We made a short stop at the partly excavated, atmospheric ruins of the Swahili city of Mnarani (๐๏ธ500 KES). It is located high on a bluff just west of the old ferry landing stage on the southern bank of Kilifi Creek. The best-preserved ruin is the Great Mosque, with its finely carved...
It was challenging to navigate the dirt road through the village of Takaungu around past spiky fields of sisal and giant baobabs towering above maize crops. We found the end of the road and then walked towards black coral cliffs, pounded relentlessly by the rolling waves of the Indian...
We must wait for some spare parts to be delivered from the USA for our truck. So we borrowed a tiny Suzuki Alto, which has the problem of crossing every second bumper. We chose to explore the North Coast. Our first stop was Swahili ruins (๐๏ธ500 KES), just north of Mtwapa Creek. Jumba la...
After two weeks of trying to repair our truck, which was damaged by port staff, we got so tired and frustrated that we needed to chill out a bit, so we went to Bamburi Beach to Yul’s Restaurant for lunch and a relaxed afternoon. Bamburi Beach is a 6km stretch of palm-shaded white...
Mombasa is the city and chief port of Kenya. It is situated on a coralline island in a bay of the Indian Ocean. Mombasa, a melting pot of languages and cultures from all sides of the Indian Ocean, waits like a decadent dessert for travelers who make it to Kenya’s coastline. Having...
After a planned break and parking in Aqaba, we arrived in Amman, bought the Orange sim card (15 GB / 15 JOD / 28 days) at the airport, took a taxi to the city (30 JOD), and jumped on the bus back to Aqaba (Jett ๐๏ธ 10 JOD). The next day, we did some small reparations (1 worker / 15 JOD per...
Our final destination in Jordan was the only coastal city, Aqaba, ideally set between the majestic Wadi Rum mountains and the Red Sea. It has been settled for millennia because of freshwater springs in the vicinity; King Solomon’s port and foundry of Ezion-Geber lay nearby. With its...
Google Maps again took us through a lovely scenic, super narrow, and steep road to Shobak Castle, perched in a wild, remote landscape. So we got a few good shots, but on the way back, we used the other “correct road.” We also had to say that the brown signboards led cars to...
One of the most popular trails at Dana, and the only one without a guide, is the 14 km-long Wadi Dana Trail. First, we paid the entrance fee to the Dana Biosphere Reserve (๐๏ธ 10 JOD), and then we started our 5-hour hike from Dana to Feynan Ecolodge. This trail leads downhill but is not as...
We arrived at the charming 15th-century stone village of Dana, which dangles beneath the King’s Highway on a precipice, commanding exceptional views of the valley below. That valley and the surrounding area make up the Dana Biosphere Reserve. The village of Dana has been occupied...