Lets Go Travel Uniglobe
- Located In:
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 1979)
- Member Of:
- IATA, KATO & KATA
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $115 to $650 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
ES
Email Andrew Hurrell | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent service, communication and attention at every stage.
Apologies as this review is very detailed, but hopefully helpful to those seeking a trip with this excellent company “Lets Go Travel”. Brochures and internet pages can be misleading so we will cut through the “hype” and give you “the good the bad and the ugly” as well as the excellent!
We had a personal recommendation of Lets Go Travel from friends and we were delighted with the way things turned out.
Firstly we cannot thank our tour organizer and driver enough! Simon our email contact was incredibly helpful and organized, and the company was a pleasure to deal with. Peter our driver could not have been better. He was so knowledgeable, knew everything we wanted to know about the animals, culture and places to visit etc. Both Simon and the Peter are 10 out of 10.
We were collected from Nairobi Airport promptly, Peter had water waiting for us on arrival and we needed it!
We flew from Madrid with Ethiopian airways which was a great airline but our travel time from leaving Southern Spain to arrival at our first location Ol Pejeta was around 33 hours in total and with our ages at 66 and 70 we did find this tiring on the terrible pot holed, speed ramp laden single carriage way roads.
The drive from Nairobi to Ol Pejeta Sweetwaters Camp took at least 4 hours unfortunately due to the roads and traffic conditions. This was a common theme throughout the holiday, so be aware that the distances involved between camps can be massive, time consuming as well as arduous and very bumpy. The quality of the roads in Kenya are generally poor to almost impassable in some areas we experienced. In hindsight we would fly directly from Narobi airport to one of the landing strips in the Masai Mara were we to go again to minimize the road travel.
We understand that the already poor road network was further damaged by the January 2020 rains. This took a further toll on the journeys we had to undertake. With no motorways or dual carriageways expect a lot slow moving traffic and toxic fumes from very old and dangerous looking vehicles which were present most of the time. We used masks at the airport and on the planes (due to the current “Cornovirus” threat)and were very glad of them in the Toyota Land cruiser as we drove along behind the smoke emitting lorries!
The towns and villages we passed through were very poor in quality and had a high build up of rubbish and debris which was punctuated with huge amounts of wandering cows, goats, sheep as well as stray dogs. There were countless numbers of motor bikes carrying up to 5 people, as well as what appeared to be the contents of these poor peoples’ worldly goods stacked up on the luggage racks as well!. There was no evidence of basic safety being monitored by police either.
The villagers we met were incredibly cheerful and welcoming with huge smiles. The countries infrastructure is in stark contrast to the quality of the camps we stayed at which were very clean, beautifully presented and employ wonderfully helpful and welcoming English speaking local staff, The variety of drinks, and fabulous food in general was outstanding.
Drinks are extra of course extra (unlike the meals which for us was included) and quite pricey. A typical glass of red wine will set you back around 800 Kenyan shillings (about 8 dollars or 7 Euros at the time of writing) In Spain we pay around 1 Euro 50 cents for the same size glass and quality.
I am a vegan and this was the best Vegan food I have tasted next to my partner’s superb dishes. Sweetwaters Camp at Ol Pejetta being a 10 out of 10 rating.
Second best was Hotel Sopa at lake Naivasha for food quality at 8 out of 10 and although still very good the Intrepid Camp at Masaii Mara came third at 6 out of 10. This camp was not busy, but the buffet style at the other two meant that portion sizes were not a problem for me (I eat a lot!) but Intrepids Camp was only just adequate and not quite as flavorsome. My partner (not Vegan) was less impressed with Sopa and Intrepid Camps’ food but also scored Sweetwaters the best for her (normal style) diet.
The accommodation at all 3 camps was excellent but the Sopa hotel at Lake Naivasha was 10 out of 10 with newly built lodges and generous amounts of space - at least double the size of the other two where tented accommodation was on offer. Getting to The Spa Hotel though was possibly the worst experience we had road wise as is was almost impassable at several points for a normal car. Once you left the main road it was a 20 minute drive and one we will not forget in a hurry since it was not on a game drive track which incredibly were generally better than the approach road to Hotel Sopa!!!! Once there though the place is just AWESOME! Lovely pristine dining areas and bar facilities with lavish furnishings. Beautiful mood music plays gently in the background to enhance the atmosphere of the dining experience where you can pile your plate as high and as often as you dare with a wide variety of foods to suit all tastes and diets. The wide range is available for breakfast lunch and dinner. Packed lunches are also supplied if necessary at no charge either.
The tented accommodation was excellent too but smaller while Intrepids Camp had issues with hot water when we were there (which was dealt with). Loo flushing though can be an issue compared to what we are used to in Spain. Expect hot water bottles placed in your bed while you dine in the evening and a morning cup of tea or coffee at a time of your choosing. We were also able to make our own tea and coffee although we had to ask for a kettle at Intrepid Camp which was supplied (at no extra cost, the other two as standard). Lights go out at Intrepid at midnight and come on at 5am to help energy conservation.
Accommodation wise we rate
Sweetwaters 6 out of 10
Hotel Sopa 10 out of 10
Intrepid 7 out of 10
The grounds at all three camps was just immaculate and beautiful with all three scoring a maximum 10 out of 10
We stopped for a coffee at a bar on the equator on the drive to hotel Sopa, where we had a demonstration of how the magnetic field shifts 360 degrees within the space of just 20 meters from “no rotation” of draining water to “180 degrees” clockwise rotation and “180 degrees” anti clockwise…. (extraordinary) You are presented with a certificate to frame for your wall which was purchased for 5 Dollars for each of us. Stopping at any rest area bar can be interesting though as you will be offered a wide variety of mementos at a wide variety of prices! Be prepared to barter strongly though, as we found around 50% of the asking price was generally accepted. We bought Ebony wall features of Masai tribal figures ( Lady and a Man) for 40 Dollars which we were delighted with at the price as they are hand carved and unique. The money always goes to help the community also which we loved. Watch out for the sellers at the gates of the Maasi Mara reserve as they will thrust numerous object through the window and will be quite pushy for a sale at almost any price. All good natured stuff but can be intimidating as at one point my partner was surrounded by about 15 Massia women eager to unload all manor of bracelet’s neck decorations and Masai blankets. Needless to say Peter came to her rescue, and we were soon on our way albeit about 20 dollars lighter in exchange for the unique souvenirs !
Park entry fees
Be aware that of the time of writing, Park entry fees are 70 dollars per person per day at Masai Mara and a hefty 90 Dollars per day per person at Sweetwaters Ol Pejetta camp. So you need to add this to whatever package you choose. Was Sweetwaters worth the extra 20 dollars per day? Possibly not, but as it is smaller the animals are condensed into a smaller area and may be more easily seen. However everyone will have their own view on this.
As with all game drives expect a lot of bumpy and difficult tracks to travel on. We had the benefit of a Toyota Land cruiser and were thankful that with Peter at the wheel we never got into any trouble unlike numerous other vehicles which often got stuck in the grounds. This was due to the torrential rain which made all the but the Land cruiser almost impossible to drive on. We came close to getting stuck a couple of times, but thanks to the skill of our driver, Peter safely got through without the need for the tractor. Be aware that in the event you did get stranded - the area is so vast that the rescue could take some time. If it were dark even longer.
One couple actually spent the night in a stranded vehicle ( a mini cruiser which we were believed to be provided by the Hotal staff) before they were found early the following morning….. Tired but unharmed. Needless to say this can actually add to the excitement!
Thanks to global warming, normal seasonal rains have become extensive and highly likely. We would definitely recommend the Land cruiser. The Land Rover also seemed un phased by the conditions we had during our stay and we had no reports of them getting stuck either. On the subject of global warming…. the flights as well as the driving will negatively affect the global warming, but here too Lets Go Travel have tried to mitigate this. They provide water in aluminum bottles (not plastic) and also provide you with seeds to help grow more trees. These are scattered wherever you wish during your stay and in time will offset your own carbon footprint .
You will always see Zebra, Elephants (usually with babies) Thompson Gazelles’, Baboons’, Hyenas Impala, Wart hogs, Water Bucks, Topi, Giraffe (amazing sights these) Buffalo, and Rhino (less common but we did see them at Sweetwater). We also saw Lions at Maasi Mara as well as several Cheetahs and yes you guessed it… mongoose (they’re hilarious). Hippos were seen at Lake Naivasha. The birdlife is massive also, with vultures, eagles, egrets and countless others on show.
Despite being on several early morning and late evening game drives we did not witness “a kill” (not sure if I am happy or sad about that). These events although rare are often witnessed but clearly you will need to be in the right place at the right time. From an 8 day stay you may only get around a 10% chance of seeing a kill unfold at distances where you can appreciate the raw horror of this natural cycle of life. .
Be aware that the boat trip at Lake Naivasha is 150 Dollars for the fiber glass large canoe which I suspect can hold around 8 people and we were supplied with life jackets. For the two of us we found this incredibly expensive for what we saw there. We could only get around 30 meters from the Hippos as the guide as well as Peter confirmed that if we were to get closer we could be in some danger! We were so disappointed with the value on this 1 hour trip. Peter very kindly negotiated a 50 Dollar refund and for that we were very grateful…(thanks again Peter) Whilst there were some interesting birds on show, the lack of up close and personal viewing of the Hippos meant we came away feeling safe, but a little hard done by given the price.
Had we enquired about the proximity we could achieve regarding the Hippos we would not have bothered as most of the birds and the other animals could easily be seen without the boat (including the Hippos) !
There is no game drive at Hotel Sops and the game are part of the grounds and they walk freely among the guest areas. This is highlighted in the agreement which you must sign to disqualify any claim you could have as a result of a late night encounter with a HIPPO! You are always escorted however at night from the chalet by a guard armed with a hefty stick and a torch to spot any sign of a potential threat. The guard though confirmed that once he revealed his stick all threats so far have been dealt with effectively. We saw giraffe, buffalo, Impala, and hippos from our one night stay from our chalet window! These we also visible from the MASSIVE and lavish dining room.
When we returned from the boat trip the hotel approach road was temporarily blocked by two Huge Girrafes having a scrap. Each were taking turns to beat each other with their necks bashing into the others neck. This was unexpected but hugely entertaining !
Our personal highlight was an unforgettable trip arranged by our driver Peter to the Masai Mara tribe living in a village within the game reserve. In the space of a couple of hours they sang and danced for us, showed us their incredibly basic homes (which they build themselves) and they demonstrated how to make fire from wood using friction only. They showed us how they live together with the animals, introduced us to their families and their beautiful children. The tribe leader “Chris” was a highly educated and articulate man. He spoke good English. He also gave us detail on their history and the community which was fascinating and introduced us to his 98 year old father who was remarkably agile and fit as was his 32 year old son Chris! All the tribe elders wore the Masai dress and looked incredible together as they sang and danced their tribal songs and welcomed us into the camp.
We donated 50 Dollars to the community funds for about 2 hours. This flashed by and we also bought some of the items the ladies make themselves to help fund the essentials that the tribe must use to help educate their children in the local school. Had it not been for the money spent on the boat trip we would have donated more, but we did spend about 120 dollars in the Masai camp
I hope this review will be helpful for those wanting a “holiday of a lifetime”
To summarise I would not hesitate to use Lets Go Traavel for any future visits as they have been exemplary in every regard. They did their absolute best and agreed to re book everything we originally planned in January when we cancelled at short notice due to my partner’s health problems around Christmas. This they did with no additional cost (Thanks again Simon).
Just be aware of the massive distances and driving time between camps, the quality of the ride to the terrible roads, and of course the game drive tracks WHICH AT TIMES CAN BE ALMOST IMPASSABLE. Your bones and backside will get a good workout! Expect a lot of terrible looking villages as you travel to the excellent AND WELCOMING camps. You will be warmly welcomed everywhere you go (we are sure of this).
Needless to say we shot loads of film (to use the old fashioned term) which will soon be edited and probably uploaded to social media if you are interested.
We have a wonderful record of a truly memorable exciting and unmissable 8 days on Safari in Kenya. We met the incredibly friendly people, learnt huge amounts from our brilliant driver, had fantastic support from Lets Go Travel at every step, and we would definitely recommend them to anyone wishing to try this incredible experience. We came away with mixed emotions. A fantastic experience, tainted with the sadness of the desperately poor general population reflected outside these fabulous lavish camps and hotels.
Would we go back? “Yes ” we have always wanted to this, and finally we achieved our dream. Definitely recommended but after the exhausting travelling not one we will do again soon due to the cost and the exhausting travelling and those roads! A flight in one of the small aircracft direct into a single Masai Mara camp would for us have been a better option. Our choice would be perhaps to stay in just one camp for longer without having to live out of our suitcases, and therefore be more relaxed and comfortable.
Once again, thanks to Simon and the whole Lets Go Travel team and especially to Peter who made the trip so memorable for all the right reasons. A definite 4 out of 5 with all factors considered it certainly met our expectations and more!
Many thanks to you all.
Email Tim Faithfull | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Kenya safari
Everything about my dealings with Let’s Go Travel Uniglobe was exceptional from the very first enquiry, suggesting and amending a bespoke itinerary to match our aspirations, securing the flights and accommodation to resolving a hotel issue on the final night. The accommodation in each of the 3 conservancies was excellent along with the service, staff, food and safaris. We went high end with everything as I did not want to be in one of many vehicles surrounding an animal and what we got was perfect. Esther was brilliant in helping us and always very quick to respond to a question. I would have absolutely no hesitation at all in recommending Let’s Go Travel Uniglobe to anyone wanting a high class safari with excellent service all round.
Email Rahma Ally | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Trip of a lifetime and it was all made possible
This was the trip of a lifetime and it was all made possible by Taswira Africa Luxury. From the time we landed, everything was taken care of. We had scheduled events but had the flexibility to make changes if needed. Climbing Kilimanjaro was not easy but I would not have made it to the top without their support and amazing guides.
Email Francois-Xavier Come | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
We were only there to enjoy. And we did so much!
My friends and I had a wonderful time climbing Mount Meru with Jackpot Safaris. Our guide Peter, and the staff, were so professional and helpful. They made it so easy for us. Among all the very good points: punctuality, plenty and delicious food, good climbing advice, good mood. We were only there to enjoy. And we did so much! Thank you Andrew from Jackpot Safaris for making it possible within such a short notice.
CA
Email Hiz | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
"Amazing Safari to Serengeti and Ngorongoro"
Since our first day of arrival they took good care of us,the Safari was just unbelievable,Our guide Malisa was super knowledgeable and explained everything. Ngorongoro was beautiful,the scenery was really nice,it is a true wonder!Our chef Shija prepared very tasty meals,I would never forget such wonderful dishes during my whole Safari.
Email Laila | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
trip of a lifetime
I and my boyfriend went on vacation to Tanzania. We had planned for a wildlife tour. We came across Serengeti Camping Safari and we were not disappointed with our safari with them. We had excellent communication with our host Anita. She is a star at this. I will definitely come back for another fantastic safari and this time bring friends to tag along because it was a safari to remember. Many thanks to Anita and the team at Serengeti Camping Safari
Email Sam | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Fantastic Service
It was amazing!!! A truly special experience, thank you so much for all the organising
Email Abdul-Rahman | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
It was perfect and well organized.
We did a hike to Mount Kilimanjaro via Machame Route for 6 days. Everything was very well organized, the guides and porters were friendly and professional. We had a fantastic moments and several challenges on our trip to the roof of Africa but gladly we had Yesse Lema and Regan Kimario as our guides by which they supported as completely in a sense that we were fully assured that we will reach to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro and come back home safety
Email Hassan | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
I had excellent game drive experience and enjoyed every bit of it.
They have excellent sense of timing and time management and very reliable and their communication is excellent. Few areas of improvement is more probably due more due diligence of the quality of hotels that they book for their guest and make sure their Safari vehicles are in good shape.
US
Email Shannon Griswold | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Took care of EVERYTHING so we could just enjoy the experience!
I joined a friend on a research trip followed by some fun/vacation time. Esther handled ALL of the logistics, including managing all of the changes to local appointments for the research side of things, making sure we could get Kenyan SIM cards and M-PESA on our phones upon arrival, so that from our perspective the entire trip was seamlessly easy to navigate. Our drives (James and Simon) were excellent, the accommodations were top notch, and I plan to book with Uniglobe again when I come back to Kenya!