Mombasa

[Jbond]

Compared to some other places in Africa and South America and Carribean, I actually felt pretty safe in Mombasa so don't want to exaggerate the dangers by posting this, but think that it is a good cautionary tale.

One thing that freaks me out whenever I monger is getting my drink spiked. Not only for the reason that it would [CodeWord140] me of to wake up in the afternoon the next day with a terrible head ache and my stuff stolen, but that the idea of some malaya not knowing what she is doing could actually put too much of the knock out drug in the drink and cause permanent health damage or maybe even death.

Most Mombasa places are pretty good about opening your beer in front of you, and if you are away from the table then they leave the drink with the bottle cap on until you return and then open it for you. I think that the best defense strategy is to not look like an easy and lucrative target and to always keep an eye on your drink and even taking it to the bath room with you if nature calls. Anyway, this tale, told to me by a malaya, really freaked me out so thought that I would post it as a word of caution as it is a pretty clever scam.

I thought that it would be funny to see where this one cute little Kenyan lady lived, so I suggested that she cook me dinner one evening. Will leave details for my still to be written trip report, but it was a pretty good experience.

However, she told me that the girl that rented the room next to her needed to stay in her room all day since an angry mzungu was looking for her. The reason that the mzungu was angry:

Basically this girl (that I didn't see) goes to Casaurina every now and then, but not to pick up mzungus, she looks to spike their drinks and rob them instead. Basically her scam is as follows: She spots a mzungu sitting by himself and gets his attention, eventually sitting down and talking to him and waiting for him to be interested enough to order her a drink. The drink she then gets is some sort of exotic Kenyan fruit punch with a bit of alcohol and decorated with parasols etc so it looks really nice and delicious. She takes a few sips from the drink, then she spikes it. She then pretends to take a sip from it, and offers the mzungu a taste before putting it down. The mzungu, having just seen her drink from it, assumes that there is no problem with it, takes a sip, then after a little while passes out. If the mzungu declines the drink then after a little while her friend will bump her so that she spills the drink and she tries it again with someone else instead.

This girl needed to hide for a few days since she had just robbed a mzungu of his phone, watch, wallet etc and he was walking around Mtwapa looking for her, but she knew which hotel he was staying at and from the helpful hotel staff when he was supposed to fly back home so only needed to stay home for another few days.

Not trying to freak people out, but be careful out there.

Well I don't know what everyone else thinks but this girl is a menace. A danger to us fellow hunters and gives the girls, her friends, mtwapa and Kenya a bad name. Apart from the fact that she would also try to do this without hesitation to me or my friends. If she is contemplating this she would stoop at nothing, what next murder. One of the very few occasions in my life, I would actively hand somebody into the police and good riddance! I would also say her plan is pretty crazy. The Mzungu is more likely to pass out everywhere but his hotel room and could end up killing him if he is not in the best of health.

[Fun And Sun]

Compared to some other places in Africa and South America and Carribean, I actually felt pretty safe in Mombasa so don't want to exaggerate the dangers by posting this, but think that it is a good cautionary tale.

One thing that freaks me out whenever I monger is getting my drink spiked. Not only for the reason that it would [CodeWord140] me of to wake up in the afternoon the next day with a terrible head ache and my stuff stolen, but that the idea of some malaya not knowing what she is doing could actually put too much of the knock out drug in the drink and cause permanent health damage or maybe even death.

Most Mombasa places are pretty good about opening your beer in front of you, and if you are away from the table then they leave the drink with the bottle cap on until you return and then open it for you.

I think that the best defense strategy is to not look like an easy and lucrative target and to always keep an eye on your drink and even taking it to the bath room with you if nature calls. Anyway, this tale, told to me by a malaya, really freaked me out so thought that I would post it as a word of caution as it is a pretty clever scam.

I thought that it would be funny to see where this one cute little Kenyan lady lived, so I suggested that she cook me dinner one evening. Will leave details for my still to be written trip report, but it was a pretty good experience.

However, she told me that the girl that rented the room next to her needed to stay in her room all day since an angry mzungu was looking for her. The reason that the mzungu was angry:

Basically this girl (that I didn't see) goes to Casaurina every now and then, but not to pick up mzungus, she looks to spike their drinks and rob them instead. Basically her scam is as follows: She spots a mzungu sitting by himself and gets his attention, eventually sitting down and talking to him and waiting for him to be interested enough to order her a drink. The drink she then gets is some sort of exotic Kenyan fruit punch with a bit of alcohol and decorated with parasols etc so it looks really nice and delicious. She takes a few sips from the drink, then she spikes it. She then pretends to take a sip from it, and offers the mzungu a taste before putting it down. The mzungu, having just seen her drink from it, assumes that there is no problem with it, takes a sip, then after a little while passes out. If the mzungu declines the drink then after a little while her friend will bump her so that she spills the drink and she tries it again with someone else instead.

This girl needed to hide for a few days since she had just robbed a mzungu of his phone, watch, wallet etc and he was walking around Mtwapa looking for her, but she knew which hotel he was staying at and from the helpful hotel staff when he was supposed to fly back home so only needed to stay home for another few days.

Not trying to freak people out, but be careful out there.

[Fun And Sun]

Second, how comes men are involved when you meet a girl to bring to a hotel? When men follow you (boyfriend, brother, gang member, do you know them?) , or the girl starts to make many last minute phone calls, get rid of her there and than. You pay, she plays, you'll pay for her time so don't entertain nonsense guys.

Third, pick your own taxi when you come from a club, don't follow the girls advise, yes she insists certain taxis because she's getting a commission later, but these taxi drivers know too much, and that CAN be risky! When I am at a strange place, I pick a car, not a driver, I look if the fuel tank is not too low, than when the driver is OK too, thats my taxi!

To the girls, to taxi drivers, to the barman, to others in a club. Any information you give on what you bring to Kenya, where you stay, room numbers, even your real name and which country you are from CAN be a risk.

Additional, have a small talk to the guards on duty, give them something small like 100 shilling for soda or lunch, he'll look after you and your room much better!

When you report stolen things to the tourist police, give them like 500 shilling when talking, he'll give you great service and a fantastic statement to claim your lost items (and more) for your insurance.

This is some really good advice Expat. There is no reason for anyone to know where you are staying, what your real name is (I always use a mongering nom de guerre) , or how long you are staying for. I always say that I am around for several weeks since that makes for better service from the girls since chances of repeat business go up they think and then if they plan to rob me or set me up they will think they have time.

I also try not to come across as an easy and lucrative target. This doesn't mean not enjoying myself, but it's helpful not to be the drunkest and loudest person in the bar. Criminals look for easy targets, and there are plenty of drunk and dumb mzungus staggering around at Tembo etc. It is fine to wear nice and clean clothes, but don't flash your wealth by wearing designer stuff when you go out. Don't tell people what car you drive at home, how much money you make, how much your hotel costs per night, how much your airplane ticket cost or things like that. You really don't need to impress a malaya for her to go with you so just say you work at some pretty menial and low paid job. Don't go around handing out your business card to people and malayas either, am amazed by the number of mongerers I have seen doing this.

Also, don't tell anyone that you are there by yourself. Tell them that your friends went somewhere with their African girlfriends that night if you are asked.

Obviously, never, ever tell anyone that this is your first trip to Africa or to Kenya. That is not a social question, that is the girl / the driver / the receptionist, or whomever trying to gauge if you are naive so they can over charge you at best or try to pull a bigger scam or even set you up for robbery at worst.

[Jbond]

One of the working girls told me that the night staff are crooks at Whitesands as well. She went there with a Mzungu, by the time he finished paying off all the night staff, he had parted with a huge amount of shillings on top of his very expensive room rate. What made it worse, when she left the room early morning one of the managers forced her to give over most of the money she had been given by the mzungu or face the alternative to be handed over to the police under some false charges! Look at the end of the day there is no guarantee wherever you are. Whenever I talk about these things with people in Kenya they always say'Well you know this is Africa'!

[Tonkazan]

Well my golden rule is unless I am going to fuck the girl, I don't give into the hundreds of girls that ask for a beer and the beer is usually opened in front of me. I hate the way most of these girls want to take advantage and no lack of manners asking a guy who you have never met before nor likely to see again for a drink. I always add that it is for the mzungu to offer to buy a drink not for one of these girls to forcefully demand a drink. Poor, rich, educated or not you can tell if the girl is worth taking on with regards this point alone. Too many mzungus blindly buy drinks for these girls fueling their disrespect for us fellow hunters. Their is a racket going on in Casaurina with some of the waiters and the girls for example. I was sitting there at the beginning of the evening and a girl came and sit with me at my table followed by a waiter as soon as she uttered the word Hello, the waiter was trying to force me to buy her a drink.

I didn't know her, like her or even uttered a word to her. I let my view be known to them and the manager.

I totally agree with you. I have no problem buying a girl a drink, if I like her, and plan to fuck her. But nobody should be forced to buy drinks if you don't want to. I used to face the same requests at Casablanca, but they would walk away if I ignored them. Two months back, some girl came to my table and sat, uninvited, and asked for a drink. As usual, I ignored her. She became persistent and did not want to leave me alone. When I got tired of her nonsense, I called the waiter and asked him to get rid of her, otherwise I would leave. She was chased away, and warned to stay away from me. Since then, I have not seen any girls coming to my table, unless invited. Sometimes, you have to be tough to get some respect.

[Jbond]

JP, this can happen anywhere on coast and it is not new. Compared to other counties where prostitution is high, coast is relatively safe to be, did you get injured? Lets hope not!

Currently Mtwapa is overloaded with mzungus and almost all hostels are full, imagine how many rooms there are here, and only every few days there is one of those thefts by this gang.

First, in Mtwapa are no secured beach hotels as in Bamburi, Shanzu etc, you pay less, unmotivated security lives on kes 4000 a month, and if you insist to bring large amounts of money, cameras, jewelery, AND fuck many girls during your holiday, choose an hotel accordingly like white sands. ALWAYS use a hotel safe for Christ sake!

Second, how comes men are involved when you meet a girl to bring to a hotel? When men follow you (boyfriend, brother, gang member, do you know them?) , or the girl starts to make many last minute phone calls, get rid of her there and than. You pay, she plays, you'll pay for her time so don't entertain nonsense guys.

One of the working girls told me that the night staff are crooks at Whitesands. She went there with a Mzungu by the time he fnished paying all the night staff off he had parted with a huge amount of shillings. What made it worse, when she left the room early morning one of the managers forced her to give over most of the money she had been given by the mzungu or the alternative to be handed over to the police under some false charge! Look at the end of the day there is no guarantee wherever you are. Whenever I talk about these things with people in Kenya they always say'Well you know this is Africa'!

Third, pick your own taxi when you come from a club, don't follow the girls advise, yes she insists certain taxis because she's getting a commission later, but these taxi drivers know too much, and that CAN be risky! When I am at a strange place, I pick a car, not a driver, I look if the fuel tank is not too low, than when the driver is OK too, thats my taxi!

Fourth, in Mtwapa you do not have to leave your hotel key anywhere, take it with you, insist! Watch what you're talking with anyone!

To the girls, to taxi drivers, to the barman, to others in a club. Any information you give on what you bring to Kenya, where you stay, room numbers, even your real name and which country you are from CAN be a risk.

At the reception: " I am looking for Mr so and so from Uk, he's about 35 years old, he carried this and this, can I see if he's in his room, room number 9?" (gives 100 shilling to the receptionist)"yes you can".

Additional, have a small talk to the guards on duty, give them something small like 100 shilling for soda or lunch, he'll look after you and your room much better!

When you report stolen things to the tourist police, give them like 500 shilling when talking, he'll give you great service and a fantastic statement to claim your lost items (and more) for your insurance.

[Member #4178]

Sorry if I was unclear here it is.

Its not about a girl you know or meet.

1. The gang has an observer.

2. A decent woman cheak in to the same hotel base on the observer info.

3. The observer call the woman when the muzungu leave the hotel.

4. Another man come to the hotel with a master key to join the woman.

5. They take all the things.

6. The cheak out.

7. They left my passport and the eticket out of the hotel on the ground.

3 of the gang members was already arrested but the woman with my stuff not yet.

The task foce has found the frist lead with mi since the observer took beers in a bar next to my hotel.

The mombasa police is extremely effective because they pressed by the police commissioner.

We has break the observer in less then 20 minutes using methods seen only in the horror movies. But he start to sing like bird.

PLEASE do not leave nothing in the room. Any room.

JP

[Expat Kenya]

Hi.

I am at mtwapa and there is a gang from rwanda that operate here at the last month.

More then 25 cases of breaking to hotels and stealing everthing.

I am the last case. The police chief has been appointed a task fors to that. And they trying to hunt them.

The gung has 4 guys and a girl. After a muzungu has been seen talking he follow by them. Then the woman cheak.

In to the hotel and pay for one night. After the tourist leaves his room another guy comes to the hotel with a master key. After 5 minutes hey cheek out.

The kenya cheif of police order to find them so this is very critical issue because it happens Evey few day.

Don't come to mtwapa and never leave anything in the room. Remember the gang are cheeking in as a normal guest.

Please ask the local tourist police about it. The hotel will say nothing in order not to loss the costomers.

I hope to get back my stuff.

JP

JP, this can happen anywhere on coast and it is not new. Compared to other counties where prostitution is high, coast is relatively safe to be, did you get injured? Lets hope not!

Currently Mtwapa is overloaded with mzungus and almost all hostels are full, imagine how many rooms there are here, and only every few days there is one of those thefts by this gang.

First, in Mtwapa are no secured beach hotels as in Bamburi, Shanzu etc, you pay less, unmotivated security lives on kes 4000 a month, and if you insist to bring large amounts of money, cameras, jewelery, AND fuck many girls during your holiday, choose an hotel accordingly like white sands. ALWAYS use a hotel safe for Christ sake!

Second, how comes men are involved when you meet a girl to bring to a hotel? When men follow you (boyfriend, brother, gang member, do you know them?) , or the girl starts to make many last minute phone calls, get rid of her there and than. You pay, she plays, you'll pay for her time so don't entertain nonsense guys.

Third, pick your own taxi when you come from a club, don't follow the girls advise, yes she insists certain taxis because she's getting a commission later, but these taxi drivers know too much, and that CAN be risky! When I am at a strange place, I pick a car, not a driver, I look if the fuel tank is not too low, than when the driver is OK too, thats my taxi!

Fourth, in Mtwapa you do not have to leave your hotel key anywhere, take it with you, insist! Watch what you're talking with anyone!

To the girls, to taxi drivers, to the barman, to others in a club. Any information you give on what you bring to Kenya, where you stay, room numbers, even your real name and which country you are from CAN be a risk.

At the reception: " I am looking for Mr so and so from Uk, he's about 35 years old, he carried this and this, can I see if he's in his room, room number 9?" (gives 100 shilling to the receptionist)"yes you can".

Additional, have a small talk to the guards on duty, give them something small like 100 shilling for soda or lunch, he'll look after you and your room much better!

When you report stolen things to the tourist police, give them like 500 shilling when talking, he'll give you great service and a fantastic statement to claim your lost items (and more) for your insurance.

[Jbond]

Willyboy was saying.

When girls you ask for drinks in nightclubs, the barman gives them a bottle of water in a beer bottle or smirnoff ice bottle.

The mzungu pays, lets say kes 150, the girl keeps kes 100, the barman gets 50 bob.

At Bamburi Big Tree we saw a fresh mzungu who paid kes 1700 (some 17 euro) for one bottle of Picana fruit juice without receipt, without complaint!

We were wondering how Kenyans look at us stupid mzungus, afraid and accepting anything we are told.

Furthermore, Willyboy stuck to a decent well groomed respectable and attractive working lady, who kept him.

Company and fucked his balls of for an appreciation of 1000 shilling per night, excluding drinks and food.

Money was not an issue for her, thats how sweet Kenya can be!

Well my golden rule is unless I am going to fuck the girl, I don't give into the hundreds of girls that ask for a beer and the beer is usually opened in front of me. I hate the way most of these girls want to take advantage and no lack of manners asking a guy who you have never met before nor likely to see again for a drink. I always add that it is for the mzungu to offer to buy a drink not for one of these girls to forcefully demand a drink. Poor, rich, educated or not you can tell if the girl is worth taking on with regards this point alone. Too many mzungus blindly buy drinks for these girls fueling their disrespect for us fellow hunters. Their is a racket going on in Casaurina with some of the waiters and the girls for example. I was sitting there at the beginning of the evening and a girl came and sit with me at my table followed by a waiter as soon as she uttered the word Hello, the waiter was trying to force me to buy her a drink.

I didn't know her, like her or even uttered a word to her. I let my view be known to them and the manager.

[Jbond]

Willyboy was saying.

When girls you ask for drinks in nightclubs, the barman gives them a bottle of water in a beer bottle or smirnoff ice bottle.

The mzungu pays, lets say kes 150, the girl keeps kes 100, the barman gets 50 bob.

At Bamburi Big Tree we saw a fresh mzungu who paid kes 1700 (some 17 euro) for one bottle of Picana fruit juice without receipt, without complaint!

We were wondering how Kenyans look at us stupid mzungus, afraid and accepting anything we are told.

Furthermore, Willyboy stuck to a decent well groomed respectable and attractive working lady, who kept him company and fucked his balls of for an appreciation of 1000 shilling per night, excluding drinks and food.

Money was not an issue for her, thats how sweet Kenya can be!

[Jbond]

Hi.

I am at mtwapa and there is a gang from rwanda that operate here at the last month.

More then 25 cases of breaking to hotels and stealing everthing.

I am the last case. The police chief has been appointed a task fors to that. And they trying to hunt them.

The gung has 4 guys and a girl. After a muzungu has been seen talking he follow by them. Then the woman cheak.

In to the hotel and pay for one night. After the tourist leaves his room another guy comes to the hotel with a master key. After 5 minutes hey cheek out.

The kenya cheif of police order to find them so this is very critical issue because it happens Evey few day.

Don't come to mtwapa and never leave anything in the room. Remember the gang are cheeking in as a normal guest.

Please ask the local tourist police about it. The hotel will say nothing in order not to loss the costomers.

I hope to get back my stuff.

JP

Sorry to hear about your experience. Could you be clearer. So the girl talks to the mzungu and then they follow him to his hotel and check in. I would find it strange if I was talking to a girl and the next minute she is checked in the same hotel as me with her buddies and surely they wouldn't have access to a master key. How do they get the master key? Surely if it has happend so many times they would recognise the gang by now. It sounds more like an inside job to me. Everyone is right, the security is diabolical at Kendas. When I have been there and no one is in reception I hang on to the key. I am worried about using Kendas Arcade again after your experience.

[Jbond]

Hi.

I am at mtwapa and there is a gang from rwanda that operate here at the last month.

More then 25 cases of breaking to hotels and stealing everthing.

I am the last case. The police chief has been appointed a task fors to that. And they trying to hunt them.

The gung has 4 guys and a girl. After a muzungu has been seen talking he follow by them. Then the woman cheak.

In to the hotel and pay for one night. After the tourist leaves his room another guy comes to the hotel with a master key. After 5 minutes hey cheek out.

The kenya cheif of police order to find them so this is very critical issue because it happens Evey few day.

Don't come to mtwapa and never leave anything in the room. Remember the gang are cheeking in as a normal guest.

Please ask the local tourist police about it. The hotel will say nothing in order not to loss the costomers.

I hope to get back my stuff.

JP

[Gladiator]

I've just read the report on the break-in at the Kendas Arcade hotel, posted a few weeks ago; I've stayed there 2 weeks before with no issues, a few years ago, but I did notice that the security level left much to be desired, so even though I didn't have any problems I am not really surprised by that report.

[Member #4178]

Hi.

I am at mtwapa and there is a gang from rwanda that operate here at the last month.

More then 25 cases of breaking to hotels and stealing everthing.

I am the last case. The police chief has been appointed a task fors to that. And they trying to hunt them.

The gung has 4 guys and a girl. After a muzungu has been seen talking he follow by them. Then the woman cheak.

In to the hotel and pay for one night. After the tourist leaves his room another guy comes to the hotel with a master key. After 5 minutes hey cheek out.

The kenya cheif of police order to find them so this is very critical issue because it happens Evey few day.

Don't come to mtwapa and never leave anything in the room. Remember the gang are cheeking in as a normal guest.

Please ask the local tourist police about it. The hotel will say nothing in order not to loss the costomers.

I hope to get back my stuff.

JP

[Bushwackerd]

1) Welcome to Mombasa!

2) Whitesands is the biggest hotel on Bamburi Beach and very family-oriented. With other words : you'll get many tongues wagging if you are seen with a different girl every day On the other hand : June is low season and they may be grateful for your booking nevertheless. Lastly, they consider themselves 5 star and, not only in my opinion, are 3 1/2 or so at best. If you want real 5 star amenities, then Serena Beach is the only one on the North Coast.

3) The Tourist Police keep WG's off the beach these days, meaning that the massage girls trolling the beaches are (mostly, I guess) just that. Some have little shacks right on the beach (low milage, but safe in terms of personal security) whereas the milage increases if she has an off-beach "parlor", but you have to make sure that nobody rifles thru your stuff whle you are otherwise occupied.

4) Tembo, Casuarina etc plus tens of smaller clubs are waiting for you. June is off-season, meaning all the sharks are out there cruising and getting very desperate with very little to feed on; best time for a seasoned monger. You won't have much competition either in early Jul, but everything starts filling to capacity by mid month, I. E. Best time to go to France or Germany then where only the poor moneyless locals are left behind.

Hi Lustyhombre,

Thank you for all your advice on my question, you have certainly wetted my appitite for my visit?

Your info on the hotels was interesting, which I will have to look into, as I chose the Whitesands due to its location. Not sure about the Serena, as not sure of it's location but will have a look as you said it was on the north coast.

I will be booking in the January Sales, so am hoping to get a good deal, where the Serena might be the same price as the Whitesands if they are all trying to get bussiness at that time of the year?

Sounds like I will need to get into 'shape' as I will have to fight them off if I go into a club or bar. Sounds like I am going to visit at the right time, which to be honest was more through luck and times I could visit. Still, lots of things to organise and start looking forward to.

Any other advice would be greatfully received, even through a message. It is forums like these that make visiting abroad far less stressful, with detailed inside information.

Thanks once again.

BushwackerD