Mombasa

[Member #4740]

My EU bank uses the actual exchange rate (yes, I checked) and only charge me 0. 5% forex fee. CoOp really doesn't charge anything. At least, not yet.

Which bank gives you 0.5%?

[Mars01]

Kenya is difficult why? In Mombasa there is no curfew, and I haven't seen police asking mask anymore, you can walk freely on beach. Most of the people don't use mask anymore. Situation may be different in the streets of Mwtapa, maybe police is still looking there extra money. But like leaving Casourina, no need to put mask on anymore.

If you refer Covid situation in Kenya, I have not followed so I don't know.

There was Nigeria mentioned as place to visit. Getting visa there may be easy if there is Nigerian embassy in your home country, or in a country where you are resident. But if there is not, then it get's very difficult. I spend lot of time and money to try to get visa there in 2018, and did not succeed. I hope better luck to people in this forum who try it.

Thank you Leblon it seams Keniya is not so bad then I thought. Maybe I will try it. If its bad I can easy go to Tanzania.

[Zimzam]

There is a Jamaican guy who has been very busy building up a very large place out of wood, makuti and a container next to the old beachbar, which unfortunately still remains closed.

The whole complex consists of several bars on different levels and on the other side several basic rooms out of makuti and stonebeds, which seemingly have to serve as short time accomodations.

Now the problem with the location is that it can be easily reached via the beach from Cobacabana beach when the water is low, but at high tide the place can only be reached via extremely bad roads through Maweni.

At the time I visited the place there were no cushions available, so we had to sit on the bare concrete benches, byt maybe that has improved now.

[Zimzam]

Casarina still gets busy at midnight as well as Big tree during the day, but Cheers has been pretty quiet lately. I have never been but Volume was busy over Christmas / N
d.

These days the Eagle Nest atttacts very few customers, it seems the owner (Jesus) has fallen in disgrace.

Also the places opposite the Birchtensgaden Bar have disappeared.

The Goldfish next door gets a lot of customers these days.

There is the Yacht Lounge opposite Lambada which is quite nice and comfortable but I heard that in the evening you have to pay 1000 and then they put 4 beers on your table. You are not allowed to change them for cold ones after a while.

[Univelton]

Kenya is difficult why? In Mombasa there is no curfew, and I haven't seen police asking mask anymore, you can walk freely on beach. Most of the people don't use mask anymore.

The same in South Africa.

[PookyMan]

Best way to bring USD and change it. Forget everything else. Don't open bank account unless you want to live there.

Rates in the exchange opposite Ethiopian Air in town is very good.

Maybe for an American. For a European I would recommend using a Maestro debit card and withdraw money at CoOp. Maybe DTB too, I never used it. My EU bank uses the actual exchange rate (yes, I checked) and only charge me 0. 5% forex fee. CoOp really doesn't charge anything. At least, not yet.

[Mombie75]

What I do is bring cash an change it with Mike at his Bora Bora exchange shop, I then go and put all that money into my mpesa, no need to have any cash then apart from the odd few thousand shillings in the pocket. Much easier.

[Mombie75]

I have been in Mombasa the last month. Mask wearing on the beach is nil, I still carry one and if I see Police I will pop it on and have at times been spotted and they say nothing. In Mtwapa / Nyali etc it is not worth the risk so I just wear it there.

Casarina still gets busy at midnight as well as Big tree during the day, but Cheers has been pretty quiet lately. I have never been but Volume was busy over Christmas / NY but with the Nairobi crowd gone now I am not sure if it still attracts.

DTB and NTSB bank charges me no withdrawal fee with my UK credit card.

[Leblon]

I have the same problem like you I can go in February and really don't know where to go. I think Madagascar is not possible in daressalam I was 5 times the last years. Kenya seems difficult because of the corona thing so I thought about Senegal. France quoted it as a green country also no visa or pcr test if you have vaccine. But I not know if mongering is good there the forum is not active there. Let us know where you decide to go. Mars.

Kenya is difficult why? In Mombasa there is no curfew, and I haven't seen police asking mask anymore, you can walk freely on beach. Most of the people don't use mask anymore. Situation may be different in the streets of Mwtapa, maybe police is still looking there extra money. But like leaving Casourina, no need to put mask on anymore.

If you refer Covid situation in Kenya, I have not followed so I don't know.

There was Nigeria mentioned as place to visit. Getting visa there may be easy if there is Nigerian embassy in your home country, or in a country where you are resident. But if there is not, then it get's very difficult. I spend lot of time and money to try to get visa there in 2018, and did not succeed. I hope better luck to people in this forum who try it.

[Member #4740]

Another way would be opening an Kenyan account. They have 8% p. A. interest rates for deposits.

Best way to bring USD and change it. Forget everything else. Don't open bank account unless you want to live there.

Rates in the exchange opposite Ethiopian Air in town is very good.

[SceticoBlu]

No cash withdrawal can be free of charge. You can check the tariff guide on DTB website. It might be cheaper than Equity Bank. But it cannot be free. Never.

For Kenyan cards withdrawel is still without fee.

Equity did not have the 5 Dollar fee for international cards till March 2021.

In the meantime I tried out DTB. They still have no additional fee but they calculate a lower exchange rate.

So the best for me in 2022 is withdrawing the maximum amount of 40.000 from Equity and pay the 5 USD.

Another way would be opening an Kenyan account. They have 8% p. A. interest rates for deposits.

[Univelton]

Sierra Leone comes to my mind. Nigeria for sure. Cote the Ivoire. But there's a host of other problems. Visa. COVID restrictions. Expensive and complicated flights. For the time I'd consider user friendlier countries. I. E. Kenya or Tanzania.

Neddy.

Who'll suffer a couple of months more in cold COVID / sex prison.

Without considering COVID related restrictions, my list will be Sierra Leone, Ghana, Senegal, Nigeria, Cote the'Ivoire, and Togo? By order of user friendliness only.

Of course, Tanzania in East Africa is the most open. In Southern Africa, I think South Africa is most open if you have your visa.

[Univelton]

Equity charges now 5 USD for each withdrawel with an international card. The machine annonced this before usage so I stopped and went to DTB. There no warning was issued.

Monday I will see on my account if it was a good idea to use DTB. At least on the receipt no additional fees are mentioned.

No cash withdrawal can be free of charge. You can check the tariff guide on DTB website. It might be cheaper than Equity Bank. But it cannot be free. Never.

[Neddy69]

Any ideas on where you'll head to next?

I have a rather short short list. Many west African countries still have current COVID restrictions in addition to crappy Visa regimes. Take your pick.

In general the more user friendly countries in terms of ease of Visa and accessibility are in East Africa. Uganda looks promising if the promise of M7 holds to reopen clubs on Jan 24th. Tanzania, Kenya and Rwanda are also currently ok. Ethiopia but with a big question mark as well as Madagascar.

West Africa currently possible is Senegal and The Gambia where you get also 3 months Visa or like Senegal Visa free access for many countries. Most other West African countries either crappy COVID restrictions or Visa expensive hard to obtain etc.

But I have also short listed Angola, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia and DRC. Let's see.

Neddy.

[Mars01]

For anyone who's spent time on the West Africa, I'm curious if that coast has any cities similar to Mombasa:

• Bored, beautiful girls

• Nice beaches

• Affordable

• Monger friendly

• (Language doesn't matter)

Any feedback is greatly appreciated.

I have the same problem like you I can go in February and really don't know where to go. I think Madagascar is not possible in daressalam I was 5 times the last years. Kenya seems difficult because of the corona thing so I thought about Senegal. France quoted it as a green country also no visa or pcr test if you have vaccine. But I not know if mongering is good there the forum is not active there. Let us know where you decide to go. Mars.