TOURISTS EXPERIENCE HEIGHT OF UNPLEASANTNESS ON LIKONI FERRY
No political will to improve dilapidated infra structure

Coastweek

We have been regular visitors to Kenya and more especially Diani Beach.

However, our recent visit was also our last one to your beautiful country and its friendly people.

Over the years, we have come to realize and witnessed that there is obviously no political will to improve dilapidated infra structure such as potholed roads as on ''famous'' Diani Beach after rotting heaps of garbage along the Likoni Road, or to at least try and rid your fantastic, unspoiled south coast beaches of the continuing 'beach operator' menace.

The so called Likoni Ferry ''Service'' was the last stroke.

Having endured a more than two hour wait in endless queues of black smoke belching matatus we eventually made it on to the ferry.

As soon as we were aboard we had a loud knock on the car's bonnet and the driver was rudely told by some rather unpleasant character to 'Switch off the engine''.

We had paid Ksh 4.000 for an air-conditioned hotel transfer and pleaded with the totally disinterested ferry attendant trying to explain that having recently had a heart operation' I found it very stressful and absolutely exhausting to sit in an un-air-conditioned car with an outside temperature of 33 degrees.

Matters were worsened by the fact that we were parked near the open door to the noisy, smelly engine room.

All to no avail and we now instructed the driver that he must keep the engine running at all costs.

The cost came when we left the ferry.

Our vehicle was stopped and the driver rudely detained until we paid a Ksh 500 'fine'.

We were also presented with printed explanations - obviously copied from some book and suitable for ferries operating in a much colder climate.

End result - we missed our flight and our connection in Nairobi.

Kenya in turn will miss out on some repeat visitors who have been coming here for 10 years staying in good hotels and lodges.

Who cares ? - Your Likoni Ferry ''Service'' obviously does not.

Forcing your visitors who arrive in Mombasa from the cold of Europe after an 8-9 hours flight into endless queues and then commanding them to sit in unleaded fuel operated vehicles without the air-condition running can be seen as the height of unpleasantness.

But, who cares - the people in power obviously do not - we do, the world is big and in the end ordinary Kenyans will be the ones who lose out even more.

Mr. and Mrs. Malachi Runenstein, N/A.

To the author:

I absolutely agree with your critics on the obvious lack of political will to improve the infrastructure, clearing of garbage along the roads and the beach operator menace.

Mr. or Mrs. Runenstein, you also complain about the black smoke belching matatus and the noisy, smelly engine room of the ferry but you insist on having the car engine running on a ferry? Something that is against the regulations on EVERY FERRY IN THE WORLD ?? Air Conditions may have a dust filter but they do not filter gases or petrol fumes. How would you feel if ALL the cars on the ferry had their engines running (despite the unnecessary pollution) ?

You say that you find it rather exhausting to be exposed to 33 degrees after a recent heart operation. I can understand that, but wouldn't you expect such climate when travelling to the tropics?

You have been travelling to Kenya for 10 years, you KNEW what to expect.

Maybe your expectations were a bit too egocentric ?

Reading the article left me feeling uneasy.
You put my thoughts into words Carsten.

The fine should have been Ksh 500000 instead of 500!

Krismasi njema!

Oh dear oh dear, sad sad story....
Ever heard of polution?
How about an umbrella? when open, it actually can protect you from the heat and sun...
Tell me, how long does the ferry take to get over? 20 min.?
Use your own boat next time....

Coastweek

We have been regular visitors to Kenya and more especially Diani Beach.

However, our recent visit was also our last one to your beautiful country and its friendly people.

Over the years, we have come to realize and witnessed that there is obviously no political will to improve dilapidated infra structure such as potholed roads as on ''famous'' Diani Beach after rotting heaps of garbage along the Likoni Road, or to at least try and rid your fantastic, unspoiled south coast beaches of the continuing 'beach operator' menace.

The so called Likoni Ferry ''Service'' was the last stroke.

Having endured a more than two hour wait in endless queues of black smoke belching matatus we eventually made it on to the ferry.

As soon as we were aboard we had a loud knock on the car's bonnet and the driver was rudely told by some rather unpleasant character to 'Switch off the engine''.

We had paid Ksh 4.000 for an air-conditioned hotel transfer and pleaded with the totally disinterested ferry attendant trying to explain that having recently had a heart operation' I found it very stressful and absolutely exhausting to sit in an un-air-conditioned car with an outside temperature of 33 degrees.

Matters were worsened by the fact that we were parked near the open door to the noisy, smelly engine room.

All to no avail and we now instructed the driver that he must keep the engine running at all costs.

The cost came when we left the ferry.

Our vehicle was stopped and the driver rudely detained until we paid a Ksh 500 'fine'.

We were also presented with printed explanations - obviously copied from some book and suitable for ferries operating in a much colder climate.

End result - we missed our flight and our connection in Nairobi.

Kenya in turn will miss out on some repeat visitors who have been coming here for 10 years staying in good hotels and lodges.

Who cares ? - Your Likoni Ferry ''Service'' obviously does not.

Forcing your visitors who arrive in Mombasa from the cold of Europe after an 8-9 hours flight into endless queues and then commanding them to sit in unleaded fuel operated vehicles without the air-condition running can be seen as the height of unpleasantness.

But, who cares - the people in power obviously do not - we do, the world is big and in the end ordinary Kenyans will be the ones who lose out even more.

Mr. and Mrs. Malachi Runenstein, N/A.[/quote]

Driving through Switzerland - at a traffic light you are normally requested to switch off your engines...!
I have been on that ferry a number of times - perhaps over 500 - and everytime I get to that ferry or the old one in Kilifi - I make sure to leave the car (engine switched off) and enjoy the views and fresh air from the ferry top with the rest of the crowd.
Why not simply switch off the car and take a look at what beauty African culture has to offer. There is not only wildlife in Africa.....