Mombasa

[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.

[Leblon]

This is a bit more than Mombasa but Ill post it regardless.

I'm living in West Kenya and decided it was time to take a trip to Mombasa. Normally, I'm not the "tourist type" but since this was my first time to the area, I booked a resort right on Diani Beach for the peace of it while I explore. For many reasons, even though it was a 15 hour ride through the night, taking a KSh 2 k bus was my best option.

The temperature varies across Kenya. To the west of Nairobi, Nakuru and especially Eldoret are high altitude cities. The temperature is reasonable in the day and cool (Eldoret is cold) at night. The altitude gradually decreases westward past Webuye and Bungoma to the Uganda border. Bungoma is dryer and warmer during the day but cool at night. East of Nairobi, the road descends to the coast and becomes hot and humid. Between Nairobi and Mombasa, the road passes through Tsavo where I saw many Zebra, Baboons, Monkeys and Elephants along the road.

After an all-night fifteen hour bus ride across Kenya, I got off my bus in Mombasa. Mombasa Island is a "One Day That's Enough" destination. However, the nearby coastal areas are significantly better but all roads go into Mombasa. I took a 2 hour KSh 30 k taxi ride south to Diani Beach. All vehicles traveling south of Mombasa must take a ferry between Mombasa island and the mainland. Wait times vary drastically. We waited 20 minutes going but 2 hours returning just to get on the ferry then 45 minutes more for the ferry to wait and cross. The drive was then another 1-1/2 HR to Diani-Ukundo.

The next time I go to the coast, I will find a place in Ukundo near Diani. Diani is dominated by the resorts whereas Ukundo has many expats, retirees and tourists. There is much more quality food, shopping and entertainment in this area than most African locations. I could exchanged dollars at the grocery markets at rates better than banks (the worst), airport or forex. I'm sorry I can't give many details or places because I simply drifted about looking for things a resident not a tourist looks for. I found the women generally prettier than away from tourist spots.

Carousing in African countries is nothing like carousing in Thailand or the PI or the DR. In most locations, you don't go to nightclubs and find women. African nightclubs don't pay women to attract foreign men. Nightclubs are filled with African men who sometimes might take their girlfriend and her friend with them {never his wife (s)}. However, if you do go, nearly every woman will subtly or openly try to get your attention. African women are sensitive to gossip. The coastal areas where tourism is high is slightly different. Most Africans there aren't local and have no fear of slander. They are there to hunt.

However, like most of Africa, the daytime is better than night time to score. The best way to meet a quality person is to walk around during the day and look for a good looking woman. Don't expect to find someone you are attracted to immediately. Africa has a lot of ugly and even more stink. When you see someone you want, be polite and make conversation. Don't be pushy or embarrass her in front of others.

Africans expect foreigners to have a certain look and behavior. Don't over dress or think you are going to draw positive attention with your moves on the dance floor. You are simple and embarrassing to everyone around you. Also, don't under-dress. The "Homeless Look" will bring you only disrespect. African men never wear shorts; foreigners wear shorts. If you are black and want to be recognized as a foreigner, wear shorts. You are are likely light skinned to Africans and they will call you white anyhow.

Generally, African women prefer older foreign men. In every country in the world, young people, especially foreigners, are more attractive to locals. However, even in the villages, Africans know that young men make for poor relationships. Older men are seen as better providers. This is a subtle concept: African men give money to their women. They are not paying them to be their women; they are providing for their care. If you respect an African woman, give her money. If you don't understand that, go practice your moves on the dance floor.

RULES:

1) Getting Her Will Be Easy; Getting Rid of Her Will Not: One of the Posters here had a good method. Walk her to a taxi, tuktuk, moto, matatu or bus and give some security money then see her off.

2) Be Self-Sufficient: Most Africans have no concept of how to manage anything such as money or time or even their own lives so don't EVER depend on them.

3) Never Bring Her Home: The goal for an African is to establish a love relationship with a foreigner and leave Africa. Once there, it is guaranteed that they will even abandon a wealthy, young and very good looking relationship for something different. But then again, you can't help but love someone who admires your moves on the dance floor.

Slowalk, Thank you for a report.

Diani and Ukunda are generally considered as part of the Mombasa, also in this Forum. They are South Beach. Administratively they belong to different county, but so does Mwtapa.

I was there in Diani also in a weekend and I was planning to write a report but often I am just too busy and lazy, maybe I will write now that I mentioned it here.

You wrote that you paid 30 k for a taxi drive, from Mombasa? Surely there is extra 0 by mistake, since you paid 2 k for your bus drive from Nairobi?

You can get there with 4000 shillings from Bamburi beach, even from Mwtapa, even that could be musungu prize?

[Slowalk]

When we returned 2 hours later, the flat door was not locked any more.

Don't just do nothing; that's what the perps are hoping for.

If the security guard works for an agency, have the owner contact them. There will be ramifications.

Look for someone free spending. Africans can't help themselves.

Someone saw it. Other residents don't want thieves among them either.

I was surprised at how many Africans can pick locks. The caretaker of my compound lost the key to the tool shed. I mentioned it to a TukTuk driver one day in a conversation. When he dropped me off, he got out with me, walked to the shed, took a nail from his pocket and picked the lock in less than 30 s. He's not a criminal, it's simply necessity.

[John Auro]

Apartment Theft.

"Stupidity gets punished" about 4000 EURO gone by it. (phone and a camera 2500 EURO, cash 1500 EURO). Some Apartment / Condominum (near Bamburi, Mombasa) has a reputation to be a save place. Some foreigners rent the spacious apartments per year and they sub-rent them, mostly for 4000 KSH per day. I even spoke to a lady at the ground floor, as she leaves doors and windows open even if she is not around, however the gate with the watchmen is nearby. (But as she later told me, of course she does not leave valuables like camera, smartphone and money hanging around!

I rent one room inside of one of the flats of a Kenyan woman. We shared kitchen and bathroom together, and we came along well. She was hardly closing the second door at the entrance with a security lock, the 1st door just worked with a simple key, and I was going to tell her that this lock can be easily opened with a pick lock / skeleton key, but I did not tell her finally.

There was a flat opposite. On the day before the theft, 3 Africans persons (2 mature men, 1 mature woman) moved in and left next day at about 16.00 according to the watchman. I left at 15:30 with the woman from the flat to do some shopping.

When we left, the woman from that flat opposite was sitting on the balcony and was seeing us leaving.

As another suspect, the watchman at the 2nd gate. He was seeing us leaving too.

When we returned 2 hours later, the flat door was not locked any more and the valuables above stolen, including the 2 laptops and expensive perfumes which belonged to the apartment lady.

The Police visited the place and were kind of helpful and friendly, but quite obviously there is little hope that something comes out. The lady went far upcountry some days later to get a witchdoctor working on it. Me myself, I am an experienced traveller, but I just got lullabied by being a guest at a well-equipped flat and its owner around and staying at a condominium which had a good reputation.

Lessons learned.

[John Auro]

This is a bit more than Mombasa but Ill post it regardless.

I'm living in West Kenya and .................................. dance floor.

Hey- thanks so much for this great text. Asanti Sana.

John.