|
KENYA FACT SHEET
A land of contrasts comprising arid desert, rich savannah land, mountains, large lakes and dense forests. The country's special appeal lies in it's unique combination of wildlife sanctuaries, glorious beaches, breath-taking scenery, agreeable climate, sophisticated accommodation, and happy, hospitable people. Kenya is a land of beauty and wonders that call one back time and again.
On the equator, Kenya occupies an area similar to France. It is bounded in the north by the arid bushlands and deserts of Ethiopia and the Sudan, to the east by Somalia and the Indian Ocean, to the west by Uganda and Lake Victoria, and to the south by Tanzania.
The country can be roughly divided into four main areas, the Coastal Belt, the Rift Valley & Central Highlands, Western Kenya and the North & East of Kenya.
The Coastal Belt: This area covers some 280 miles of the Indian Ocean's coral reefs and beaches.
The Rift Valley & Central Highlands: These regions form the backbone of the country and have the most spectacular scenery. The Rift valley, studded with lakes, runs the whole length of the country. It is boarded on the Eastern side by the thick forests of the Aberdare Mountains and, further to the east, by Mt. Kenya - the second largest mountain in Africa. This is the most fertile area of the country and the lower slopes of the mountain are intensely cultivated. Nairobi, the capital, sits at the southern end of the central highlands.
Western Kenya: Consisting of an undulating plateau stretching from the Sudanese border to Tanzania in the South. It is here that Kenya's largest and most popular wildlIfe sanctuaries are found - Masai Mara, Amboseli and Tsavo. To the south of Amboseli rises the spectacular Mt. Kilimanjaro - Africa's largest mountain.
The North & East of Kenya: These two regions cover a vast mountainous area of bushland, scrub and desert where rainfall is sparse.
HISTORY
The first human to appear in Kenya was perhaps the first human to appear anywhere. Fossils found in the Lake Turkana area are approx 2,500,000 years old. Other fossil remains indicate that Kenya was the center of three major migrations; the Cushites from the north some 9000 years ago; the Bantu from the West around the 11th century and the Nilotes from the Nile area in the 16th century. Arab, Persian, Indian and Chinese merchants arrived on the coast and
settled around the 8th century. The Portuguese arrived in 1498 and the British arrived in the 19th century.
In the Early 2Oth century, the British built a railroad from Mombasa to Lake Victoria and the town of Nairobi, was built at the railhead. In 1907 Nairobi became capital of the Protectorate. After the uprising of the Mau Mau in the eariy 1950's the British moved toward more African participation in the government which eventually led to independence in 1963. Jomo Kenyatta became Kenya's first African President. He died in 1978 and was succeeded by his vice-president, Daniel arap
Moi.
ECONOMY
Kenya is still a predominantly agricultural country although there is an industrial sector, and tourism is important.
CLIMATE
As Kenya is located on the equator there are no extremes in temperatures. However because of Kenya's diverse geography, there are roughly four zones of climatic conditions.
Coastal Belt: This area is hot and humid all year round though tempered by sea breezes on the coast itself. Average temperatures vary little throughout the year and range from a minimum of 22C and a maximum of 30C.
Rift Valley & Central Highlands: This area enjoys the most agreeable climate throughout the country though there is quite a variation between the hot and relatively dry floor of the central rift valley and the snow-capped peaks of Mt Kenya. Rainfall in this area falls into two seasons - March to May (the long rains) and October to December (the short rains). Average temperatures range between a minimum of 10-14 C and a maximum of 22-26C.
Western Kenya: This area is generally hot and fairly humid with rainfall spread throughout the year though most of it falls during the evenings. Temperatures range from a minimum of 14 to 18C and to a maximum of 30-34C.
North & East Kenya: Rainfall in this area is sparse and when it comes it is normally in a form of a violent storm. July is generally the dry month, and November the wet month. Temperatures range from 40C during the day and 20C or less at night.
|
