Giving back to the community in a simple way

We Uniglobe Let’s Go Travel love giving back to the community. We feel that it is right to share with the less fortunate and especially at this period (Christmas time), as it is a time to show and spread love.

Our staff arrive at the center and donate food stuff ....

Over the years we have always put aside USD 30 from the safaris we structure and sell to you and with each safari, we build a kitty that funds raised are given to a project that we identify is beneficial to our communities.

In the past we have built toilets for rural schools, as well as donated computers and also donated food stuffs and clothes to charity homes among others.

This year, our staff visited the Body of Christ Home, where they got to interact with the elderly and the children who stay there. Below is an open letter to the home’s director Pat Dixson from our staff who took time out of their schedule to spend time with these lovely people and children.
 

 

Dear Pat,

We want to thank you for the wonderful and inspiring work you are doing for the elderly and the orphaned children.

Orphaned children at the center perform on stage for our staff...:)

It was truly fulfilling helping to distribute the food to the elderly as they sang enjoyable songs and where they got their share of food donated through you. We were really amazed by the way all the people got each and every bit of what was given without any shortages, i.e., matches, cooking fat, ugali floor, paraffin, bread, money, etc

We were moved and touched by those little children at ‘’Body of Christ’’ who welcomed us, danced for us and the touching poems about them being orphans....and they were really thankful to Pastor Mbugua for providing them with shelter, food and education. They brought sunshine to the day in spite of the rain!

Next time, we hope to bring beddings such as blankets and clothes.

You truly are an inspiration to us and God bless you. We thank God for giving you so much strength to do this and pray that you continue with the same spirit.

Our best regards,

Catherine, Rosina, Susan, James and Paula

Uniglobe Lets Go Travel Staff

December Getaway - Lake Nakuru National Park

As has been the norm, we at Uniglobe Lets Go Travel love to plan fun filled trips that are also very pocket friendly. This time around, we asked the public what they felt would be an adventurous yet a close to Nairobi destination that they would love to tour and the result was Lake Nakuru National Park!

What is dubbed as the finest trip to-be this year, will only cost as little as KES 4,900, Park Fees excluded, for 2 days with overnight at Stem Hotel. For more details and enquiries, please contact Samuel or Ouno, or simply give us a buzz by either calling us or giving us a visit at our offices at ABC Place, Waiyaki Way - 2nd Floor.

Gorilla Tracking Safaris

Gorilla safaris have seemingly become the "in thing" to do while on safari in East Africa. Over the recent past Uganda and Rwanda, have welcomed many tourists who are attracted to the special safari of tracking gorillas and chimpanzees.

Trips to view gorillas and chimpanzees to both countries are adventurous and fun filled activities, that involves alot of trekking.  In Uganda, visiting Bwindi National Park, the "Impenetrable Forest", which is a 12 hour drive from Kampala. In Rwanda gorilla viewing is in Ruhengeri National Park, 3 hours from Kigali.

There are various packages ranging from day trips to 7 days or more safaris, depending on what you are interested in doing.  

Did you know?

• Chimpanzees use large sticks and branches as clubs or throw them at enemies like leopards and humans.
• Chimps supplement their diets with meat, such as young antelopes or goats. Their most frequent victims, however, are other primates such as young baboons, colobus monkeys and blue monkeys.
• An adult male gorilla is called a silverback because of the distinctive silvery fur growing on their back and hips. Each gorilla family has a silverback as leader who scares away other animals by standing on their back legs and beating their chest!
• Young male gorillas usually leave their family group when they are about 11 years old and have their own family group by the age of 15 years old. Young female gorillas join a new group at about 8 years old.
• Gorillas are herbivores. They spend most of their day foraging for food and eating bamboo, leafy plants and sometimes small insects. Adult gorillas can eat up to 30 kilograms of food each day.
• A gorilla can live for 40 – 50 years. 

Gorilla viewing permits are issued on a very controlled basis and must be booked well in advance, especially in Uganda. Permits cost  approximately US$500 per person in Uganda and approximately US$ 750 per person in Rwanda. The trek through the forest to find the gorillas can take a few hours. The time spent with a troop is limited to one hour.

Camping Safaris

Camping safaris range from luxurious to budget. With each itinerary, the category of camping will differ. These categories are as follows;

Luxury Camping, This is where all your needs are catered for and accommodation, mostly under canvas, is sophisticated and comfortable with large walk-in tents, proper beds and shower tents, camps are prepared before your arrival, well qualified staff take care of all aspects of camp life, and fully outfitted four wheel drive safari vehicles with roof hatches are your means of transport.

Mid-Range Camping, with walk-in tents and safari showers, staff on hand to take care of cooking and other camp chores, and where transport is either by minibus or four wheel drive safari vehicles.

Budget Camping, where everyone pitches in and helps to erect tents, cook and do the dishes. Food is simple and your evening wash is often only a bowl of water. Overland trucks or minibuses are commonly used on such safaris.

Camping on your own. There are designated camp sites in most National Parks and some privately owned, where you can pitch your own tents. Most of the privately owned sites have good facilities, but in the Parks you must be self sufficient.

Tips For A Budget Safari

In the current economy and future economy, all people tend to think and speak of is how they need to trim their budget. With this common need arising, people need to consider ways of sustaining themselves yet still enjoy those little pleasures of life such as vacations!

Tips for a budget safari:

1. Set a budget

This sounds funny because we are giving you tips for a budget, but think of it....you will not be able to save any money if you do not know how much you have in order to spend it. Therefore to solve the problem you must start down from the root and work your way up the plant.

 

2. Deals and Promotions / Weekend Getaways

In most circumstances when you plan a holiday, you already have an idea of what you want to experience while on your trip. For example, you want to go somewhere where there is a beach.... we recommend that you ask your travel planner/ agent to always inform you on the deals and promotions that meet stays within the coast area. Usually there are always promotions running which typically are designed to save you some money or add a little bit extra to your trip.

3. Know the seasons

This is a big one! If you know and understand the travel patterns to the destination you are travelling to... then you are able to predict when is the most pocket friendly period for you to enjoy that holiday! In Kenya the most commonly used seasons are (January – March) High season, (April –June) Low season, (July – October) Peak Season, (November – 20^th December) Mid Season, (21^st December – 1^st January) Peak Season.  This however is not definite as some hotels and lodges have their own categories of seasons. It is advisable to always enquire before booking as opposed to assuming.

4. Affordable destinations

We are pretty sure if you had the chance to visit the moon at an affordable amount, then we would probably all have done it by now, however we make the most of what we have thus settle for what we can afford.

5. Book Early

In our experience booking early means you have wider options thus a variety therefore getting the most out of your budget. In terms of flights, we hugely specify...the earlier you book your flight tickets, the better the chance of getting the cheapest ticket. We live in a cost cutting environment; therefore it will always be a scramble for the cheapest...so why wait for the last minute to put up a fight for that cheap room or flight ticket?

The Wildebeest Migration is here......

As early as yesterday, we have received reports from our friends in the Maasai Mara that the long awaited Wildebeest Migration has finally started! This means that the annual dubbed world wonder is on for our viewing coming across from the Serengeti, in Tanzania! For some of us, we have probably heard of the great migration or watched of it in documentaries and wildlife movies, however the question remains.....what exactly happens in this migration that makes it so spectacular?

The wildebeest migration takes place over a wide area across Kenya’s Masai Mara and Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park.  These parks are one continuous ecosystem divided by an invisible man-made border. Even though the migration is termed as the wildebeest migration in reality the move constitutes of approximately 2 million wildebeest and thousands of zebras and gazelles forming one super herd.   Zebra are often found together with wildebeest as the zebra tend to feed on long tough grass stems preparing them for the broad muzzle of the wildebeest, more suited to close short grasses.  

The animals migrate to follow the rains in search of lush new grass, with the wildebeest spending the wet season on the plains in the south-east, and the dry season in the woodlands of the north-west.  The 800 km pilgrimage is an ongoing cycle of movement and dispersal that is not continually in forward motion.  The wildebeest need to drink daily and their movement is very much dominated by the accessibility of water and they seem to have a sixth sense in following the storms.

This epic journey has no real beginning or end. The life of a wildebeest is an endless pilgrimage, a constant search for food and water and it doesn’t come without its perils, each year over 250,000 wildebeest will die as a result of injury, exhaustion or predation.

The river crossing at the Grumeti and Mara Rivers has been well documented by film makers and photographers, who have captured the “no other choice” suicidal plunge where the wildebeest are forced to plunge into the crocodile infested waters often drowning in thousands!

It is an unusual safari, that has left millions in awe trying to understand it, but until today remains one of the world wonders of nature and wildlife!

For where to stay in the Masai Mara click here.

The Camel Derby

When we think of Samburu Game Reserve, our minds tend to think of the hot and arid fringes of Kenya's vast Northern Frontier District that covers an area of 104 square kms on the northern bank of Ewaso Nyiro River. An area that is home to the Samburu tribe, pastoral relatives of the Maasai people. A landscape that is rugged and dramatic - against a backdrop of volcanic mountains, gaunt hills and withered scrub tree punctuate the sparse and dry terrain with clusters of the incredibly hardy desert rose providing the occasional flash of vivid colour. We tend to imagine ourselves on game drives or relaxing in the amazing safari lodges that are present in the Samburu. What we do not tend to think is......  A Camel Derby!

Samburu Maralal International Camel Derby:

The Samburu Maralal International Camel Derby (SMICD) is an annual event held in August of every year at Yare Camel Camp in Maralal town, Samburu County.  Yare Camel Camp is in the northern region Kenya at the heart of the nomadic pastoralist Samburu people who are related to the Maasai. 

The event has been on-going for 23 years and was initiated by the late Malcom Gascoigne who was the proprietor of Yare Camel Camp. It draws participants from all over the world- Australia, New Zealand, America, Canada, England, France, Spain, Japan, China, Mexico, Sweden, Holland, Italy,  South Africa  and many other countries. 

Creating the perfect blend of culture, adventure and action, the finest camels of Kenya are gathered in a display of competition and sportsmanship.

The event details:

The dates for this year’s event are 21^st August – 26^th August, 2012. Entrants register for participation. Camels are available for hire and come with saddles and handlers. All camels are given a vet-check by the official vet officers. The camels are rendered tick free 4 days prior to the event.  The prizes consist of Cash, Trophies and Certificates. Sponsors are also recognized and appreciated for sponsoring various events.

For event details courtesy of :  http://www.yarecamelcamp.co.ke/Programme.php

For lodge and camp bookings contact us: info@letsgosafari.com 

Skiing in 2013 - Another Great Plan!

In the past years, we Uniglobe Lets Go Travel have always organized Ski Trips for individuals interested in skiing. The fun filled adventure is mostly viewed as a sport, however it can just be simply an adventurous trip!

What is Skiing?

Skiing is a way of travelling over snow, using skis strapped to one's feet. In modern times it has been mostly an athletic activity. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding. Commonly, ski poles or "stocks" are used to improve balance and timing as well as for propulsion.

Skiing in 2013

Plans for the next Lets Go Ski Trip are complete! We shall be returning to Zurs, near Lech, in Austria, where we have had 9 successful ski holidays in the past! The plan is to fly from Nairobi on the night of Saturday 30th March, returning on the daylight flight on Monday 8th April, or if you prefer a longer holiday, on Wednesday 10th. Zurs is a great place for skiers of all abilities, most importantly it has a good reputation for late snow!

Full details and other information, any queries and for bookings, kindly email Sue Dixson.

The Lake City's Newest Gem : Impala Eco Lodge

This past weekend, Kisumu one of Kenya's three cities, saw the launch of a new gem in the hospitality industry; Impala Eco Lodge. 

The 5 star lodge is situated within the Impala Sanctuary in Kisumu, where it remains hidden from civilization and the trappings of the modern world, positioned on a piece of untamed " Kisumu", the sights and sounds of the forest serve to invigorate the senses and enhance a blissful solitude just about 3KM from Kisumu City.

About Impala Sancutary:

The Impala park in Kisumu is a destination with absolute solitude and is of unspoiled beauty, with a wide range of visible game such us leopards, hyena, olive baboons and vervet monkeys, providing grazing lands for Hippos and serving as a habitat for numerous small mammals including the threatened Sitatunga. The sancutuary is also home to a variety of reptiles and bird species.

The Accommodation:

Impala Eco Lodge boastfully is a luxurious 5 star lodge, which has been elegantly and with natural charm been designed to fit every visitor's comfort. It offers 12 beautiful luxurious cottages each with a private balcony facing the magnificent Lake Victoria. Of those, 2 cottages are family suites featuring 2 double and 2 twin bedded units. 2 are standard luxury suites and 6 are executive luxury suites, making the maximum number of guests to be 24. All cottages are exquisitely furnished and finished, reflecting what the lodge term as a "bygone era in the wild"

Acitvity Options:

• Game viewing
• Picnicking
• Lake Victoria Viewing
• Boat Tours
• Light Fishing
• Cycling
• Excursions
• Team Building
• Canoeing
• Birding