Naku fikiria sana Malindi (I think of you so much, Malindi)

Just over three months had passed, but my greatest wish was to see Malindi again, its children and its great women, tireless workers. And here I am on 25 December at Elmas airport, then Rome and then..... finally Mombasa (arrival perfectly on time thanks to the airline Air Italy) after watching a splendid African dawn. It takes about three hours of travel to reach Mambrui (about ten km from Malindi) where I will stay at the Karibuni villas: beautiful garden - beautiful beach - management not up to its much-praised 4 stars. Everything, however, fades into the background at the sight of Malindi, of its colours, of its chatter, of the affection shown to me by the many friends I found again, and at the sight of the many joyful children who pour onto the streets at every hour of the day because it is a holiday for them too, the schools are closed.

The beach in front of the Karibuni is enriched by the presence of many young teenagers who flank you and accompany you during your walks; they love to chat with you in Italian so as to perfect an important language for their future, but as soon as they notice your interest in their language they turn into many little but excellent teachers of Swahili. In September, thanks to the various excursions, I had seen truly beautiful and special places, and I had also had a splendid safari in Tsavo East, a safari that, reluctantly, I decided not to undertake this time, but thanks to my tour guide, Kassim Sharrif, who had meanwhile become a dear friend, I was able to enjoy unforgettable views.

There are many places experienced and worth recommending: Maiungu and its fishing village, the atolls that emerge at low tide, Watamu and the island of love, the beach of Che Shale, Marafa and the island of Lamu. Enchanting places and unforgettable days spent at "Sardegna due" and at the "island of love", tongues of sand that emerge at low tide where you lunch cheerfully on the beach with coconut rice, grilled barracuda and lobster and lots and lots of fresh fruit. But here I am at the beach of Che Shale, otherwise known as the golden beach because it is characterised by myriads of flecks that shine like gold under the warm African sun; here I am in Marafa, a village in the hinterland of Malindi, known for its pineapple plantations and for a fantastic canyon: reddish rock walls and golden yellow that at sunset reverberate with incredible colours and shades.

Here I am, after two hours by car and ten minutes by boat, in Lamu, an island surrounded by many other small islands rich in mangroves; I am speechless, time in Lamu has stopped. There are no cars, the only means of transport is the donkey, there are not many roads but people live happily, everyone knows each other, greets each other, chats, and many small children play joyfully, immersed in their incredible poverty but also great wealth. They don't know our frenzy, everything is in the spirit of pole pole; how much we have to learn! I would have wanted those days to pass much more slowly, but inexorably 6 January was around the corner; on the morning on the plane I realised that, although living on a splendid island, my heart had remained in Africa, in Kenya, in Malindi with "my" children and the many friends I had met, always ready to gift you a smile for free.

If you are planning your next trip, consider Kenya as a destination too and you certainly won't regret it; do the safari, a journey of discovery not only of many animal species but also of our deepest self. A friendly, efficient and attentive tour guide? Kassim Sharrif, mobile +254****0367 or +254****7911, mail kassimsharrif@yahoo.com. Safari njema (good trip) to everyone.....