My Kenyan Holiday: Visit to Mombasa and Nairobi

On the last leg of my trip I visited Mombasa and Nairobi to enjoy the gorgeous beaches, exciting water sports, vibrant night scene and bustling city life. I left early morning from Masai Mara to board the flight to Mombasa. Upon arrival I headed to the hotel, Sarova White Sands, situated north of Mombasa town-a luxurious property with a private beach. The best part of the property is that it has five outdoor swimming pools, including one with water slides!

After freshening up I headed to the white sandy beach for a stroll and later took a dip in the crystal clear waters of Mombasa. The water is quite shallow and you can walk deep into the sea, as you enjoy the calm waters and sip on Tusker (the local beer). It’s hard to keep track of time when you are surrounded by such beauty. After a while I came back to the beach and had got myself quite a tan! Evenings are every bit happening in this vibrant beach city. I enjoyed my ride on a bike taxi to the club district and partied till wee hours of the morning. The ambience was enough to put me on a high! Clubs here are quite safe and the vibe is infectious. The music ranges from  European and Irish, to American and the famous Reggae.

The next day I joined the locals in a game of football on the beach. I have to give it to them for their skills and stamina! By the end of the game we had worked up quite an appetite and sat down for drinks on the beach side. We were so busy chatting that we completely lost track of time and before I knew it was evening. Around dinner I bid adieu to my new friends and went to enjoy sea food preparations by the hotel chef. I have to admit, it was one of the best meals in my life! The preparation was mouthwatering and even though I was full, I decided to go for another round (heck, the gym can wait). That night I decided to stay in the hotel and enjoy the karaoke session. To my surprise there were a couple of local Indians who sang a few Bollywood numbers.

Next morning I took the flight to Nairobi. After checking in to the hotel I headed out for some sightseeing. I was very keen to visit the Mara market, which takes place in different parts of the city every day. As luck would have it, it was taking place in a mall right next door to my hotel. So after freshening up I headed there. If you are looking to do some souvenir shopping, this is the place to visit! The kind of bargaining one can do here is akin to the streets of Janpath or Linking Road. I shopped for a couple of hours and bought souvenirs for friends along with Kenyan coffee packs for the coffee lovers. If you are a coffee aficionado Kenyan coffee is one of the best!

Post that I headed to Carnivore Restaurant; the name says it all. A must-visit for meat lovers and those who are game to try different exotic meats; the variety here is beyond your imagination. Being the adventurous kind I decided to try Ostrich, Ox and Crocodile meat. The meal included unlimited rounds of the local drink, Dawa. It is a cocktail made up of vodka, honey and lemon, and is served on the rocks.

After a hearty meal it was time to check out Nairobi’s nightlife. Since I was staying in an Indian dominated area, the clubs here had more of an Indian crowd, dancing to the local beats. Before I knew it my Kenyan holiday had come to an end. I headed back to the hotel to pick up my luggage and drove to the airport for my flight back home.