Kenya

The Kenyan coastline has nearly 250 miles of beaches, nature, and places to discover. The second largest city in Kenya, on the coast, is called Mombasa. Located on an island of 5 sq mi, it is home to approximately one and a half million inhabitants. Its city centre is bustling with traffic, unlike the old city, which is discreet and peaceful. The city of Mombasa is linked to the northern shore by a bridge overlooking the Indian Ocean, while in the south you have to take a ferry, which runs several times a day. You must be patient though, as the queue for boarding is sometimes long. In Kenya, you drive on the left and if you rent a car, ask for a driver because the roads in Kenya are often quite chaotic! They are much more used to it than we are. The main road in this part of the country, both in the north and the south, is punctuated by several small villages with thatched roof houses surrounded by very dense vegetation: coconut trees, mango trees, cashews, etc. Do not be surprised if you are stopped at numerous checkpoints, this road is strictly monitored by the police, all the way to Tanzania. There are a little less than 500 hotels of all categories on the coast and it is imperative that you research them before leaving as some are not very suitable! However, the vast majority of hotels have been built along the beach which is pleasant and there is still a real effort from some of them to become luxury hotels. Bear in mind that all the beaches in Kenya are public, therefore, you will not be able to avoid the merchants who come to sell their wares to the tourists. Fortunately, most of the hotels try to limit the inconvenience by installing guards on either side of their enclosure. The Kenyan shore is far more pleasant in the south than in the north, as in the north the coral reef is very close and a lot of seaweed accumulates on the beaches. It is also preferable to wear sandals when you go swimming to avoid hurting your feet on the dead coral. The Kenyan coast is the ideal destination for relaxing after a safari; it is a place where you eat well and the water temperature will even suit those who are sensitive to the cold!