This archive report was first published on 28 July 2019.
As I stood on the sun-kissed beach of Diani, Kenya, on a warm July evening in 2019, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and trepidation. My stag party had finally arrived, and I was ready to let loose with my friends.
But little did I know, our weekend of revelry would be marred by a tragic accident involving our Uber driver, who knocked my best man to the ground and crushed his feet beneath the car's wheel. It was a harrowing start to what would be an unforgettable weekend.
Traditionally, stag nights were a humble affair, with the groom-to-be sharing a few drinks with close friends the evening before the wedding. But times have changed, and stag parties have evolved into weekend-long extravaganzas, complete with fancy dress and heavy drinking.
For my stag party, we chose Diani as our destination, thanks to its lively bars, affordable accommodations, and stunning beaches. We rented a beautiful beachfront house through Booking.com, called Desert Rose Beach House, which offered us the perfect blend of luxury and tranquility.
However, our peaceful retreat was short-lived, as we soon found ourselves hopping between Diani's many restaurants and watering holes, indulging in a mix of sophisticated and rowdy establishments. We enjoyed a lazy afternoon at the Nomad Beach Bar and a decadent evening at the Sails Restaurant, but as the evenings wore on, our standards began to slip, and we found ourselves zipping between after-hours bars and clubs.
One of our boda riders warned us to avoid Manyatta, a notorious bar that catered to older expats and sex workers. But we were drawn to the Tandoori Bar, a misleadingly named establishment that was actually one of Diani's most popular bars. With its makuti roof, pool tables, and cheesy music, it was the perfect venue for our stag party.
While our weekend was marked by tragedy, it was also a testament to the power of friendship and the enduring spirit of a stag party. As my best man would attest, it was a weekend fit for the occasion, and one that we would never forget.
