Kenya Safari – The beauty of Kenya

For the visitor nurtured by the writings of Rider Haggard, Ernest Hemingway, Karen Blixen, Elspeth Huxley, Robert Ruark, Jim Corbett, Baden-Powell, Joy Adamson, and the celluloid epics of Hollywood’s golden years, Kenya has always cast a spell. magical. . This nation in the heart of a great continent remains a stronger magnet for safari tourists from the Western world than any other country in Africa. And it’s easy to see why. Kenya is picturesquely magnificent; 583,644 square kilometers (224,335 square miles) much of its spectacular wilderness unsurpassed anywhere in the world.

Straddling the equator and divided at its center by the Great Rift Valley, Kenya’s landscapes are varied and beautiful opposites: from snow-capped mountain peak to scorching desert, from rain-soaked hardwood forest to the sparkling white sand beaches. And scattered across the land are more than 40 national wildlife parks and game reserves that contain some of the world’s most interesting wildlife. Kenya is also exceptional in other ways besides the eternal wonder of scenery and wildlife.

The country’s history since 1963, when it gained independence from the British, under the leadership of freedom fighter “Mzee” Jomo Kenyatta, is one of remarkable social and economic progress. Symbolic of Kenya’s success in merging traditional African tribal society with modern technological society is the imposing Kenyatta International Conference Center in the heart of Nairobi. The Center’s 30-story tower is one of the most imposing buildings in Kenya; the cone-shaped roof of its amphitheater inspired by the traditional African round hut. A statue of Kenya’s founding father, Jomo Kenyatta, who died in 1978, stands in the center’s main courtyard.

KENYA IN BRIEF

Kenya: Gained independence as a member of the Commonwealth on December 12, 1963 after six months of self-government and declared itself a republic on December 12, 1964.

Nairobi: The capital was incorporated as a city on March 30, 1950 by Royal Letters Patent filed by the Duke of Gloucester. The population is about 3 million.

People of Kenya: The 2002 census recorded a national population of 30.3 million, mainly Africans. Half of the population is under 30 years of age.

Cities and Towns: Mombasa is the oldest city dating back to a 2nd century settlement, it is the second largest city in Kenya with a population close to 1.5 million. Kisumu on the shore of Lake Victoria is the third with a population of around 800,000.

Faith in Kenya: the main religions are Christianity, Islam and Hindu

Major rivers of Kenya: Tana; Athi-Galana-Sabaki; Ewaso Ngiro; Kerio; Mary; Nzoya; Turkwell; and voi-Goshi-Rare.

Language: Swahili is the lingua franca and the national language, although English is widely used in business, education, and government. Around 75 different languages ​​are used, including Kikuyu and Dholuo.

Land Entry Point: Malaba and Busia (from Uganda); Lungalunga, Taveta, Loitokitok and Namanga (from Tanzania); Moyale and Todenyang (from Ethiopia); Kolbio (from Somalia; and Lokichogio (from Sudan)

Entry point by water: Lamu, Malindi, Kilifi, Momabsa, Kisumu, Homabay
Point of entry by air: Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi; Me International Airport, Mombasa; Kisumu and Wilson Airport, Nairobi.

Lakes of Kenya: Victoria (63,000 square kilometers); Turkana (6,500 square kilometers); baringo; bogoria; Nakuru; elementalite; Ol bollosatt; naivasha; Magadi; Shala; and Lake Jipe

Kenyan Mountains: Mount Kenya (17,058 feet); Mount Elgon (14,178 feet) The Aberdares (ol Doinyo Lesatiama 13,120 feet); and the Cheranganis (11,055 feet)