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Beach boys and the tourist police
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If you're staying in a hotel, spending some peaceful time on the beach can appear virtually impossible. Frustration can set in as the days slip by and you still haven't really been for a swim, or a wander by the shore, because of the hordes of
hustlers
plying their wares, or their camel rides, or their boat trips, or just themselves. Always acknowledge them: ignoring their greetings really is considered very rude. The least painful solution is quickly to strike up a friendship of sorts with one beach boy, to buy at least something, or to go on a boat trip. Once you have a friend, and have done some business, you have some rights, and you'll find you can then stroll on the beach with far fewer hassles from the others. It's not so easy for single women, but the principle for most situations still applies - don't fight it. There is no need, incidentally, to feel physically threatened on the beach. Every hotel has its
askaris
(security guards) posted along the boundary between the plot and the beach, and they usually stay alert to the slightest sign of trouble - which is rare indeed. The beach boys and hawkers have in fact been cleared off the beaches at Malindi and Watamu, and Diani should be next, but as one hotelier put it, "These initiatives always start off in Malindi, but they tend to get as far as Watamu and then fizzle out before they reach us down here." One piece or practical advice: if you're bargaining, don't complicate matters by trying to swap clothes for crafts. You'll still be expected to pay some cash, and will end up feeling more ripped off than ever. Other useful information
for tourists (each section contains more specific sub-sections): |
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Kenya,
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