Despite my earlier rant about being a dumbestic tourist who can’t' picture a holiday that doesn’t involve Mombasa
[beach/swimming/historic/ferry/boating/seafood/lazing/meditating/madafu]
of the edge of the world] the craving to visit the coast is back again. In my life I have seen the big five animals, and will do so again, but I am in no rush to go to the territory of a rogue buffalo or elephant armed only with a camera and a laptop.
The coast is a different story, a must see place even though it rarely changes. But December is not the best time to go to the coast – I was there last Christmas and the place was too crowded.
Reasons to go
Air fare deals: It's gotten a lot easier to get to the coast since fly540 has announced that they will fly to Mombasa for a round-trip fare of 5,440 shillings (about $75)
- This comes about six months after East African Safari Air launched Mombasa flights at a round-trip fare of 8,900 shillings.
- Now Kenya Airways has responded with rock bottom Kshs. 2,500 fares – but for flights the opposite way. i.e. from Mombasa to Nairobi from December 24 to 31 and from Nairobi to Mombasa from December 31 to January 6 2007.
- I hear that the road repairs are progressing well on the bad stretch near Mombasa.
- No water: Another reason to escape Nairobi is the water shortage. Even as the Nairobi water company is reporting increased profitability and collections there's a biting water shortage/rationing plan that is going on amid heavy rains. I have been reduced to a beggar going round to relatives & friends houses with 20 litre drums begging for water. I hope their neighbors don't think I am smuggling changaa to these houses.
Reasons against
- Bad timing because the Mombasa business community is not happy with how the Mombasa city council is managing the town
- Also at the tourism expo held at the Sarit centre at the beginning of November, most Mombasa hotel were reporting that they were fully booked for the December/Holiday period. Hence KQ having to have extra flights and having cheap tickets to fly the opposite way.
- Mombasa is flooded after some heavy rains
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Madaraka update
The sale process of 600 houses by the Nairobi City Council and National Housing Corporation commenced in March 2006. However 359 tenants sued halting sale of 291 of the houses. The NHC and NCC are however proceeding with the sale of the other 309 houses whose tenants paid 10% deposit and are now expected to pay the balance by 22 January 2007 while a judge will issue a ruling on the 291 houses on December 4.
