Facts about Kenya

Kenya is a country rich in wildlife, culture, history, beauty and friendly, welcoming people. Kenya is geographically diverse, from snow-capped mountain peaks to extensive forests to wide-open plains.

 

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15 Facts about Kenya – Kenya facts – Information at a glance

Facts about Kenya

Key geographical attractions include the Great Rift Valley, which features extinct volcanoes and hot springs, and Kenya’s coastline, complete with reefs and magnificent beaches. Combine all this with a well-developed tourist infrastructure of hotels, lodges, campsites and a variety of activities, and its no wonder Kenya is a popular tourist destination attracting millions of visitors each year.

“Explore the Spectacle of Kenya…”

About Kenya’s Geography and Climate / Tourist Information Map

Kenya, an East African nation, spans more than 224,000 sq. miles (582,000 sq. Km), making it only slightly smaller than the state of Texas in the United States. Kenya is situated on the equator and is bordered by five countries: Uganda (to the west), Sudan (to the northwest), Ethiopia (to the north), Somalia (to the northeast), and Tanzania (to the south). Along its southeast edge, Kenya’s tropical coastline connects the country to the Indian Ocean.

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Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, is located in the southwest. Other major cities include Mombasa (situated on the coast), Nakuru and Eldoret (found in the west-central region), and Kisumu (located in the west on the shores of Lake Victoria).

Kenya is blessed with a wide range of topographical features – from the low plains found along the coast, bisected by the Great Rift Valley, to the fertile plateau in the west. The Great Rift Valley is home to a number of lakes, arid and rugged landscapes, and volcanic landforms with areas of active hot springs and geothermal activity.

The highland areas of Central Kenya provide fertile ground for farming, making Kenya one of the most agriculturally productive countries in Africa. The north of Kenya, however, is largely desert land scattered with thorn bush. This contrasts greatly with the Kenyan coast, which features many beaches, coral reefs, creeks and coral islands. The coastal strip is largely flat, giving rise to the rolling Taita hills.

Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain, is located along the border between Kenya and Tanzania. Breathtaking views of Kilimanjaro can be seen from Amboseli National Park. The second highest mountain – Mount Kenya – can be found at the country’s center.

Kenya enjoys a tropical climate. The coastal area is warm and humid, the central highlands are temperate, and it is both hot and dry in Kenya’s north and northeast regions. Rainfall in Kenya is seasonal with most rain falling between the months of April and June and shorter rainfalls occurring between October and December.

About Kenya People and Culture

Kenya has a population of more than 38 million people, with about four million residing in its capital city, Nairobi. There are 42 ethnic groups who call Kenya home; each group has its own unique language and culture. Although Kikuyu is the largest ethnic group, the Maasai are the most well known due to both their long-preserved culture and their involvement in Kenyan tourism. Kenya is also home to immigrants of other nationalities, including Europeans, Asians, Arabs and Somalis. Kenya’s official languages are English and Swahili.

Facts About Tourist Attractions in Kenya

Game Safaris and wildlife tours are Kenya’s biggest attractions, drawing many visitors to the country each year. Kenya manages more than 20 national parks and national game reserves, where visitors can view some of the country’s most spectacular wildlife, including the “Big Five” animals. In fact, the “Big Five” are the central focus of the majority of safari tours and wildlife expeditions offered within the parks. Kenya’s most popular game park is the Masaai Mara, which borders the Serengeti plains in Tanzania. Between July and September, visitors can witness the remarkable annual wildebeest migration which takes place at the Mara.

Kenya’s many beaches along the Indian Ocean are the country’s second biggest tourist attraction. Visitors can enjoy clean beaches lined with palm trees and studded with luxury resorts, with coral reefs located just offshore. The City of Mombasa is the entry point to the coast, with beaches extending south to Malindi and north to Lamu Archipelago, a world heritage site.

About Kenya Agricultural Products

Kenya is one of the top agricultural producers in Africa thanks to the rich soil of the Kenyan highlands. Coffee, tea, tobacco, cotton, pyrethrum, flowers, cashew nuts and sisal are Kenya’s cash crops, with fruit, vegetables, beans, and cassava emerging as key crops for subsistence. Cattle, goats and sheep are also important agricultural products. Major export markets include Kenya’s neighboring countries, as well as several European and Asian countries, and the United States.

About Kenya Government

The Republic of Kenya is a multi-party democracy with a National Assembly. The constitution declares the president as both the head of state and the head of government. Kenya’s government has been stable and the recent administration has worked hard to improve the country on many levels, from education, technology to health care to economic growth.

Kenya’s Challenges

As a developing nation, Kenya has many challenges to overcome. The government is still striving to provide adequate services to the rural communities and corruption in the private and public sector remains rampant. Unemployment is a constant challenge, as well as crime, disease and poverty.

However, as Kenya continues to make a place for itself on the world stage, its abundant agricultural and natural resources, educated manpower, diverse yet cohesive population and vision for the future will see it emerge as a leader among African nations.

https://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Kenya/Rift-Valley-Province/Masai-Mara-NP/blog-1037768.html

12 Facts about Kenya 2019

1. ”Kenya” ~ the Name : It is held that name has roots in the Kikuyu term for Mount Kenya, ‘ Kirinyaga’ . Mount Kenya is a snow capped mountain located right on the Equator.
2. Wonderful Climate : We do not exaggerate when we say Kenya has arguably some of the best weather in the World. Pleasant most year round with two rainy seasons, and in many places even if it pours, it clears up to sunny blue skies. There is no need for air conditioners or fans, except along the humid coast where day time temperatures do hit the high 30s.

3. Diverse Geography:  For a country smaller than large US States or for that matter India’s UP state, Kenya actually boasts some seriously spectacular geographical features, including the Great Rift Valley, snow capped Mount Kenya, several smaller mountains and volcanoes, numerous Lakes, large and small, fresh water and salt water too, vibrant rivers and upto 5 different vegetation zones, ranging from the deserts in the north of the country to lush forests just a few hundred miles sough. Diversity is in abundance.

4. The best African Wildlife: It is a known fact that while on a Safari in Kenya, it is possible to see not just the ”Big Five” in a Kenyan Park or Reserve, but also the ”Big Nine”, hundreds of bird species, and everything from Hippos in a lake to endangered Black Rhino on the savanah, all in a single Day !.

Best of all ? These animals are Born Free and Live Free !

5. Indian Ocean & Beaches: Kenya has a long coastline meeting the Indian Ocean. Importantly, it is also blessed with some amazingly beautiful white sand beaches, protected by coral reef [ free of sharks] as well as mostly being palm fringed. [ offering natural shade during your beach sessions].

6. Facts About Kenya’s Population: It is expected that Kenya’s population by 2018 will touch close to 50 million.

7. History: Kenya was a British Colony from the late 1890’s upto 1963, when  the country attained independence under the leadership of Jomo Kenyatta, the first President of Kenya and considered the founding father of the nation.

8. Cities: Kenya has just a handful of modern cities, the largest of which is Nairobi, the country’s capital city. Nairobi is a pretty city, generally clean and modern, known for it’s abundant greenery. It is lacking in terms of a modern public transport system, so there’s not tube or overhead rail network here.

9. Religion: Kenya is predominantly a Christian country, but with significant proportions of Muslim and other faiths living harmoniously together. There is full religious freedom in Kenya and most people by and large actively practice their religion with most Churches seeing a well attended weekly Sunday service.

10. Sport: The world is accustomed to seeing Kenyan athletes regularly win major marathons and long distance races. Many of these famous runners come from a specific area of Kenya in the Northern Rift Valley region. Football is however the most popular sport, while the most famous Sport even in Kenya is the annual Safari Rally, a world famous motor rallying event that is considered to be a supreme test of man and machine.

11. Facts about Kenya Tribes:  It is a common fact that Kenya has numerous tribes, the more famous of which are the Maasai tribe, living mostly in the large region surrounding Masai Mara. Kenya has close to 40 distinct tribes most with their own unique traditions and culture.
12. Food in Kenya: Most of the food consumed in Kenya is actually grown in the country on large scale farms. One of the staples of the local diet is Ugali, made from maize meal. Maize is therefore a commonly grown crop along with wheat and other grains. Kenya also has large herds of livestock.

In terms of cuisine, you can expect to find a variety of high quality restaurants in Nairobi, and it is not uncommon to find say a Chinese restaurant being run by a native Chinese Chef, and an Italian restaurant owned and managed by native Italians. The food in hotels and while on Safari often meets and exceeds the basic International standards applicable for 4 and 5 star hotels.