awfull place felt safer with the animals on a safarri. felt very unsafe. lots of poverty and children with nothing not even any shoes or water... what we gave to them. did not even get to them. Could not give anything personally to an individual person.
Will not go back there ever. Tried to help. but everything you want to give, never gets to the people in needy !!!!

In this page, I speak my honest opinion of Mombasa. It's impossible to put my feelings and experiences here into exact words but I will try to capture my true thoughts....

Airport and resort

From the moment you land at the airport, you have a Kenyan Shilling sign printed on your head. Everyone wants to sell you something or begs from you. At first this is very uncomfortable and can make you angry, but after seeing their culture, you can appreciate their need.

I took my fionce with me at the time (since split up) and she had blonde hair with blue eyes and stuck out like a mile. The locals couldn't keep there eyes off her as there werent many young white girls around there. Anyway she booked the holiday thinking Kenya was next to the Dominican Republic which I thought was hilarious!

The resort (Shelley Beach Hotel, Shelley Beach) was only 3 star as we were just moving into our own house. For a 3 star the staff and quality of food/rooms was good. I didn't want a 5 star UK greeting, instead we were greeted by cocanut alco juice and straw hats. Our room was kind of a tree house, built up in the trees, we had 4 foot high monkeys in the morning hanging around outside our room (and hand sized spiders though)! The staff joked and said they were our hotel reps.

There were beach boys hanging around as soon as you looked over the hotel wall. They could get you anything from drugs to souvinires, but were friendly and suprisingly trust worthy, as the hotels rep was at stake.

I made friends with Sam the hotel DJ and he became a good source of info and a good friend as you will see in my next chapter.

The food was acceptable, I eat a few local delicacies like Zebra, but wouldnt recommend them really, but you have to try them I think. The night entertainment was repetative and boring. A man with snakes, african dancers, etc. Daytime entertainment was pool games, badminton or leave the resort.

The local pub was called the red lion, quite friendly locals were here apart from one who tried it on with my girlfriend, but that got sorted.

Orphanages

The hotel was organising trips to see a local orphanage and make donations, we didnt go as Sam (the DJ at the resort) recommended that if we wanted to see the real orphanage he would take us. The one where the hotel took people, had kids in gleaming white uniforms looking all smart off sponsorship money. Sam took us on a local bus (more like a 60's camper van with no windows or seats) to an orphanage who's parents had all died of aids. The children had open wounds, dirty dark clothing, 30 kids crammed into 3 bedrooms with sometimes 5 in a single bed. No electricity, no real schooling, it was enough to make a grown man cry, trust me. I video'd the whole thing, the children came running over to us and one started tugging at my trousers, when I moved the video camera down, you seen a little african boy with the cutest face asking me to shake his hand which had cuts and soars on, how could I refuse though. we gave them sweets and pens like normal but also promised to get them a proper football as all the children were kicking a half inflatable thing around which didn't bounce or roll properly.

The caretaker was also the teacher, cook, cleaner and manager. He was reluctant to let me video it but Sam talked him round. The little sponsorship money that was being passed into this orphanage wasn't being well controlled. Sam later explained he's seen things had gone missing since he was last there. The caretaker claimed he was teaching them english, chemistry and history, but when I seen the oldest kids I asked them basic question like 'what is your name?' and 'how are you?' which they couldnt answer and looked scared/confused. I felt a feeling of sorrow, ignorance and appreciation for my lifestyle back home, at the time I would of given them my life belongings and clothes off my back if I thought it would of went to the children.

There are a lot of needed reputable charities for Kenya...

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My daughter was working in Likoni--a ferry ride across from Mombasa. I visited her for three weeks and can't wait to return. Give Mombasa more than a few days. The most important aspect of loving this city is finding a reliable and honest taxi driver who will pick you up and help you through the initial chaos. Go to Ft. Jesus and walk around the area to see the original architecture of the city. Visit the market. Swim in the Indian Ocean. Ride the matatus and eat with locals at some wonderful restaurants. It is a great starting off point for more of East Africa.......make sure you get out of the "beach resorts" and see Mombasa.

Just returned from 2 weeks at this hotel and found the staff to be warm and very friendly. Nothing was too much trouble for them.
Hotel itself was clean and well maintained. Worth paying that bit extra for an ocean view, its breathtaking.the food was wonderful with plenty of choice. security keep the beech boys at bay but it can be fun bantering with them.we did a two day safari for £175 pp. it was fantastic. the only problem was a staff memeber called martin of the animation team he conned us with a visit to a reptile park and a visit to a local orphanage.. He tried the same trick with several other guests but we had warned them about him. Made hotel management aware of this dishonest staff member so hopefully he wont be ripping other visitors off. We did not let this spoil our holiday and would recomend this hotel to anyone. M & L. Livingston.