Africa

October 16, 2019 by monica Leave a Comment

RADISSON BLU NAIROBI ARBORETUM

TRAVELLING

FIRELAKE AT THE RADISSON BLU NAIROBI ARBORETUM

The Radisson Blu Nairobi Arboretum

FireLake at the Radisson Blu Nairobi Arboretum is the first FireLake restaurant in Africa! We sampled their lunch offering with wine and had a look around the hotel.

The Food

We tried the red organic salad bowl and thai fish cakes to start with and went on to share a red snapper for our main course.

The food is fresh, tasty and beautifully presented by experienced chef Sebastien Mireaux. We liked the way they made use of edible flowers and also liked our charred bak choi vegetable. Desserts comprised of a generous platter of three different puddings. We thought the lemon meringue tart spoke the loudest to us!

Again very well presented but the innovative raspberries on rice cakes were also good and something I hadn’t eaten before. Portions are more than ample if you’d like to share.

The menu offers choice but isn’t bewilderingly big! Food is Mediterranean with an African and Indian slant.

We wanted to try the sukumawiki tots with bacon, African spinach and boursin cheese but these weren’t available on the day we visited.

The Setting

You can sit inside the spacious restaurant with the josper grill, on the front terrace near the elegant pool or on the back terrace behind the restaurant. I liked the view from the front terrace of the pool and the vertical green wall reflecting the verdant arboretum across the road.

All the spaces are light and airy wherever you choose. It’s new at the moment so everything is clean, well maintained and smart. But the colours of the walls are generally cool and sophisticated as well as being appropriate bearing in mind the location and name of the hotel.

F i r e L a k e
at the Radisson Blu Nairobi Arboretum is the first FireLake restaurant in Africa

The Prices

Prices are commensurate with that of a smart, international branded hotel. Here’s an idea:

Firegrilled Emperor Red Snapper KSh 2300

Organic Red Salad KSh 1100

Thai Fish Cakes KSh 1800

Divide by 100 to get the rough US Dollar price!

Other places to eat at the hotel

You could have a lighter, less formal bite at the Arborista coffee shop on the ground floor of the hotel. There is a large terrace and the coffee and snack menu was comprehensive enough for a light meal. I was impressed with the Serax brand of candles in the recessed shelving. I’ve never seen this French brand in Nairobi before and wasn’t sure if they were sale, but would make sophisticated gifts for any occasion.

Meet me at the Radisson Blu Nairobi Arboretum

Get a feel of the vibe of this place.

Location

where is FireLake

at the Radsisson Blu Nairobi Arboretum

This review was written in conjunction with the Radisson Blu Nairobi Arboretum, but the views are all my own.

Monica Kapila

Founder of DoinDubai

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July 8, 2019 by monica 1 Comment

MSAMBWENI BEACH HOUSE

Msambweni Beach House is a stylish, private villa type resort with all the amenities and service of a well-run hotel.

Located on Kenya’s southern coast. Perfect for a group get together.

Where is Msambweni Beach House

Msambweni Beach house is located in the Kwale province on the Southern coast of Kenya. As it’s name suggests it’s right on the beach.

How do you get to Msambweni Beach House

Fly to Ukunda airport from Nairobi and expect a 45-minute or so drive to reach the beach house from the airport. The last part of the drive is along a dirt track that we hear is going to be built into a tarmac road by September 2019.

We flew out on Silvertone Air and back via Jambo Jet, ideally arrive in the morning and leave in the afternoon to maximize your time there. Note that Silvertone Air doesn’t have any seat allocation.. so be prepared to sit wherever you get a seat.

When you arrive at the airport, stop off at Diani shopping centre or Foodplus (both about 5 minutes away) to pick up some food or drink you might fancy for your journey or while you’re at the beach house, we bought some wine and mixers for our drinks.

Room choices at Msambweni Beach House

Each villa sleeps up to 4 people, 2 up and 2 down, but the upstairs bedroom is much more basic than the downstairs and is reached via a fairly steep set of steps.

Stay in a private villa or in the main house. I recommend Villa 1 or Villa 2. The Ocean Suite is great for glamping types though! Both Villa 1 and Villa 2 have their own private pools and terraces, so these are perfect for groups.

The Beach at Msambweni

The property is located on the beach itself at a slight elevation, so you do have to go down some steps to get the beach. It’s a great beach to walk along and soak up the sun, but we didn’t swim in the sea while we visited. You can see the beach and sea from the moment you enter the property.

Food and Drink at Msambweni Beach House

All meals are included at Msambweni Beach House and most meals do have some choice. But do let them know if you don’t eat particular foods or have any food allergies.

Do expect a lot of fresh seafood on the menu. We had one dinner that was crab themed and was delicious.

You need to order your breakfast after dinner on the previous night.

We all loved the fresh passion fruit juice at breakfast and our favourite meal for lunch was the stone baked pizza buffet on our last day. They tend to sensibly make use of whatever’s in season on the menu.

Expect avocados, pineapples, passion fruits and of course fish making an appearance on your plates.

Things to Do

Relax, kick back and soak up the vibe, I loved the atmosphere at Msambweni Beach House, and really appreciated the fact the area wasn’t at all built up.

So expect peace and quiet, take your favourite books to read.

Swim in the main pool and stare at the ocean or swim in your private villa pools if you’re in villa 1 or villa 2.

Go down and have a drink by the beach bonfire and stare at the little crabs that come out on the beach.

You can walk along the beach with a local guide, the hotel will organize for you. Just tip the guide and ideally buy some coconut water on the beach on the way back.

The Big Trip

The big trip is definitely the excursion to the mangroves. It’s about a 35 minute drive to get the village where you take the boat. We were a party of 7 and we were on one flat, long canoe type boat, with one skipper.

This trip takes in all the mangroves and little houses on the riverside, but the highlight was definitely stopping and having some drinks and a walk on the magnificent sand bar! Tides coming in from 3 directions, a makeshift shade and not a soul in sight other than us. This is the stuff that memories are made of!

REMEMBER Wear a good hat, ideally that ties under your chin as it might fly away! Take binoculars if you have them but good cameras for sure. Don’t wear fancy footwear at all as you will be wading through some muddy water.

What to PACK

A good sun hat, sun protection, loose clothing, beach footwear and a good book. Also take some mosquito repellent although there are nets around the beds. Don’t bother taking anything designer in terms of clothing, jewellery, bags or footwear. No one is there to notice it anyway!

Room for improvement at Msambweni Beach House

The linen could be upgraded for sure and there also could have been a little more choice on the menu for some meals but the settings were all superb.

Access will be easier when the dirt track approach road is tarmacked.

But service overall is warm, friendly and above and beyond what we expected, and that makes all the difference.

How to Book

This is the hotel website, you could get better rates and help with internal transfers and flights by going through Merlin Safaris who also organise other excursions in Kenya email is [email protected]

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Note I was inspired to try Msambweni based on a recommendation from Nomad Magazine Africa

July 20, 2017 by monica

BOUTIQUE HOTELS IN KENYA Kiangazi House Naivasha

Are there good boutique hotels in Kenya

It’s not easy finding good boutique hotels in Kenya, but we think we’ve found 2 of the best. Kiangazi House and Chui Lodge both in Naivasha are gorgeous boutique hotels in Kenya and make for an amazing stay. Read our real experience of a 2 night stay summer 2017.

How do you get to Kiangazi House Boutique hotel Kenya

Kiangazi House is a beautifully kept, colonial style, boutique hotel in Naivasha, Kenya. You can get there in about 2.5 hours by road from Nairobi, most of the road is pretty good, so it’s not a difficult journey.

The advantage is you don’t have to pay steep park fees if you’re staying at Kiangazi House or it’s sister property Chui Lodge. There is plenty of game to be seen so it’s akin to doing a mini safari without the need and expense of flying to the Masai Mara.

When did we go to Kiangazi House

We stayed for 2 nights and 3 days in late June 2017 as part of a large group celebrating a family birthday.

Rooms at Kiangazi House

All the rooms at Kiangazi house are, without exception, gorgeous! They are very tastefully furnished, beds and linen are of a high quality and all rooms are ensuite. We stayed in a room called Roller, which is about a minute’s walk from the main house, with fabulous views overlooking the private conservancy.

There is an almost identical room next door. Both these rooms had their own patios too. The common parts at Kiangazi house are warm and very inviting at all times of the day with beautiful fireplaces and comfy furniture.

Food at Kiangazi House

Food is of a very high standard indeed here, and this is one of the reasons we chose to host our event here. We loved our vegetarian and non vegetarian meals alike. We also requested a birthday cake that was exceptionally good. Meals are usually included in your package and well worth it. The settings simply add to your enjoyment.

Activities at Kiangazi House

I suggest you definitely do the game drives on offer and see what wildlife you can spot. Coming to the sun dowers in the bush is a magical experience that I highly recommend.

You can also ask to see a nearby flower farm too. That’s where all the fresh roses in the rooms come from!

We also did a short boat trip around the lake, but I don’t suggest very small children do this activity.

Eating and drinking at Kiangazi House in the perfect settings are an activity in themselves too!

Breakfast by the lakeside is really special, so do try and organize that. Do also go for a short lakeside walk after breakfast. You’ll share your walk with giraffes and zebras! A very unique experience that’s quite different to seeing them from a vehicle.

Would I go again to Kiangazi House

Yes absolutely, it’s a great break from Nairobi and a very easy way to experience the Kenyan bush especially if you have a multi generational group as we did! Food is amazing, and the rooms verging on luxurious! Service is efficient, friendly and competent.

Geoff the manager and his partner Susannah went over and above the normal call of duty for our group and I’m sure they would for you too. Kiangazi House and it’s sister property Chui Lodge are both great for any kind of celebration, big or small or just if you want to get away for a special treat from Nairobi. Try them and tell me I’m wrong! We loved our experience and will be back…

We also spent 2 nights at Little Governor’s Camp in the Masai Mara on the same trip, another awesome experience!

Chui Lodge (sister property to Kiangazi, same owners)

If you’re thinking about TRAVELLING ANYWHERE, then you maybe be lucky enough to WIN A TRIP TO NEW YORK FOR FREE with hotels.com! Such an easy contest I want to enter myself!

March 6, 2017 by monica Leave a Comment

VISIT CAPE TOWN

Everyone should visit Cape Town if they can!

Mountains, beaches, fine food, finer wines and friendly people! We’ve just returned from a whirlwind 5 day trip from Dubai.

Here are my recommendations for eating, sleeping and drinking if you plan to Visit Cape Town.

Visit Cape Town – Getting there

A 9 hour direct flight on Emirates from Dubai. Leave at about 9 am in the morning, and get there in time for afternoon tea! Cape Town is 2 hours ahead of Dubai. You could also go via Doha on Qatar Airlines, or via Ethihad, but that involves a long stop in Johannesburg.

Note there is a long gap between meals on the Emirates flight – almost 6 hours, so do take extra snacks on board. I always opt for Asian vegetarian food. Try and book the bulk head/bassinet seats if you can, a bit of extra leg room on a long flight is almost priceless! I watched the Kettering Incident thriller drama series for my ICE screen entertainment, there and back!

Where to stay when you visit Cape Town

There is a whole host of hotels and accommodation in Cape Town, decide where you want to be located and then see how much money you’ve got to spend. If you can afford it, then don’t think about it, just stay at the exquisite One and Only hotel in Cape Town. You’ll be talking about the breakfasts here for years to come! It’s also a few minutes walk from the very trendy waterfront area too.

A full post on our experience at the One and Only coming soon on the blog.

We also stayed at a cheaper option in a 2 bedroom apartment at the Cape Royale hotel not far from Sea Point. This option would work well for families and it’s well located for the waterfront and downtown Cape Town. It’s a good base in a great location and there are some nice cafes and shops within walking distance. There’s a large well stocked supermarket nearby too, great if you’re doing some picnics.

Favourite Eating places when you visit Cape Town

The Bungalow in Clifton – Seafront and greenery with stunning interiors, I loved this place for the vibe, food and setting. Do take a jacket or shawl even it’s hot in the day, as it often turns much cooler in the evenings…

The Grand Beach on the Waterfront – This place is by the sea, it’s has a full restaurant but we had a whole area by the seafront. It’s got a beach club vibe with lovely drinks and snacks, casual and laid back, great for a late lunch. I LOVED the fact the music wasn’t deafening loud as in some beach clubs we’ve been to in Thailand and Turkey.

Food is of a very good standard at the Grand Beach.

Kloof Street House in Kloof Street – High class, urban gothic with amazing food and very impressive wines. Their bar tenders are hugely skilled at making a variety of different shots here! I’m not a shot girl at all, but even I was impressed with the caramelised orange and hazlenut shot! Great for a blow out dinner in a fabulous setting!

Also recommended but didn’t get round to trying

Le Caprice – on the seafront
The Food Lab on Bree Street near Long Street.
The Test Kitchen and The Pot Luck Club both in Woodstock in the Old Biscuit Mill. Co incidentally we spoke about the Test Kitchen a while ago on the Ticket Dubai Eye 103.8! If you wander around Woodstock, do try the coffee at the Micro roastery Coffee Express, fabulous coffee. Eat at any of the cafes you like the look of! Need gluten free? Then ask for the Banting option.
Melissa’s seemed like a really good cafe in Franschoek too.

When you visit Cape Town visit the Vineyards

You have to visit Cape Town’s Vineyards and try the fine wines and food on offer, even it’s a just a plate of cheese and crackers! The quality is outstanding.

Choose from the Stellenbosh or the Franschoek areas, both about 50 minutes drive from downtown Cape Town depending on traffic and the route you take.

We LOVED Tokara in Stellenbosh for a great all round wine tasting session and high quality lunch experience.

Get a table on the large promontory platform on top of the vineyards for lunch if you can.

We also visited the more traditional Lanzerac Vineyard. They organized a chocolate and wine tasting pairing for us for which they are known. We also visited the Cape Point Vineyards as part of a special lunch party. We all adored the setting, the views and the peace of the place, fabulous food too. The picture of me at the top of this post is from the Cape Point Vineyards.

Visit Cape Town – What stood out for us

For us, an unforgettable, must do is definitely lunch at the sublime Babylonstoren working farm, garden, vineyard and restaurant. LOVED this place and need to go back here with my children one day! A full post on that experience coming soon on the blog. The pictures and video on the Babylonstoren post should speak for themselves though!

Visit Cape Town – what to buy

We bought scented candles and soaps from Babylenstoren, you’ll find it impossible to resist their shop of scents!
We also bought wine from the Tokara wine estate, pack that carefully in your suitcase!
A new find for us and very popular apparently was the incredibly good Innveroche gin made with the fin bos herb, specific to Cape Town. Pair with your favourite tonic and you’ll soon see what all the fuss is about!
Pick up some Proteas, Cape Town’s national flower, beautiful and very good value, I recommend going to Caroline’s Fine Flowers in the Waterfront Mall. They are very experienced at packing them up for you so you can carry onto the plane. Ask for Amanda.
2 local brands of toiletries I liked were Charlotte Rhys and Rain, both Cape Town favourites I think, with lot’s of natural ingredients.
Buy some Rooibush tea from any supermarket – Woolworths’s food is popular – or grocery store. A natural, caffeine free tea with a very clean taste, available here and in London, but better from Cape Town itself.
Browse for homewares and accessories around Woodstock, visit the Old Biscuit Mill area and just potter about. You’ll find some nice things.

Visit Cape town – Did you know…

That Cape Town is borderd by 2 oceans, the colder Atlantic, much nearer Cape Town airport and the warmer Indian ocean, reached via a 2nd flight from Cape Town to George. That’ll have to be on our next visit!

Uber is used extensively by locals in Cape Town. It seems to work well. I can’t wait to go back! Let me know if you have any questions, I’ll try and answer them here.

Know anyone else who’d appreciate an honest review and genuine recommendations based on first hand experiences?