English Point Marina offers guests a high end hotel experience, or a home away from home feeling in their apartment-style accommodation. Eco-friendly swimming pools and beautiful views of the Indian Ocean, provide the perfect backdrop for a sundowner.
The watercraft’s driver meets me at the pier, hands me a life jacket to wear and ties my feet to a board with a pair of boots connected by a long hose. After giving me strict instructions, they shove me out into the ocean, solo. I lie on my back as the fly board begins to drag me through the water, the hose pulls me deep into the ocean and far from the shore.
When I’m finally comfortable and have gained momentum and balance, I remember my instructions and raise my hand to signal to the watercraft driver I am ready. Next I flip onto my tummy and take up a standing position to propel myself upright. I’m flying! I can hear the sounds of my gleeful screams.
I have never seen Mombasa’s beauty on display as in the ending of Sauti Sol’s Unconditionally Bae video. Being their publicist, I have always regretted not accompanying Sauti Sol on that shoot so I have been planning to visit English Point Marina for ages, to discover more about what it has to offer.
As fate would have it, it was the last place we stayed after the conclusion of Sauti Sol’s Live and Die in Afrika Tour, in Mombasa. Arriving at the revered property is my great escape from the tiresome weeks of the tour. My motive is to feed off the Marina’s beauty and find rest and rejuvenation.
I decide to try my luck at the Jazz Restaurant. Their a la carte continental menu is delightful, the fried prawns are my favourite. On Thursdays, they serve Thai food and on Saturdays a delicious array of Mongolian dishes. Every Friday is set for live Jazz music.
English Point stands out in that it offers guests a choice – to either have a hotel experience or stay in their apartment blocks, what can best be described as a home away from home. Marina apartments each have different themes – where beauty meets luxury. My block B apartment on the second floor is cozy and furnished with a delicate palette of simple turquoise and marine colours. Floor to ceiling mirrors on a large wardrobe succeed in making the already spacious room feel even airier. A patio looks onto to the island of Mombasa, as the moon comes out, the city dances its lights on the deep blue ocean.
Marina’s shower is without a doubt the best shower I’ve had over the six intense weeks of touring with the band. The large square-shaped shower-head streams hot water consistently and takes only a few minutes to heat up. Make sure you put aside ample time to enjoy this steamy experience!
Soon, Marina’s sailing centre will be ready and yes – you can come with your boat before proceeding to your destination of choice. But fly boarding, not sailing was my excuse to visit the Sports Centre for the safest and most reliable fly boarding experience in the coast, exclusively provided at English Point Marina and Diani by Raydon Water Sports.
I have always watched videos of fly boarders and thought that it’s one of the coolest water sports. I can swim and I am good bicycle rider so I knew I had a chance because my instructor insisted that fly boarding is first about maintaining balance and then embracing water and ultimately suppressing fear.
The watercraft instructor releases the pressure on the hose forcing the fly board to thrust me further up into the air. I’m told you can reach up to 15 metres in height although personally I hardly flew above my waist. Upon completion, I feel very pleased with myself for having taken up the challenge. The water is so cold but it feels so fresh and therapeutic to the body.
You need a lot of strength and balance to fly board so after I’m done I head straight for the Marina’s eco-friendly swimming pool. Here, again I bask in the delights of the beautiful view of the ocean’s horizon as it meets the end of the swimming pool in an effortless combination of blues. This is not a view I’ll forget any time soon.
