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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Very Nice
Well organized and amazing safari! It was very nice!
IN
Email Sujatha | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Very quick in responding to queries and meticulously planned all aspects
Mike is very professional and approachable to answer all queries and prompt in providing information. Overall experience on the safari was nice and good value for money. Even got upgraded to a room on the Tanzania side which was totally unexpected and really appreciate that gesture.
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.