Dec 1st.. Peter dropped me off in Naivasha. I paid my 250ksh and got a front seat in the matatu. It was about 30 mins before we left. Very good going…just over 2 hours to Nbi..it was 3 hours last time. I asked the driver where we were to be dropped off and was very happy to be told the OTC building. Once we parked I had a 10 second walk across the road to the Naekana stage where I bought my Taveta ticket for the following day.
I walked to Sunway and checked into my 2,000Ksh room. Then I went walkabout to the City Market and ventured inside. It seems to be nothing but souvenir stalls these days, with the meat and fruit and veg having moved outside. I didn’t meet up with Charles as planned because he had a hospital emergency to attend to.
I passed the Post Office and had a coffee at Java House. I drew money; strolled around, before ending up at the Ambassadeur hotel for a beer. After that it was back across the road to Sunway and the safety of their bar, as it was dark by now. I had a couple of beers and 4 samosas. Apart from breakfast, the samosas were the only food I had to eat all day.
Then, up to my room and alarms set for around 05:00 so that I could get to Naekana around 05:30 for my 06:00 ish departure.
Tues 2nd. 10 min walk to Naekana. Didn’t actually leave until 07:15. A 7 hour trip to Taveta, which wasn’t bad. Didn’t get a front seat so no good video of zebras and an elephant on the highway or the elephant while passing through Tsavo West. In time for the EPL football at Utamaduni.
Apart from the 8th and the 9th, my days in Taveta were pretty ordinary. After tea with Mercy in the morning, I met up with friends around town. I mix my late afternoon meals between Dar es Salaam, Texas, Japan’s and once to Mwangaza. I tried to vary the maharage and pojo and chapatis and rice. Of course mwangaza was kiti moto. Most evenings I sat in the Challa Htl garden with a beer and used their WiFi. Utamaduni was the place to watch football with Joseph, although I’ve also discovered Matumu bar…which is a bit quieter…to watch football. Otherwise, washing and tidying and hanging out with my friends.
8th. Hired a boda for the day for 1,000bob, which Joseph drove. We went to Chala to the shamba and visited Dad’s grave. The road after Chala towards Chumvini and the turn off to Voyager Ziwani was absolutely diabolical. The estate road to the Tented Camp was in very good condition. We stayed there for over an hour , drinking one beer each. Was surprised at the 400ksh price which I think was the same as a few years ago. Oh, we saw zebra, giraffe, eland and a kenge (monitor lizard); all very exciting from the boda’s passenger seat. Comfortable ride back, apart from the part leading to Chala. There didn’t seem to be anywhere for a drink in Chala village and ended up in Cess for a beer.
9th. Tz Independence day. Went to Holili to get a new Tz visa as my 3 months had expired on 28 Nov. Had to have a Kiti moto as I was in the neighbourhood !! Stopped off at the new Dubai bar at the end of the road leading out of Holili. I had 2 drinks, but someone bought me a third because I acknowledged the Tz Independence day. Back to Mamka’s for kiti moto. Ate it in the front part of Dubai…away from the heat of the sun.
Mon 11th. To Mombasa to extend my visa. It meant missing the Classic Safari Rally stage from Taveta to Amboseli via Chala. Annoying. However I did see a few of the cars between Voi and Mwatate and a bunch of Support vehicles parked up near Salt Lick lodge. Only 15 min stop in Voi, which was good.
Had a samosa snack at the restaurant almost opposite Duncort.Checked in to Duncort..nice room with everything working this time. Bought water from my usual place..the deaf, mute guy.
Walked to Immigration. The Officer was dithering over his lunch with a secretary. Questions regarding all my entry/exit stamps… He stamped my passport. He decided to show me and explained the expiry date. I took advantage of the distraction of someone arriving at the door, to take my passport, stand up and said “thank you, enjoy your lunch, bye”. Before he could ask for any money I was walking briskly down the corridor and down the stairs !!!
I went to Fort Jesus as it was nearby. Stopped at Love Joy on Madaraka road for tea. Went to Mombasa Village bar …down a side road beside Castle Htl. On to Fantasy bar. Bought a small spirit to take to my room.
Tues 12th. After breakfast, which at Duncort is an egg, bread, a sausage and tea, I walked around the narrow streets of Old Town, ending up at Fort Jesus.
Enjoyed my regular Love Joy tea. Met up with Elija at Discovery for a tea and a chat. Walked to Kilindini Pub and had a good chat with Clarence and Maura. I bought a snack near Jundan then went over to Fantasy.
13-15 Nyali. Apartment arrangements changed ( Bustani was full) and I was offered an alternative right behind City Mall for 3,000…which I accepted. Matatu went all the way to Naivas and I only had a short walk to Pam Breeze apartments. Big rooms..lounge & dining room. 3 bedrooms. Big well equiped kitchen. It was on the 3rd floor. Swimming pool. Balconys. Excellent value; much better than Bustani, but I was sharing with someone which was fine as such a big apartment.
I went to mama siti for chai and mahamri. Then Naivas shopping primarily for steak and spaghetti. The vegs were bought from my regular little kibanda around the corner from mama siti. Deposited all the food in the apartment then walked to the Reef hotel to see Afnan. Didn’t have a drink in the Moonshine bar overlooking the beach because their beer price had gone up from 300 to 380 in 2 months. Xmas price rises. Instead I had 2 beers in the Tanga bar and had a nice chat with Afnan.
I went back to the apartment via Rubis (Kenol) for old times sake. I cooked the steak and washed it down with some spirit (County I think) and fruit juice and watched Sky news. My room was very comfortable.
Thurs 14th. After a mama siti breakfast I walked to Pirates beach to see Thomas. The very heavy rain had reopened the channel/stream by his kibanda, that for at least four years had got covered over with beach sand and was an extension of the beach. Now the stream was back and was even home to one adult croc and a few baby crocs…although I didn’t see them. His collection of National Geographics had unfortunately been ruined by flood waters passing through his kibanda/home.
Walking back to Nyali shopping I was constantly on the lookout for bodas trying their luck to rob me ( after what happened to me in early Oct…the attempted phone snatch.) After freshening up in the apartment I walked to the Reef again. After one drink there I went around the corner to the The Nest Lounge bar. They still remembered me from April when I drank the 5 promotion Balozis to claim a Balozi t-shirt. Then a Rubis Balozi and to the apartment for left overs…I only managed to eat half the steak the night before.
Fri 15th. Martha said that a large group had booked the whole apartment and would I mind transferring to Bustani. As much as I liked Pam Breeze, I was kind and agreed. And anyway I would be closer to the beach and the matatu into Mombasa on Saturday morning was more convenient from Bustani. The only slight inconvenience was packing up my leftover foodstuffs, but it was only for one night.
I walked over to Bustani and room 42. I was absolutely dripping sweat by the time I got there. The room was fine, although I had my usual problems operating the TV.
A relaxing day. A short stay on the beach. The usual visits to the Reef and the Nest. This time I didn’t call into Maasai Beach bar even once. I’d bought a packet of chipolatas to have with my remaining vegs and spaghetti. Had hoped to meet up with John ( Taita Hills ), but his partner was ill in hospital and he couldn’t make it.
So that was my 3 days in Nyali…nice to have stayed somewhere different for a change. Actually, Pam Breeze had a swimming pool which I didn’t find time to use. Nice weather too; only a few weeks earlier Mombasa experienced major flooding from the heavy rain.