Kenya lies astride the equator and is located on the eastern part of Africa.     Map of Kenya       Kenya Travel Tips

Kenya gained independence from the British Colonial government in 1962 and became a republic a year latter. Today Kenya is an independent sovereign state and an economic hub of East and central Africa.

There are 3 major cities in Kenya namely Nairobi at the heart of the country, Mombasa on the Indian Ocean and Kisumu on the shores of Lake Victoria – The largest fresh water lake in Africa. Nairobi is the capital city. There are other numerous 2^nd tier towns located all over the country with Nakuru and Eldoret located in The Great Rift Valley, Nyeri in Central Kenya among others.

 

Facts about Kenya

Kenya Occupies a total area of 580,367 square kilometers of which 569,140 sq km represent the land mass and 11,227 sq km represent the water mass.

Kenya has a comfortable tropical climate throughout the year with temperatures ranging between 20° - 28° Centigrade in most parts of the country. In the higher altitude areas the temperatures may drop below 20° Centigrade. Travelers are advised to carry both light and warm apparel when visiting Kenya because in some areas the nights may be very chilly.

 

Attractions

About 1 million tourists visit Kenya yearly mainly to see wildlife in the country’s numerous Game Parks. Kenya is considered the jewel of East Africa, admired as the "cradle of mankind". With The Great Rift Valley almost splitting the country into 2 parts running from north to the south, Kenya is a land with astounding landscapes ranging from the semi arid northern Kenya, to ravines and savannah plains teeming with wild animals as well as sandy beaches and coral reefs in the coast and not to mention the snow-capped peaks of Mt. Kenya (the second highest peak in Africa).

Scenery and landscape

The Great Rift Valley is donned with alkaline lakes namely: Lake Turkana, Lake Baringo, Lake Bogoria, Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha, lake Elementaita and Lake Magadi.  Apart from these lakes, Lake Victoria whose waters are shared between Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania is also the largest Lake in Africa.

Wildlife

Kenya's total wildlife conservation area occupies some 44,359 sq. kilometers of the total country mass. The main parks include: Masai Mara Game Reserve, Aberdares National Park, Amboseli National Park, Samburu National Park, Lake Nakuru National Park, Meru National Park and Tsavo East and West National Parks. There are also other smaller parks including The Hell's Gate National Park, Mt. Elgon National Park, Mt. Kenya National Park, Nairobi National Park, Marsabit National Park, Sibiloi national park, Boni National Reserve, Shimba Hills National Park among others.

Over 450 animal species have been recorded within the Kenya ecosystem with over 80 major animal species ranging from the big five down to the tiny antelopes. There are also over 1,500 species of birds in Kenya. Some of these are found in the 60 important bird sanctuaries in the country. 

 

The Costal Strip

Kenyan coast has beautiful white beaches with palm trees, warm sea water, coral reefs, and sand dunes. The general atmosphere is humid with an average temperature of 82°F (28°C) but there is a relaxing cool breeze from the sea. Fine beach hotels and resorts dot the Kenyan coastal strip offering great locations for relaxing after a safari with optional excursions including water sports, visits  to pre historic sites etc.

There are also two major marine parks located in the Kenyan coastal strip; namely Malindi Marine Park on the north and Kisite Mpunguti Marine Park in south coast.

The coastal Strip of Kenya has a rich history with many prehistoric sites dotting the expanse including the 14th century slave trade settlements, Islamic ruins and 16th century Portuguese forts. The Kenyan coastal strip formed an important trade route for pre historic merchants from Arabic countries and also an important stop over for early explorers including the Portuguese. Read More

 

The People

Spread across the country are 42 major tribes all with distinct dialects. Based on recent census conducted in the country the five majority tribes include: The Kikuyu occupying central Kenya, The Kalenjin resident in central and northern Rift valley, The Luo and The Luhyas occupying the western Part of Kenya and The Kamba found on the Eastern part of the country. However the most sort after tribes are the Masai and to an extent the Samburu whose customs and lifestyles read like a fairy tale and are the most written about tribes in East Africa having preserved their culture to the amazement of the world.

Among the 42 main tribes can be found more than 70 tribal groups whose distinctions between their dialects are blurred - western cultural values are becoming more ingrained and traditional values are disintegrating.

Kenyans are also renowned long distance runners worldwide. This is mostly attributed to the high altitude in most parts of the country and to some extent the hash landscape which provides the natives with a natural arena for succeeding in athletics.

 

Religion

The dominant religion in Kenya is Christianity. There is also a sizable Muslim population mostly in the coastal strip and Hindu communities.

 

Economy
Kenyan is the leading and largest economy in the East and Central Africa region. With relatively good infrastructure, the main economy drivers include tourism and agriculture. Kenya also has substantially developed its manufacturing sector benefiting from the larger East and Central African Community Market.

Subsistence farming and the barter of goods formed the foundation of the Kenyan economy in the early days of independence. Agricultural exports, mainly tea and coffee, brought in substantial income from foreign exchange. With democracy newly established, the Kenyan government began to promote a mixed economy composed of both privately-owned and state-run businesses. These attempts to diversify the economy meant increased stability, employment, and overall economic growth during the first ten years of independence. A substantial amount of foreign investment further supplements economic growth.  

 

Language and Culture 
English and Kiswahili are the main languages spoken and taught throughout the country, but there are many other tribal languages. It is useful for the traveler to have a basic knowledge of Swahili, especially outside the urban areas and in remote parts of the country. 

Kenyans love to party and the music style known as benga is the contemporary dance music that rules. It originated among the Luo people of western Kenya and became popular in the area in the 1950s.
Now in the late 1900, early 2000 Kenya's hip hop scene has really taken off. Only a few years ago, it was unthinkable for a Kenyan to earn any money, let alone earn a living from the trade. Well brace yourself, Kenya’s hip hop scene is among the most vibrant in Africa....and with a rapid rise in its popularity, both in Kenya and worldwide, this hip hop scene will only get better. 

The Main national dish of Kenya is a cornmeal mush called Ugali. It is cornmeal cooked with water to a thick paste and served with meat or vegetables. Green vegetables are important to the African diet. In Kenya, collard greens are both cheap and popular. The popular vegetable is Kale, locally known as - sukuma wiki which literally translates to "stretch the week." In the coast however, more varieties of cuisines are served popularly known as Swahili dishes which are a mixture of both the local cuisine and Arabic dishes.

Beer drinkers are well supplied in this country. Kenyans love their beer almost as much as their dancing and there's a thriving local brewing industry. 

 

In Summary

Kenya is famous for its incredible landscape (scenic beauty), savanna rich with magnificent wildlife (lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo and leopard etc), diverse cultures unchanged by the modern world, pristine beaches and coral reef, equatorial forests and mighty snow capped mountain, an exotic history and fascinating modern culture, and endless opportunities for adventure, discovery, relaxation and so much more than you ever expected. Kenya is one of the most popular destinations in the world as no other country on earth can offer the visitor as much to see and do.