 The Green Hills of Africa that Ernest Hemingway loved... Kenya still has a special magic, it's game areas are rich, it's lodges superb and it has many quality coastal gamefishing resorts, including one that bears Hemingway's name.
The two main offshore gamefishing areas are Watamu/Malindi (140 km north of Mombasa, home to both Hemingways and Kingfishers); and Shimoni/Pemba (80 km south of Mombasa), the base for Sea Adventures and the Pemba Channel Fishing Club; PCFC is Kenya's oldest sportfishing operation and the holder of most East African gamefishing records. Blue, black and striped marlin occur year-round off Kenya's 550 km (300 mile) coastline, though marlin fishing peaks from January to mid-March. December is the top sailfish month, while large yellowfin tuna in the 80 kg class are found from late August to early November. All the smaller tropical gamefish also occur, but during the winter months of May through August the seas can be wild and woolly, and offshore angling comes to a stop. Kenya also has two of Africa's great lakes, being Victoria (second in size only to Lake Superior) and Turkana (formerly Lake Rudolph). In these lakes lives the Nile perch, a fish that looks like an outsize largemouth bass (and behaves like one, too!) -- but grows to well over 100 kg (220 lb.) To have one of these babies airborne with your plug rattling in its jaws is awesome! Kenya has been catering to international tourism longer than any other African country, and standards are high. Its many game areas include the famous Maasai Mara, which extends into Tanzania as the Serengeti. At any time one is guaranteed incredible gameviewing in the Mara, with the famous migration of millions of zebra and wildebeest, followed by large prides of lions and other predators, reaching its peak in July and August.
KENYAN COAST At time of writing, in late October '98, Kenya saw the tail end of a reasonable yellowfin tuna season, with fish up to 75 kg. Sailfish were present in good numbers, as were small black marlin in the 50/100 kg class. This is a normal pattern and bodes well for the rest of the summer. A puzzling factor has been the presence of Giant Ignoblis kingfish (called Karambesi up there) in greater numbers than ever before, but assuming that to be a positive indication, all looks good for the summer billfish season. There are a couple of other "good news" items from Kenya, chief among them being that Kenya Airways have finally taken our pleas to heart and put together a Saturday Nairobi flight that connects through to Malindi instead of Mombasa. This cuts out that boring two-hour drive from Mombasa to HEMINGWAYS or THE DRIFTWOOD CLUB, and allows us to cut those transfer costs. (On the homeward journey one still has to go via Mombasa.) Other good news is that both Hemingways, at Watamu near Malindi, and THE PEMBA CHANNEL FISHING CLUB down at Shimoni in the south, have come up with Rand-based prices for the coming season, cutting some of the uncertainty out of planning a Kenya trip. But the Kenya coast is more than just a world-class gamefishing destination, it's also a holiday playground in its own right. Down at DIANI BEACH, 30 km south of Mombasa, an ELEVEN NIGHT "Christmas Special" package to AFRICANA SEA LODGE is just U$ 1,010 per person sharing. And if you want to fish the famous Pemba Channel, PCFC will collect and drop you at the hotel. No space here for our Kenyan inland destinations, but don't forget we also have packages to East Africa's game parks and lakes.
HEMINGWAYS 7 NIGHT PACKAGE RATES (Updated 14th August 2000)
INCLUDES: Return flights ex Jhb on Kenya Airways, all internal road-transfers and internal flights, seven nights accommodation with dinners and breakfasts, stocked mini bar (on arrival only) in high and shoulder seasons, snorkelling trips to marine reserve, daily hotel bus to Malindi town and CNS travel bag.
EXCLUDES: Extra meals, dep taxes (SAR179) & Kenya (US $40 to be paid in SA), insurance, excursions and personal expense. USING KENYA AIRWAYS (Flights everyday)
LOW SEASON -- 16 Mar to 31 Aug 2000
Std accom, per person sharing - GBP655 Superior accom, pps - GBP720
SHOULDER SEASON -- 01 Sep to 30 Nov 2000
Std accom, per person sharing - GBP716 Superior accom, pps - GBP781
SHOULDER SEASON -- 01 Dec to 20 Dec 2000
Std accom, per person sharing - GBP766 Superior accom, pps - GBP831
HIGH SEASON -- 21 Dec 2000 to 14 JAN 2001
Std accom, per person sharing - GBP910 Superior accom, pps - GBP976
A) USING SAA (Mon, Tue, Fri & Sun) is an additional R1 980 except High Season which will be
R1580 per person..
B) SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: For seven nights.
High -- GBP201 Std, GBP240 Sup; Low -- GBP109 Std, GBP131 Sup; Shoulder -- GBP135 Std,
GBP175 Sup
C) X-MAS SUPPLEMENTS: 24/12/00 - 27/12/00: ADULT GBP30 PER NIGHT
NEW YEAR SUPPLEMENTS: 28/12/00 - 01/01/01: ADULT GBP50 PER NIGHT
MINIMUM OF SEVEN NIGHTS STAY COMMENCING 28TH DEC 2000.
D) CHILDREN ARE WELCOME AT HEMINGWAYS. PRICES ON REQUEST.
E) PRICES ARE SUBJECT TO AIRFARE INCREASE AND ARE QUOTED IN POUND
STERLING (RAND EQUIVALENT TO BE PAID AT BANK SELLING RATE.) Price are subject to change without notice. $ Currency Exchange $
HEMINGWAYS BOATS 2000
(Updated Aug 16 2000)
Hemingways offer two classes of boat: Big are approx 11/12 metres, and their best boats; Small are approx 7
metres, similar to our ski-boats. All carry a full range of top quality tackle, from 30lb through 80lb; will also
sometimes carry 130lb, usually February/March.
They'll allow only four clients on Big, and two on Small (whether anglers or merely observers). Big carry three
crew, Small two crew. Fishing starts approx 0630, boats are back in by 1630.
Hires include: fuel, all tackle, baits and lures; well stocked icebox, and packed lunch (choose your own lunch
while having breakfast, it's then packed and sent to your boat).
DAILY BOAT PRICES
PRICES IN POUND STERLING (RAND EQUIVALENT TO BE PAID AT APPLICABLE
EXCHANGE RATE).
LOW SEASON: Mid July - Sept 2000: GBP333 Big boat, GBP214 Small boat
SHOULDER SEASON: Oct - Nov 2000 GBP399 Big boat, GBP257 Small boat
HIGH SEASON: 01 December 00 to 31 March 2001 GBP 475 Big Boat, GBP 280 Small boat
HALF-DAY RATES: (five hours: 0630/1130 --- NOT RECOMMENDED)
Prices available on request.
Pre-booking is in any case advisable, especially in high season.
SUITABLE FOR LIGHT TACKLE AND FLY-FISHERMEN Hemingways also have five metre, single-engine dinghies/dories, with driver. Can take three anglers but best for two, at GBP25 per hr without tackle or GBP30 per hr with tackle. Fuel and driver included, but not lunch or ice-box.
During December/March Kenya's sea conditions are usually calm and one can go deep-sea in these craft. Once the Kaskazi breeze sets, in early December, the weather is very consistent, seldom has rapid changes like ours. Dories can handle everything except shark and marlin; fine for sailies and general gamefish.
I've fished the dories as early as September and also in late March, the end of Summer, without problem. My experience those times of the year is that the mornings are calm, breeze gets up in the afternoon. The dories are open craft; take a good hat, sunblock, maybe light longs and long sleeve shirt etc, and you'll still usually find that by midday you've had enough.
PEMBA CHANNEL FISHING CLUB PAT HEMPHILL'S SEA ADVENTURES These 2 adjoining lodges overlook the Pemba Channel at Shimoni, 80 km South of Mombasa, a deep-water area better known for marlin and large shark than for general gamefishing. This is a rural & little developed part of the Kenya Coast, with the nearest shopping center of Diani Beach 40 minutes away by road. Although at the water's edge, neither lodge has a real beach, but there are good beaches and excellent snorkeling/scuba diving on nearby offshore islands. The Shimba Hills Game reserve, which offers not only wildlife but also spectacular views out over the coast, is only 90 minutes away by road, making day trips feasible. Packages include flights on Kenya Airways ex Jhb, SA dep tax, CNS shirt, Mombasa/Shimoni transfers, & seven nights full board accommodation. Dbn/Cpt add-ons available. PEMBA CHANNEL FISHING CLUB ... ...opened 34 years ago, is the oldest fishing resort in Kenya, and holder of most Kenyan gamefishing records. Accommodation for 16 clients is in twin-bed chalets within the club's attractive grounds, rustic but comfortable. Fans, but no air-con. Large swimming pool overlooking the channel. PCFC is justly famous for its meals, taken in the main clubhouse/bar. COSTS - HIGH SEASON - 97/98 (16/11/97 to 31/03/98): R5,659 pps if using KQ flights. LOW SEASON (01/04/98 to 15/11/98): R5,749 pp sharing using KQ. HIGH SEASON 98/99 (16/11/98 to 31/03/99): R6,134 pps using KQ. BOATS: PCFC operates 5 large boats in the 10 to 14 meter range. Two of these, Jasiri and Shuwari, are new 10-meter Bertrams capable of 30 knots. The older boats are Pingusi, Countdown & White Otter, the last having more marlin to its credit than any boat in Africa. The 2 Bertrams are R2,580 pd (HIGH SEASON 97/98), R2 585 pd (LOW SEASON), thenR2,840 (HIGH SEASON) and the other 3 boats are R2 110 (HIGH SEASON 98/98), R2,070 (LOW SEASON) then R2 320 (HIGH SEASON 98/99). Meals & tackle are provided. Tackle is 30, 50 & 80 lb, with 130 lb sometimes being used when exceptional marlin are about, usually Feb/Mar. PAT HEMPHILL'S SEA ADVENTURES... ...was founded in the early 90's by the original owner of PCFC, doyen of Kenyan big-game angling. The operation runs from the home of Pat and Maia Hemphill, which adjoins PCFC. Accommodation is in either a two-room chalet at the water's edge, for four people, or in two dbl rooms in the Hemphill home, meals being taken with the family; maximum eight clients. COSTS: US $935 (@ 4.99 = R4,666) pps if using KQ. BOATS: Sea Adventures operate two large boats, skippered by Pat Hemphill and his son Simon. Charters are US $480 (R2,395) per day , meals and all tackle provided. Note: The Sea Adventures boats also carry IGFA rated tackle right down to 4 kg, and so are among the few Kenyan boats catering for the light-tackle angler. Price are subject to change without notice. $ Currency Exchange $
DRIFTWOOD CLUB / KINGFISHER FISHING MALINDI Driftwood Beach Club is 140 kms north of Mombasa, on the outskirts of Malindi, on a good beach, with rooms/cottages set in own secure gardens. Has swimming pools, squash court, water sports, scuba school; a fairly festive place and good for families. Because of its closeness to Malindi town only members (ie: residents) are allowed into the well-secured Driftwood grounds. Packages valid to 14 December 1998. PACKAGES INCLUDE: Rtn flights ex Jhb on Kenya Airways, SA departure tax, all transfers within Kenya, 7 nights Driftwood Beach Club (h/b) & a Charles Norman Shirt. EXCLUDES: Kenyan dep tax of US $20, bar bill & personal expenses. NORTH & SOUTH BEACH ROOMS These are on either side of the main dining/bar complex, North Beach rooms sea-facing; South Beach rooms have garden views. All rooms are air -conditioned and with private bathrooms. North Beach rooms US $893 (@4.99 = R4,456); South beach rooms US $867 (R4,326). Dbn/Cpt add-ons available. FAMILY COTTAGES These are suitable for 2 adults & 2 children, have own bathroom & are air-conditioned. Package for family of 4, 2 children under 12: US $3,062. LUXURY COTTAGES Driftwood Club has 2 luxury cottages each consisting of 2 air-conditioned bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, living room & porch, with shared swimming pool, away from main club & very private. US $996 (R4,970) pp based on four people sharing. * HIGH SEASON SUPPLEMENT: $20 per adult pn & $10 per child pn applicable for two nights only (25 and 31 December) on any of the above accommodation types. FISHING OPTIONS Most Driftwood clients choose to fish with the Kingfisher operation out of Malindi, which runs five very successful craft; Neptune (35' Bertram), Tina (34' Striker), Eclare (33' Aquabell), Snark (31' custom built sport fisher) and Snow Goose (37' custom built sport fisher semi-displaced). Prices valid to 15/03/99. Prices for a 10 hr fishing day with four anglers: Neptune, Eclare, Tina and Snow Goose USD496 in low season (16/03/98 to 30/09/98); USD560 in shoulder season (01/10/98 to 14/12/98); and GBP366 to 15/03/98 then USD640 in high season (15/12/98 to 15/03/99). Prices for Snark are USD448 (low/s); USD472 (shoulder/s); and GBP315 to 15/03/98 then USD560 (high/s), incl. of hotel transfers, fully equipped charter boat & soft drinks (no lunch, arrange a packed lunch from hotel). For light tackle, & fly fishing, Malachite, a 25 ft fibre glass centre consul with 2x 25hp motors (ample shade, a good casting platform & outriggers for trolling) can be hired at GBP30 phr (min 6 hrs) to 15/03/98 then USD48 phr until 15/03/99. Trolling rods (20 & 30 lb) are supplied. Take own spinning & casting equipment. Price are subject to change without notice. |
