to the Tanzania operations
11. Kondo again apologised as he was not able to get us the VIP seats that should have been booked for us on the Ferry on the way back - if this had been organised properly and booked when we paid our deposit then we would have had the VIP seats we wanted
12. Thank fully there was a man with a sign to meet us in Dar es Salam which was a relief……this was no thanks to Ancient Wild Safaris but to Kondo and his company who had taken over managing the last part of our trip.
CZ
Email Milan | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Kenya and Tanzania safari
We booked an 11-day continuous safari trip in Kenya (Masai Mara, Nakuru, Naivasha) and Tanzania (Tarangire, Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro) from Ancient Wild Safari. Our guides (Patrick in Kenya and Estomi in Tanzania) followed the plan exactly as it was was agreed before, they were very friendly, had a good knowledge about wildlife, and did their best to show us as much as possible. We saw probably all big mammals that are living in these areas and many different species of birds, some small mammals and some reptiles. A visit in a Masai village was also very interesting. Accommodation and catering was in camps and hotels, relatively modest but reasonable given the price. If you go there, you have to be prepared that some roads can be very dusty, not everything is really clean and you will be camping in field conditions, but it is what the camping safari is about. The guides do care about our safety. Actually we felt much safer among lions and hyenas than in downtown Nairobi. I would recommend to take your own sleeping bag with you even if you receive an information that you do not need it, to prevent a disappointment from being given a small or not totally clean local sleeping bag. If you camp at Ngorongoro, be prepared that nights can be very cold because of the high altitude. In August mosquitoes are very few, but there are some. At the accommodations sites beds had mosquito nets or tents could be closed with no gap left for mosquitoes to enter. There were hardly any mosquitoes during the daytime. We were taking antimalarics to be on the safe side, but looking back, I think it was probably not necessary. Vaccination against yellow fever is necessary and officers at the Kenya-Tanzania border require this to be confirmed in you Vaccination Certificate. In general, this trip was a great experience: I would recommend it to everybody who is interested in nature and likes camping. And I can also recommend Ancient Wild Safaris - they are reliable and do a good job.
Jeep got stuck several times - no compensation
We did a 3 day Safari in Masai Mara with Ancient Safaris at the beginning of September.
Our jeep already got stuck on the first day because of some mechanical problems, so we couldn't get into the park this day. Furthermore they didn't replace the jeep. Our driver promised that they repaired the jeep and that everything is ready for the next day, unfortunately we got stuck again for several times on the next day .
We spent a lot of time waiting till the car cooled down again. It was really annoying, also because nobody told us what was going on.
And we didn't get any refund or compensation.
All in all we are really disappointed. Our Safari with Ancient Safaris was definitely not worth the price and we can't recommend it!