Mombasa

[Mombie75]

Gov. UK entry to Kenya says vaccinated travellers do not need a PCR test for entry. They are usually on the ball with these things.

[Rwenotmen]

Sorry to be the spoiler here, but there is no update on the Kenya Embassy in the US that the PCR or any Covid restrictions have been removed. In fact, it's business-as-usual: https://ke.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/

Same with the front page of Kenya's Ministry of Health site: https://www.health.go.ke/ -- nothing stating any restrictions have been removed.

Worse, the file in that dropbox is not an official government announcement unless it get promoted to the higher levels of GoK bureaucracy. Where did you even get that? Why not just link to the official source?

Also why no direct link to the Reuters article?? Here it is: https://www.reuters.com/world/africa...ns-2022-03-11/.

Despite what's written there, it doesn't mention the Ministry of Health at all. Reuters used to be so good. Are they becoming Fox News??

I cannot find ANY OFFICIAL statement by GoK that travel restrictions have been lifted. You would think the airlines would be the first to promote this, but I can't find anything.

Fair warning, so that you who will be traveling to Kenya soon (like me, by end-month, inshallah) won't be improperly informed. No worries, your airline won't even let you onboard if you don't meet the proper requirements, but still best to be prepared anyway.

[MtVadose]

Back from Mombasa again. I spent most of my time with the 1 girl from my last trip, gave her 16 k total for the 6 days / nights we were together, but cost me more on drinks, food and activities every day we were together, we went Malindi for a couple days too. I've never spent that much extended time with the one girl before, definitely great for most of it but she got a bit too comfortable at times too. I think best to rotate a bit more in future.

Nothing much has changed from my trip last November. The plane to Kenya was full this time but it didn't feel any busier on the ground. In Malindi most places were almost empty, we went for dinner in one resort and didn't see a single other guest.

Some new places I tried: Kingston beach lounge, nice spot but not that busy at 11 on a Friday, I didn't really see any opportunities. Volume club, super busy here Friday and Saturday, seemed similar crowd to nyali clubs plus some tourists in there. Standard Grill was almost empty between 10-11 on a Wednesday so didn't go in, club legend was closed when I tried it on a Wednesday too.

I used Diamond trust bank atms, no fees.

I went to Bamburi during the day with the girl I mentioned above, to see her place. My first time in this area, there seemed to be plenty of cool bars about from the outside at least, near the bamburi navidas supermarket. I would of liked to try some one night, though it's super local, I got stared at a lot while around there.

I think next trip I'll try somewhere else in Africa for a change of scene, but direct flights and less covid restrictions make it easier to visit Kenya than most other places currently.

[Albert9989]

Hi,

I will go to Kenya again for an organized safari ending by mid August. Then my plan would be to spend 1 more week around Mombasa, I plan to bring there a girl from Nairobi which I am chatting with since sometime.

I am trying to define where we should stay, one option could be to be an some kind of apartment where we can have a kitchen and cook meals.

So, we should have shops around not so far to buy some food to cook.

Beach should be also close as much as possible.

Or we could stay at hotel also.

Having the possibility to get some massage on site, in room would be also something I could like.

Budget for house or hotel can be around 50/60€ for two.

I have done some reading back in the forum but not so easy to get some clear idea of where to stay, Mtwapa, Diani. Or more quiet places?

Would be nice to have also some tourist activities around, things to visit.

So, I know that this will not be real mongering stay, but for those who have a good knowledge of this area, all advices about where to stay and what to rent will be very useful.

[Mopar Man]

NAIROBI, March 11 (Reuters) - Kenya lifted its remaining COVID-19 restrictions on Friday, including a ban on large indoor gatherings such as religious services and a requirement to present a negative COVID-19 test for arriving air passengers.

Thank you Zimzam and Mombie75 for locating this news. This is good news and makes travel simpler, easier and removes an additional expense. I was in Mtwapa from September of last year till this past January. A test was required coming and going. I figure it added at least $200 usd to my travel expenses as well as the inconvenience.

I just booked a ticket to return to Mtwapa in early April and stay a couple of months again. So this is nice news.

I'll attach the link to the Kenya Ministry of Health announcement from March 11.

Cheers to all.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/hiiuro1j7w...20712.pdf?dl=0

[Zimzam]

NAIROBI, March 11 (Reuters) - Kenya lifted its remaining COVID-19 restrictions on Friday, including a ban on large indoor gatherings such as religious services and a requirement to present a negative COVID-19 test for arriving air passengers.

[Mombie75]

No PCR test required before travel if vaccinated as well.

Apparantly the lady in Nbi was a diplomat for at the Zimbabwe embassy so Police acted quickly in arresting the culprits. Now the fall out is it is fair game hitting the bodas in the name of cleaning up the errant ones. Just Kenya being Kenya.

[MadDin19]

I feel sad for Mwtapa police if this is true. They were still working hard and extracting money from people that were not using masks. Which should have been easy since nobody was using masks anymore.

Was at Bamburi / Mtwapa in February for 2 weeks. No mask required, only in shopping center. Police not check mask.

[Leblon]

I heard that starting from today, masks are not anymore required in Kenya. Not even in supermarkets, which was last place where I have been using them, when entering to market.

I feel sad for Mwtapa police if this is true. They were still working hard and extracting money from people that were not using masks. Which should have been easy since nobody was using masks anymore.

What will police do now, I guess even they don't remember what was their purpose before?

Luckily they can start to arrest motocycle taxi drivers. There was some incident in Nairobi, some group of boda boda drivers harassed female car driver, was she even raped?

Now boda boda drivers are harassed by police especially in Nairobi, but also in Mombasa, in whole country maybe. If no proper documents, to the jail and have to pay 5000 shilllings to get out. Or even if papers are OK to the jail.

Drivers don't have that money of course.

[Zimzam]

I have never really considered to live in South Coast. As already mentioned the scene there is not very extended and things are not centered.

I find Mtwapa very convenient to live. Rents are cheap and almost everything I need is within walking distance.

For Kenyan standards the place is quite safe.

To my surprise I just saw recently that the population should be around 90.000 but there is still a village-like atmosphere and within few kilometers you can find the real African countryside and even unspoiled beaches.

Unfortunately the Cobacabana beach has changed drastically over the last few years Into some noisy kind of disneyland.

And yes, girls can be found Iitterally everywhere.

Now that Casuarina is open again you can see an endless parade of long legged chicks there.

[Leblon]

I see most posters are staying in Mtwapa. What do you see is the advantages? I assume you've considered both north and south Mombasa.

Diani in south is like peaceful village. Beautiful beaches, calm, small paradise. But after short time you know already all the people there. Night life is good in Friday and Saturday in Manyatta and Tandori. Girls are coming from Ugunda, Likoni, some from Mombasa town.

I like to visit Diani but after a while there I get bored, better just to visit on Saturday or for a weekend.

North, like Mombie write, has much more action, and much more people. Many places to go.

[Mombie75]

South coast, Ukunda, can be pretty quiet at times.

North coast, Nyali, Bamburi, Shanzu, Mtwapa is busier.

[Slowalk]

I see most posters are staying in Mtwapa. What do you see is the advantages? I assume you've considered both north and south Mombasa.

[Zimzam]

A well-known figure in Mtwapa, the German owner of the Eaglenest Bar, known by the names of Jesus or Hallelujah, because of his long beard and inseparable hat, has died.

Already his ailing Eaglenest is being renovated now by new owner (s?

[Slowalk]

You wrote that you paid 30 k for a taxi drive, from Mombasa? Surely there is extra 0 by mistake...

Thanks for catching my error: I paid KSh 3 k for the taxi. But I used the taxi to go around Mombasa such as Ft Jesus, etc... as well. I paid KSh 2 k bus ride from Malaba (Uganda-Kenya border) to Mombasa.