Jambo, Thomas

We've just got back from Kenya, and the enthusiasm for this holiday still hasn't left us, and we believe it never will. The adventure begins with a departure on 07/09/2007 from Rome Fiumicino and, after a 9-hour flight, we land in Mombasa. Having left the airport under a very humid sky, we throw ourselves aboard a minibus towards our hotel, the Aquarius resort in Watamu. No point dwelling on the "comfort" of the journey...we're in Africa!!!! The hotel, in full Swahili style, is very nice, the restaurant is excellent (at least for us), and we are immediately struck by the friendliness and helpfulness of the staff; we'll then discover with joy and envy that the vast majority of the population shares this trait, together with an ever-present smile.

On a splendid beach as white as talcum powder, you can admire breathtaking views shaped by the comings and goings of the tides, which leave sea treasures of every kind exposed... the colours are enchanting and the odd bit of seaweed doesn't really spoil the landscape at all, in fact it creates patches of more intense colour. The hotel immediately offers excursions at very high prices, advising against relying on the legendary beach boys. Don't be fooled, but if you can, run down to the beach and start getting to know these lads, they'll give you plenty of satisfaction...We put our trust in the great Thomas, our shining beacon. He's a 30-year-old with a cheerful and kind nature despite life having reserved terrible things for him: he lost his 32-year-old sister and now finds himself, together with his mum, looking after his 3 little nephews.

He'll be happy to introduce you to his family and to take you around to appreciate every facet of his Africa — the strong smells, the poverty you breathe in constantly, the smiles stolen along the street and the children who will accompany you all over the country with their big eyes and hands outstretched asking for a sweet... Thomas guided us on our 3-day safari (Tsavo East and Amboseli), leading us through endless stretches of land and sky in indescribable colours, helping us spot every animal with the greatest of ease. Again with Thomas we organised the blue safari, a day in the middle of the Indian Ocean, breathing in incredible tranquillity while eating freshly caught lobsters...Unforgettable.

It would be impossible to carry on telling the story without being seized by the urge to set off again, so the ideal thing is to tell you to go there and live this experience with your own eyes. Put your trust in the local people without fear or false prejudice, as we did, and enjoy this full immersion in nature. If you'd like more information about both Kenya and Thomas — thomasmby@yahoo.co.uk — don't hesitate to ask, contact us: esposto.paolo@libero.it

Paolo and Fra