ABOUT KENYA

Kenya, lies on the eastern coastline of Africa covering an area of 600,000 square Kilometers the Equator crosses through the country from east to west thus allowing almost equal hours of day and night. The Indian Ocean borders it on the east, providing a welcoming beach-front and whispering palm trees. Tanzania is on the south; Uganda on the west; Ethiopia shoulders it on the north; with Somalia lying on the northeast. L. Victoria, the second largest lake in the world is found on the extreme west, also shared by Uganda and Tanzania. It covers 224,000 square miles (582,650 sq. km), making it roughly twice the size of Nevada. The low plains rise to central highlands bisected by the Great Rift Valley with a fertile plateau in the west; running north to south gives it its varied terrain of mountains, hills, ranges, escarpment and rolling plains, interspersed with rivers, lakes, streams and cascading falls. Its lowest point of elevation is the Indian Ocean at 0; its highest point of elevation is Mt Kenya which stands at 5,199m.

Climate: The climate varies from tropical along the coast to arid in the interior. Kenya's geographical position contributes the climate of two rainy seasons the short rains from October to November, while the long rains are from April/May all through to July. In these months the country experiences low to moderate temperatures specially the highlands that are quite cold. The Western region, around the lake creates a climate of its own, while coastal areas have moderate temperatures to high temperatures. Northern Kenya usually undergoes periods of none to minimal rainfall. Nairobi, Kenya's capital is a cosmopolitan city where various races of people live, work and socialize together.

The Kenyan Highlands comprise one of the most successful agricultural production regions in Africa; glaciers are found on Mount Kenya, Africa's second highest peak, and a unique physiographic supports abundant and varied wildlife of scientific and economic value. Proud of diverse cultures, the Kenya people are relatively close to their traditional with 42 specific tribes in Kenya, each with their own cultural beliefs and practices, and finding a unifying theme can be difficult. By far the most widely-known group is the Masai , due to its recognizable clothing and customs, has become popular in depictions throughout the west, and a sizable tourist industry has built up around their culture.

Kenya has a remarkable history, wealth of cultural and natural wonders for the adventurous traveler; limitless opportunities for exploration such as astounding wildlife parks on Earth can be found in Kenya, with all of the big game many people associate with Africa. Beautiful beaches, diving in the nation’s extensive coral reef, cultural legacy of Kenya has left many ruins from the Swahili cultures, including large city complexes. While bandits can be a problem in some areas — primarily along the borders of Somalia, Sudan, and Ethiopia — so long as you travel with a respectable guide you should be safe. Kenya boasts of easy accessibility in Africa; flights arrive at Nairobi daily from most major American and European cities; Nairobi acts as a sort of hub for the region.

The history of prehistoric man can be found throughout Kenya, with fossils of Homo habilis dating back 2.5 million years. The early settlement of Kenya began around 2000 BCE, and around 100 AD both Persians and Arabs began settling the area. Around this time both the Bantu and Nilotic people began to settle the area, forming the core ethnic mix that comprises the country to this day.

Population: Kenya has a population of over 32 million people live in Kenya. Life expectancy is around 45 years. Birth rate is on average 3.3 per woman.

Religion: Protestant 45%, Roman Catholic 33%, indigenous beliefs 10%, Muslim 10%, other 2% note: a large majority of Kenyans are Christian, but estimates for the percentage of the population that adheres to Islam or indigenous beliefs vary widely.