Sat 3rd. After a early breakfast we caught the matatu to Mombasa. A comfortable ride with social distancing and Mike blasting out his music. Our fellow passengers found it amusing but enjoyable. We called in briefly at Ethiopian airlines office then got a tuk tuk to the ferry. There was a Shimoni bus on the other side but it was 45 mins before we left, so the whole journey took much longer than usual.
We immediately went to Kisite guest house where Frank was awaiting our arrival. In my view the rooms were very comfortable for 1,000….mossie net, fan and it was ensuite…but not sure how impressed Mike was. I introduced him to Wasini View..with a nice waterfront view….and Shimoni Reef htl with an equally nice waterfront view, and we stayed there until sunset. I had forgotten that I’m known as Ali at Shimoni Reef !!! Walked back through the village and stopped for a cheap meal; I had beans and Mike had fish.
Forgot to say that earlier we called in at Kisite Marine Reserve HQ as it was close to Wasini View, and Mike decided he wanted to go snorkelling the next day. I just wasn’t interested. After dinner we went virtually next door and watched some pay per view football. It was a small room with tiered wooden benches and cost 40 bob.
After an early ish b’fast I went with Mike to the Kisite marine HQ to see him off on his snorkelling excursion. I walked down to Shimoni Gardens, or Coral Spirit as it will be known in future. It seemed to me like the renovation/refurbishment had ground to a halt, not much progress since I saw it in January . I went further down to where the coral outcrops were and relaxed on a little bit of exposed sand for a couple of hours.
I returned to the guest house, had a shower and went to the Marine HQ for 1:30. Ali had said I could go over to Wasini island on his boat, for free. I committed myself to having lunch on the island, which I knew wouldn’t be any good, but I was saving a lot of money by getting a free boat ride. Met up with Mike and his boat party. I’m glad I didn’t do the snorkelling because the sea was a bit rough and people were puking left right and centre !! As expected, the lunch for 1,000ksh..7 quid..was terrible value, but a nice sea journey nevertheless. Followed by a tour of Wasini village which was chaotic. The guide was awful; people were drifting off…..I was reminded why I never want to be part of a large group of tourists…So boring. On this occasion my only expense was the 1,000 so I didn’t feel too bad. On the boat back, the crew whilst using a couple of big empty water containers as drums, sang Malaika and Hakuna Matata. That was great fun, I must admit. Had heard it/them so many times when I was living in Shimoni but never seen/been part of it before.
That day the sunset drink was at Wasini View hotel….Followed by dinner across the road from the previous night. It was hilarious because I got the order slightly wrong and we ate an omelette each after sharing a chips omelette. All tasty though , then turned in for the night.
Apr 5th. Another early start as we didn’t want to waste any time getting to Ukunda. We had chai and mandazi next to the bus stage so no way we could be left behind. Not really that far to Ukunda….an hour’s journey I think. We checked into the Classic htl nearly opposite Rongai htl at the main junction. Classic was recommended by Taveta Michael who we met up with in Kilifi, and not too bad for 1,500ksh…10 or 11 quid.
We got a tuk tuk to the beach road…50 bob each. I think we both needed to change some money first. We got off at Tradewinds beach, where Diani Campsite is…..where I stayed with the kids and Dad in 2010. Mike and I walked up the beach as far as Amigos beach bar and had a drink. I think we also went 100 or so metres to Nomad Htl for a much more expensive drink. From Amigos we walked to the main road and got a tuk tuk back to Ukunda.
After putting on more appropriate evening clothes we went to Swahili Pot for dinner….very good actually. It was already dark and Mike wanted to go back to Amigos for a drink. I wasn’t that keen but agreed to go along. Just before our destination we noticed that Manyatta bar seemed quite lively and went there instead. Then one of the biggest scares of all my travels. I was paying for the tuk tuk and then went and joined Mike at a table. I almost immediately noticed my phone was missing. I walked back to where I thought we got out of the tuk tuk….All the time panicking quietly. One of the bouncers saw me and lifted my phone up and asked if that was it. Yes of course and I thanked him whilst sitting down trying to regain my composure. In the meantime two young ladies joined us, which made Mike happy, and they were happy too, as they got a few drinks out of us. I told Mike I was leaving by 8:45 so as to ensure we beat the curfew. He wasn’t overjoyed but we got a tuk tuk to the hotel.
Mike was enjoying Diani and we decided to stay another day. Breakfast was had at Rongai and then we headed to Amigos where we said we’d meet one of the girls from the night before. But before that, following on from discussions over the two previous days, we called in at a Tours Agency and booked a one day safari to Tsavo East for Thurs 8th. Mike wanted to complete his Kenya experience by doing some Game viewing. He wanted me to go along, and I agreed, thinking it would be fun with him and it had been about 10 years since I went on a safari anyway.
So we met Diana at Amigos and Mike had also got chatting to Fatima. I kept myself to myself as much ad possible and didn’t join in the lunch. We all walked back down to the Tradewinds end of the beach. We got a tuk tuk to Rongai and had a couple of drinks. Diana disappeared; Mike went to his room and I had a lovely afternoon with Fatima. Then 3 of us went to Swahili Pot for dinner.. Very nice evening.
Apr 7th. Mike and I left after b’fast for Nyali…north coast Mombasa. So, matatu to the ferry; tuk tuk at the other end to Mombasa hospital so Mike could have his Covid PCR test for his onward journey on the 9th. I think by then I had been contacted by Chrissie to ask if I wanted to house sit for her in Addis Ababa while she went for a 3 months holiday to the UK. It hadn’t taken me long to accept the offer and I went to the Ethiopian airlines office to book a flight. After a few hours I met up with Mike at the Sheratton to collect his big suitcase.
Then we took a Bolt taxi to Nyali and the Leinmach hotel which Mike found on the internet. Nice hotel and the rooms were absolutely huge. In fact mine comprised 2 rooms and 2 bathrooms and was classed as a single. At a cost of 2,500ksh…about 17 quid. We had to celebrate with a drink, and the beach was within walking distance. Walked to Maasai Beach bar. Nice. Then tuk tuk to Dhow House not far from our hotel. A light dinner was has there. And by drinking 3 bottles of Guinness Smooth between us, Mike got himself a Guinness Smooth T shirt.
Apr 8th. Well, that was the big day. Our Land Cruiser arrived before 6 and we were on our way to Tsavo East . We paid £100 each which I thought was excellent value as the transport was just for the two of us. So the vehicle, the driver, the Park entry fees, and lunch at Lion Hill safari lodge. So, about 6 hours in the Park. The most exciting part was seeing the elephants up close and one in particular blocking the road in front of us. Of course we saw zebra, giraffe, buffalo, waterbuck amd lots of different gazelles. Oh, warthog, guinea fowl. The only thing we missed out on were the big cats…no lion or cheetah.
A fabulous day out which gave Mike the whole Kenya experience at a very low cost. And I had a brilliant time showing him around. We headed back to the Nyali hotel. Went to a different hotel by the beach and back to Dhow House where we had the 3 Guinness to get me a T-shirt. So, the end of quite an adventure. The next morning we left the hotel together in a taxi….but he went to pick up his test results and head to the airport and I went to Mwembe Tayari to get a matatu to Taveta.