May 30, Coast Road Trip - "You haven’t lived until you’ve been on Randa Randa!”

That’s the assertion the ladies who organize the regular road trip known as Randa Randa make. And even though that’s part of their sales pitch, it really isn’t that far from the truth. Randa Randa is an absolutely amazing experience, missed only at one’s risk.

Randa Randa 5.0 took place over the long Madaraka Day weekend, taking approximately thirty people through various locations in the Coast Province. And this time it sure was different. From the moment the excited Sarova Taita Hills Lodge attendants received us, took our bags, served us complimentary cocktails and chauffeured us to luxurious rooms, we had a hint things were going to be pretty cozy. Previous Randa Randas had us hustling to pitch tents, often in the dead of night. And even though we thoroughly enjoyed tenting, living like a king never hurt anyone.

A few top notch meals later, interspersed with fun times in the pool, some ridiculously hilarious outdoor games, not to mention a spattering of pool, darts, scrabble and table-tennis, it was off to the world class Sarova Salt-Lick Game Lodge. Famous for its altogether breathtakingly unique architecture and large elephant population, this lodge is nothing short of amazing.

From Taita, it was off to Mombasa, with Bamburi Beach Lodge serving host to the next phase of Randa Randa 5.0. Located right along Mombasa’s famed white sandy coastline, beach volleyball/soccer, camel rides, jet-skiing, and fun times in the pool and ocean followed, all while sipping madafu and weathering incessant pestering from beach boys eager to offer us ‘good times’.

Off to Malindi. And even though our scheduled beach party never materialized, who cared? We proceeded to turn Malindi Cottages into our own little play-yard. We played, we danced, we laughed…but only the very brave ventured into the greenish-brownish pool.

Malindi Marine Park was one of our final spots, and boy were we glad we included it. Beach…been there! Swimming…done that! But as for snorkeling…that was new. There’s nothing like being far from the beach, putting on a face mask and snorkel and diving into the ocean, enjoying the sights and sounds of the fish and coral reef up-close…amazing.

After returning to the city of Mombasa, and randa-randaing through its streets, it was time for the inevitable. Very grudgingly, it was back into the coaster, and back to Nairobi. Now all we can think of is gloating. We were at Randa Randa 5…you weren’t!

The selection of images below don’t even begin to capture the experience…you just had to be there!

Madafu On A Camel...That's New


Look At How Large These Creatures Are


Soccer At The Beach

Shooting Pool At Sarova Game Lodge

Picturesque View Of Sarova Game Lodge


One Of The Many Ridiculous Games On Offer


Volleyball Was More Conventional


Volleyball? In The Pool?


Time In The Pool


Jet Skiing


You Have No Idea How Salty This Water Is


Wouldn't You Love To Be In This Pool...Right This Minute?


Breakfast By The Beach


Shaky Leggy In Malindi

Everyone Gets Down

Not Sure Who Came Up With This Game


Breakfast In Malindi


We Even Had A Brief Service In Malindi

Jus Chillin'


...he Never Managed This


Mock Contestant On Our Version Of Idols

Pretty Self Explanatory


Chillin' At Sarova Lodge


The Pool At Sarova


Sarova At Night

Shooting Pool


Sumptuous Breakfast


A Little Volleyball


Games At Sarova

View Of Sarova Salt Lick




Bridge To The Rooms


The Lounge


The Cottages


That's How Huge An Elephant Skull Is


The Whole Crew


Quiet Time


This Is The Address


Some Night Pics


The Ladies Of Randa Randa


The Crew...in the bus


The Crew...on the bus


At Malindi Marine Park

Wild,wild, coast


These Things Are Huge!


Looks Like Someone You Know?

Email (will not be published)

Name

Title

Comment
 remaining characters

Post