norsk

Guys, I know this is a serious longshot but I will try it anyway.

My dad has over the last 10 years built up a hotel/lodge on the Kenyan west coast (on the shores of Lake Victoria) and as much as he has enjoyed the experience, he is now looking for someone (a couple preferably) who are interested in an adventure in rural Kenya. His main reason for looking is that he has suddenly realised that he is getting old and now wants to spend his time resting in the shadow of a palm tree with a cold beer rather than running around fixing stuff and ensuring the books are balanced.

His plan is to "loan" the place to someone free of charge for a set period and they will run it as if it was their own with all financial and operational responsibility. There are currently around 30 staff on the books as far as I can remember, but this post is not meant to contain details. It is rather to see if I get a response.

My dad would obviously be available for advice on maintenance and so on as he will continue to live in the area (not at the lodge though). He has after all run it for the last 10 years so has plenty of experience. He has very few absolute demands from what I understand, but he has an office in his lighthouse that he wishes to keep plus his boat will be moored by the beach.

So - if you are keen on finding out more or you know someone who may be interested send me a pm and I will provide further information and pass along contact details for my dad.

There is a website with some information about the place and the surrounding area that you can check out. Go to http://www.safarikenya.net/ (my dad designed the website and you can clearly see why he is a bridge engineer and not a web designer)

MataHari

well...it did give me a 10 min daydream thinking what it would be like to pack up and do something like that, so thanks for that...
hope your dad finds someone suitable...

nottmbantam

I could go back to the country of my birth and start a new career. Got relatives near to Nakuru.

Half tempted in all seriousness.

norsk

I seriously think it would be a great experience for someone with the right mindset. It is definitely one of those things where you would have to be willing to give up on some of life's luxuries though. It is only about a year ago electricity was installed, before that it was all about the generators..

lionheart

If it was anywhere but West Kenya, we would have been interested. It's a tribal thing.

Meow

The place looks lovely and like MH I spent a few minutes going 'what if'....

Hope your father finds a happy solution.

kittycat1

oo that sounds fab! 10 years down the line Id be up for that!

al dente

That sounds like a magical experience. Sadly, not at this point in my life but i can forward it on to mates in Kenya who may be interested?

I wanted an oyster farm north of Watamu once but my live has gone is such a different direction now. I can see what the day dream will be for the next few months at least.

Sigh....

Welivehere

You would come up with this little gem the day my bloody container is loaded in Mombassa and on its way back to Dubai. What could have been a month ago .....

al dente

How mad that so many peole have links with Kenya!

Welivehere - how long have you been there?

Welivehere

AD - We spent 7 months in Nairobbery, now back in the land of sand. Really enjoyed the place and the majority of the people. Hated doing business there though....

al dente

Ah, i can see from the amount of time there that it didn't work out. Better luck when you're back here. Hope you managed to enjoy yourself and get out and about around the country.

I suspect i have rose tinted glasses about how things work. My Dad is going back next year to over see some land development. He might be in for a bit of a shock. Mind you he has the bitchiest of wives, who happens to be from there and she might make things happen.

Welivehere

Hey AD - Loved the placed and the people we met there but you're right the contract I travelled there for didn't work out. Shame as there are a lot of goods things / parts / people there. Having said that being back to decent internet and road without pot holes that can swallow a car does have it perks... :-)

Why the rose tinted glasses?

al dente

I suppose after being raised in Africa, i used to 'get' how things work there. There's always someone you can see, a little swahili here and there, a palm to grease and it comes together - usual with a laugh and a smile. Here, i just find similar problems in bureaucracy without the social frameowrk of fixing it. All a lot drier (pun intended) and, sometimes frightening. DOn't get me wrong, we've had friends be on the wrong side of a Minister etc in Kenya but we helped and were not afraid ourselves. Here any sign of minor trouble and we'd be gone, certain that we couldn't fix it. In Kenya, i just feel for your average run ins, you can still wing it and be absolutely fine.

norsk

Sorry about that