Thank you Kenya!

Day 48

No turquoise blue sea in front of me, no coconut on my lips. Instead, a 'cool' 27 degrees and a view of Nairobi's skyline. I'm back. The skyscrapers are bathed in the warm evening sunlight, and in the distance, I can see the airport and the occasional plane landing or taking off. Just like I will be doing in a few days. The journey is starting to come to an end.

I'm sitting on a small rooftop terrace of my hotel in the city where everything began almost two months ago. I had originally planned to stay at Winnie's Airbnb again, where I spent the first few days, but unfortunately, it was already booked for this period. So I chose an Airbnb in a hotel close to the airport, which I find very convenient. A lot has happened since my last entry. Fortunately, I have fully recovered from the flu and was able to enjoy a week of vacation on the coast. From Watamu, I headed down to the south coast. Diani Beach was the destination. This place had been highly recommended to me in various travel guides in Germany, and I had also heard how beautiful it was here in Kenya. All these expectations were met. Not only did I find the 'most beautiful beach in Kenya,' as it is often said, but I also spent my days on perhaps the most beautiful beach I have ever set foot on. Clear turquoise blue water, pristine white and wide sandy beach, shielded by huge coconut palm trees. I stayed at a very cool hotel, which was a bit outside the town center, but had a quiet section of beach and a lot of cool vibes. It was geared towards younger people and had a laid-back bar with sofas and benches that offered a direct view of the sea. There was a beach volleyball court, an outdoor gym, and a small stage for live music. Unfortunately, I was there during the absolute low season, so there were hardly any other people besides me. But of course, that also has its advantages. On Friday, I went to a party at a hostel nearby, where there was quite a bit going on, and besides many other tourists, there were also quite a few locals there, and we danced to loud Kenyan music. The food in the town and especially at my hotel was very good. Seafood is a specialty along the entire coast, and the giant prawns, octopus, and tilapia fish were not only extremely delicious but also incredibly affordable.

At the beginning of the week, I took a trip to Wasini Island, a small island on the southern edge of Kenya and about an hour's drive from Diani Beach. You could already see Tanzania from there. At 8:00, I was picked up by a car with a driver, two Kenyan women, and two American women, and we set off. At the foot of the island, we boarded a boat to continue the trip. The boat ride alone was a feast for the eyes, as the water around the island was so clear and turquoise like I had never seen before. We stopped at a specific spot to go snorkeling. So I put on my mask and jumped into the water. It was pleasantly warm even out on the ocean. Along a coral reef, I saw many colorful fish. I swam along the reef with my diving goggles, completely fascinated, and distanced myself from the boat. At some point, unfortunately, my imagination got the better of me, wondering if there might be sharks here, so I swam back to the boat much faster. We later saw a dolphin from the boat, though, not a shark. It jumped out of the water several times to show itself to us. It was a fantastic tour. Later, we stopped at a sandbank, where the water was even clearer than it already was. I asked if I could jump in here again because I didn't want to miss out on this opportunity. It was no problem, and a few minutes later, I was standing in the middle of the Indian Ocean, with the water only up to my knees and a picturesque sea surrounding the boat.

The following days were all about relaxation, and I simply lay lazily on the beach or enjoyed a non-alcoholic piña colada (I'm still on antibiotics) at the beach bar. It was truly a vacation at the highest level and a complete contrast to the many other places I have had the chance to see in Kenya.

And now I'm here. The sun is low in the sky. I'm about to take a shower and then have something to eat. In the distance, I can see a plane taking off. It's getting higher and higher and disappearing into the clouds. In not too long, I will do the same when my time in this country comes to an end. What wonderful two months they have been.

Thank you Kenya! Until next time!