Mombasa, Kenya 蒙巴萨一日游
April 1, 2025
We started the day feeling anxious, nervous, and a little fearful……
带着焦虑、紧张和有些恐惧心理我们开始了。。。
April 1, 2025
We started the day feeling anxious, nervous, and a little fearful—uncertain of what to expect. The story actually began yesterday. During one of the ship-organized tours to central Mombasa, a fellow passenger was robbed near the famous Mombasa Tusks. Several young men surrounded him, pushed him to the ground, and snatched his phone. Thankfully, he wasn’t physically hurt, but the incident was a sobering reminder to everyone onboard to stay alert and prioritize safety.
Today, we joined a guided tour arranged by the ship to explore Mombasa island, the second-largest city in Kenya. Our first stop was the iconic Mombasa Tusks on Moi Avenue, built in 1952 to commemorate Queen Elizabeth’s visit—ironically, the very place where the robbery took place the day before. The tour company made sure we stayed together as a group, with a guide leading the way and an assistant at the back to ensure no one lagged behind. As we stepped off the bus, we noticed several armed policemen patrolling the street. An armed policewoman even accompanied our group throughout the stop. It was quite a scene.
Right next to the monument, we wandered through Uhuru Gardens, where hundreds of fruit bats dangled from massive mango trees—a surreal and unexpected sight.
Then we strolled through a park where several massive, centuries-old baobab trees stood. It is also a place for locals relaxing and gathering. From there, we watched in amazement as two ferries packed with passengers sailed from the terminals—offering us a vivid glimpse into the rhythm of daily life in Mombasa.
From there, we visited Fort Jesus, a formidable 16th-century Portuguese fort that now houses a museum. Walking through its thick stone walls, past ancient cannons, we learned about Mombasa’s layered colonial history.
Afterward, we strolled into the Old Town. Compared to other historic towns we’ve visited, this one felt less charming and didn’t leave as strong an impression on us.
By midday, we made our way to the Tamarind Restaurant on Mombasa’s mainland, where we enjoyed a lovely buffet brunch. The delicious dishes and beautiful view provided the perfect refuel for the afternoon.
Later, we visited Haller Park, a reclaimed limestone quarry turned lush nature reserve. One of the highlights was feeding giraffes—watching them gently pluck pellets from our hands with their long, curious tongues was magical. We also saw two hippos lounging on the grass while monkeys chased each other and two gemsboks stood nearby, calm and unbothered. Around 4 p.m., a worker came to feed the hippos, adding a fun end to our visit.
Mombasa, like many developing cities, has its challenges. When a large group of foreign tourists appears in a densely populated local area, it can draw attention—sometimes from opportunists. But that’s part of traveling: stepping out of your comfort zone and managing the risks.
The moment we returned to the ship, we signed up for another guided tour for tomorrow. No more self-guided adventures—at least for now.
蒙巴萨一日游
2025年4月1日
带着焦虑、紧张和有些恐惧心理我们开始了今天的蒙巴萨（Mombasa)一日游。故事其实始于昨天，邮船组团游中一位游客在著名的蒙巴萨象牙门附近拍照时被十几个年轻人(据媒体报道,有五十人但船上目击人称没这么人参与）围攻并推倒在地，手机被抢走。还算幸运，他身体并无大碍，但这起事件给船上的每一个人都敲响了警钟——肯尼亚这里的治安不好，游客必须保持警惕，注意人身安全。
我们今天也参加了邮轮安排的组团游，参观位于蒙巴萨岛上的肯尼亚第二大城市蒙巴萨。第一站就是位于莫伊大道上的地标性建筑——蒙巴萨象牙门。这座纪念碑为纪念伊丽莎白女王的来访而建于1952年。昨天的抢劫事件就发生在这里。今天旅行公司特别强调大家必须成团行动，安排了一名导游带队，还有一位助理压阵，负责照看是否有人掉队。我们一下大巴就注意到街上有几位持枪警察巡逻，一位持枪的女警甚至一路跟随我们，这一幕令人印象深刻。
纪念碑旁是乌呼鲁花园，我们漫步其中，抬头望去，成百上千只果蝠倒挂在巨大的芒果树上，场面诡异，令人难忘。
然后我们漫步通过一座公园中，几棵巨大的、已有数百年树龄的猴面包树巍然矗立。这里也是当地人休闲聚会的好去处。
接着我们前往了耶稣堡（Fort Jesus），这座建于16世纪的葡萄牙堡垒如今是一座博物馆。我们穿行于厚重的石墙之间，经过古老的大炮，了解了蒙巴萨复杂的殖民历史。随后，我们漫步进入了老城区。相比我们曾经造访过的其他历史古镇，这里的魅力略显逊色，未能给我们留下特别深刻的印象。
中午时分，我们前往位于蒙巴萨大陆上的塔玛琳餐厅（Tamarind Restaurant），享用了一顿丰盛的自助午餐。美味的佳肴与餐厅迷人的海景为我们注入了新的能量，迎接接下来的行程。
下午我们参观了哈勒公园（Haller Park），这是一个由废弃石灰岩采石场改建而成的自然保护区。喂食长颈鹿是今日的亮点之一，看它们用长而灵巧的舌头温柔地从我们手中取食，令人感到无比神奇。我们还看到两只河马慵懒地站在草地上，猴子们在一旁追逐嬉戏，而两只大羚羊则悠闲地站在不远处，独自享受着宁静。下午四点左右，一名工作人员前来给河马喂食，结束我们的行程。
像许多发展中国家一样，蒙巴萨也面临不少挑战。当一大群外国游客突然出现在人口密集的本地区域时，的确可能引来一些“机会主义者”的注意。但这也是外出旅行的一部分，不管去哪里，风险总是存在，小心一点，有点街头智慧。
跟团游结束后安全回到船上后的第一时间，我们就报名参加了明天的另一个邮轮组团游。原本打算明天是自己到处走走的，现在放弃这个想法，不再准备自由活动了——至少暂时不会了。
Kenya Tsavo East National Park 肯尼亚察沃东国家公园
March 31, 2025
We spent two more days at sea……
经过二天的海上行，
March 31, 2025
We spent two more days at sea. During these sea days, Chenggang attended golf lessons taught by a PGA instructor and participated in various activities offered throughout the ship. It was the perfect time for us to relax and recharge while enjoying everything the ship had to offer.
After two days at sea, we arrived in Mombasa, the largest port and the second-largest city in Kenya.
Chenggang joined a full-day safari to Tsavo East National Park—one of Kenya’s oldest and largest wildlife reserves—for a 12-hour adventure. We woke up early and had a continental breakfast at 5:30 a.m. However, due to a delay in the ship’s clearance by local authorities, the shore excursion started about 30 minutes behind schedule.
Our group consisted of five people packed into a classic safari Land Cruiser, part of a convoy of 11 vehicles from the ship. The three-hour drive to the park offered us a fascinating glimpse into Kenya’s rural countryside.
Right before entering the park, our group made a pit stop at a tourist center that included gift shops and a café. Suddenly, loud noises coming from a tree behind the building caught our attention. To our amazement, we saw a large colony of Village Weavers, with hundreds of birds busily constructing their intricate nests. Each nest, coarsely woven from strips of grass and leaves, hung gracefully from branches and featured a distinctive downward-facing entrance. It was our first time witnessing this fascinating natural wonder, and we were thoroughly captivated by the spectacle.
As we rolled through the vast, open plains, Tsavo East unveiled its natural wonders. We saw zebras standing elegantly against the golden grasslands and towering giraffes browsing quietly in the distance. The park’s famous “red elephants,” their skin stained by the iron-rich soil, created a stunning contrast with the dry earth and blue sky. Two elephants fighting with tusks was another highlight. A giant hippo was bathing in the pond.
We encountered abundant wildlife up close along the way, including Red-billed Queleas, Herons, Gazelles, Impalas, Ostriches, Agama Lizards, Secretary Birds, Antelopes, and many others. Although we didn’t come across any predators—no lions or leopards this time—the absence of big cats didn’t diminish the wild’s magic in the slightest.
Zebra
Birds
Giraffe
Ostrich
Antelopes (Gerenuk, Hartebeest )
Midway through the journey, we stopped at Ashnil Aruba Lodge for a buffet lunch. Though we didn’t spot any animals at the waterhole during our break, the meal and brief rest were a welcome pause from the heat and dust.
The drive back was long and just as rugged, but we were rewarded with sightings of even more elephants. Near a pond close to the park gate, a magnificent red elephant slowly approached us, putting on a final, graceful performance as if to bid us farewell.
Tsavo East had offered us an authentic glimpse into nature’s raw beauty—an experience impossible to replicate in any zoo or wildlife documentary. Yes, the roads were bumpy, the air dusty, and the sun relentless, yet the excitement and wonder of our adventure easily outweighed any discomfort. This was the essence of a true safari—wild, untamed, and absolutely unforgettable.
In the evening, a local performance group treated us to a vibrant folkloric show, showcasing the rich cultural tapestry and artistic expressions of Mombasa through music, dance, and colorful costumes. It was an unforgettable experience.
肯尼亚察沃东国家公园一日游
经过二天的海上行，昨天我们来到肯尼亚第二大城市，最大海港Mombasa。今天我们踏上了一次前往察沃东国家公园（Tsavo East National Park）的野生动物观赏之旅。这里是肯尼亚最古老、面积最大的国家公园之一，这段十二小时的草原之行令人终生难忘。
清晨五点半，船上的餐厅特地为我们这些即将早早出发的乘客准备了简单早餐。由于船只通关手续稍有延误，岸上行程比原计划晚了大约半小时才得以启程。
来自邮轮的乘客每五，六人一辆车，总共十一辆四驱越野车组成了一支浩浩荡荡的探险车队。沿途尘土飞扬，道路颠簸不平，烈日高照，但旅途中的兴奋与期待早已掩盖了所有的不适。这就是我们梦寐以求的非洲野生动物之旅——原始、真实，令人震撼。
随着车队深入辽阔的平原，察沃东渐渐展现出它壮丽的自然风貌。斑马在草原中优雅矗立，远处的长颈鹿静静地仰望天空，仿佛画中走出的生灵。我们甚至幸运地目睹了两头大象激烈地用象牙对抗，但可惜照片聚焦有点模糊。而最引人注目的，莫过于这里著名的“红象”——它们身上覆盖着富含铁质的红土，宛如披上一层铜红色的盔甲，在干燥的大地与湛蓝天空之间格外醒目。
虽然此次未能目睹狮子或花豹等猛兽的身影，但这片原野的宁静与神秘丝毫未减其魅力。
中午时分，我们在阿什尼尔阿鲁巴旅馆（Ashnil Aruba Lodge）稍作停留，享用了一顿丰富的自助午餐。虽然在用餐期间水塘边未见太多的动物现身，但短暂的休息让我们在酷热与尘土间得到了宝贵的喘息机会。
返程同样颠簸漫长，但幸运之神依旧眷顾我们。就在靠近公园入口处的水塘边，一头美丽的红象缓缓走来，仿佛在为我们上演一场告别演出。这温柔而庄重的一幕，让我们觉得今天这趟非洲草原之旅再怎么辛苦也值了。