MsMozi in Mombasa

Mombasa - Day 1

 

So things didn't get off to a particularly good start. Arrived at OR Tambo filled with apprehension over the ridiculously late flight to Nairobi (00h40), only to discover the flight had been delayed until 02h30 (bearing in mind it was now only 22h00). Dreading the four and a half our wait, I located my hosts and was relieved to discover we had entrance passes to the business class lounge.

 

After the hours passed with much red wine, a motion sickness pill and conversation with my hosts, it was eventually time to board. I actually don’t remember anything at all from about 20 minutes after popping the motion sickness drugs until landing in Nairobi as a result of the zonking out effect of meds + alcohol.

 

We landed at about 08h15, which was troubling as we had to make a connection to Mombasa at 08h30. Thankfully, Nairobi airport runs like a finely-tuned machine and we were through immigration in about two seconds, to find our luggage already on the conveyer belt. We dashed across the road to the domestic terminal and managed to catch our flight in time. Can you imagine that ever happening at OR Tambo?

 

After a short flight we landed at Mombasa airport and found our shuttle to the Serena waiting for us under the blue sky, with a little table set out with champagne, juices and beer and red roses for all the girls – noo-noo!

 

The 45 minute drive to the Mombasa Serena took us through the town in our fabulously air-conditioned bus. Most of Mombasa is fairly slum-like, but so authentically African with goats running across the main road and bars with names like ‘The Silent Joy’. We arrived at the hotel to traditional dancers and fresh coconut juice.

 

I got to meet most of the rest of the journos (13 in the group in total) and on the way to my room walked past a total hottie, which left me hoping in some fantastic twist of fate, he’d be part of our group.

The room is beautiful, huge with a view of the ocean… if I can look past the pale overweight Germans in the way.

 

The group reconvened a few minutes later to do a hotel inspection and discovered that the hottie was indeed part of the group. The hotel inspection went on forever and ever and afterwards we sat down to a much needed lunch.

 

We had the rest of the afternoon to do our own thing so I opted for a swim in the warm, crystal-clear ocean and a snooze on a deck chair by the pool.

 

Then came dinner with some of the Serena big guns. Incredible – five courses of lobster, prawns, calamari steaks, darwas and red wine. Hottie was unfortunately way on the other side of the table. Afterwards we hit the main bar for coffee and a bit of a boogie which brings me up to this moment.

 

Tomorrow I’m hitting Mombasa town with a few of the boys including Hottie. Then we’re changing hotels to Mnarani in Kilifi – should be great!

 

Mombasa – Day 2

 

Woohoo! Just finished watching the bokke annihilate the English. This was made sweeter by the presence of several pommies in the hotel. Love it.

 

Well another beautiful day dawned in Mombasa. I accidentally lost track of time during breakfast and missed the trip into town. So I opted for another day spent lying by the pool, sipping on pina coladas…. Is this seriously work??? Burnt myself to a bit of a crisp but I’ll hopefully recover in the next day or two.

 

After lunch we moved onto the Mnarani hotel and enjoyed the 45min transfer along Kenya’s potholed road surrounded by lush forests and open green plains dotted with giant baobabs.

The Mnarani isn’t quite the same standard as the Serena, but still extremely comfortable and affordable (if I was paying). It also has an enormous infinity pool overlooking the Kilifi lagoon.

 

We headed out on a dhow sunset cruise, sailing through Kilifi creek with the goosebump inducing cry of the fish eagle as our sound track.

 

At about halfway, I discovered the problem with Kenya’s local beer – Tusker. It comes in 500ml bottles. Since I had already polished off one during the shuttle to the hotel, and another on the dhow, my bladder was suddenly stretched to 1 litre – with no relief in sight. For the last 40 mins I couldn’t think… .couldn’t speak.. and was made to feel only slightly better by another guy in our group who was suffering from the same affliction.

 

After docking and a hasty – virtually walking on water – dash to the loo, we sat down to a seafood braai on the beach, entertained by local acrobats and followed by sensational rugga.

 

That’s about it for today – tomorrow we’re venturing off to Malindi!

Mombasa – Day 3

 

So it’s the final day of the trip and it’s been unbelievable. I wish I could stay for another week – three days is just far too short. I will be back though without a doubt.

 

Today after breakfast we headed off on a tour around the area. We started off at a deaf school for the local community. We then went to the falcon sanctuary which really didn’t impress me. They had these beautiful raptors tied to poles so that they couldn’t fly away. None were injured, so its obviously just a tourist ploy with no plans to reintroduce them into the wild.

We then drove on towards Malindi. En route we saw several cars stopped ahead of us and sea of people. Turns out there were two robbers shot dead by the police lying on the side of the road. Most of the people on the bus saw the actual bodies, both with bullet holes in the foreheads. I didn’t want to look. Apparently it’s quite normal for the Kenyan police to shoot suspected criminals execution style since they have so little faith in the judicial system.

 

We then saw a fairly crap craft market before visiting the Gedi Ruines. The ruines are what’s left of an 11^th century city. Rumour has it that the entire civilization was wiped out in the 17^th century by the Zimbi tribe of cannibals who literally ate their way through Africa.

 

After that it was finally time to return to the hotel. I just chilled out for the rest of the evening, ate dinner and watch Maasai dancers.

 

So it’s almost time to say goodbye to beautiful Kenya. Leaving at 04h30 tomorrow morning to get to the airport in time.

 

So Kenya – kwaheri I will be back!!!!