African Kenya safari

For the visitor nurtured on the writings of Rider Haggard, Ernest Hemingway, Karen Blixen, Elspeth Huxley, Robert Ruark, Jim Corbett, Baden-Powell, Joy Adamson And the celluloid epics of the golden years of Hollywood, Kenya has always exerted a magic spell.
This nation at the heart of a great continent has remained a more powerful magnet for safari tourist from the western world than any other country in Black Africa. And its easy to se why. Kenya is scenically magnificent; 583,644 square kilometers (224,335 square miles) much of it dramatic wilderness unsurpassed anywhere in the world.

Straddling the equator and riven down its middle by the great Rift valley, Kenya’s landscapes are varied and beautiful opposites-from snow-capped mountain peak to blazing desert from rain-soaked timber forest to glistening white beaches. And studded throughout the land are more than 40 wildlife national parks and game reserves which contain some of the world’s most interesting wildlife species. Kenya is also exceptional in other ways than the ageless wonder of scenery and wildlife .The country history since 1963, when independence was won from the British, under the leadership of freedom fighter “Mzee” Jomo Kenyatta, is one of remarkable social and economic advances. Symbolic of Kenya’s success in merging traditional Africa tribal society with modern technological society is the imposing Kenyatta international conference centre in the heart of Nairobi. The Center’s 30story tower is one of Kenya’s most imposing buildings; the cone-shaped roof of its amphitheatre inspired by traditional African round hut.A statue of Kenya’s founding father, Jomo Kenyatta who died in 1978, stands in the center’s foremost court.

KENYA IN BRIEF
Kenya: Attained independence as a member of the commonwealth on 12 December 1963 after six months of self-government and declared itself a republic on12 December 1964.

Nairobi: the capital was incorporated as a city on 30th March 1950 by royal Letters of patent presented by Duke of Gloucester the population is about 3 million

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

Cities and Towns: Mombasa is the oldest town dating to a 2nd-century settlement, is the second largest town in Kenya with a population approaching 1.5 million. Kisumu on the shore of Lake Victoria is the third with a population of about 800,000.

Faith in Kenya: The Major religions are Christianity, Islam and Hindu

Main Kenya Rivers: Tana; Athi-Galana-Sabaki; Ewaso Ngiro; Kerio; Mara; Nzoia; Turkwel; and voi-Goshi-Rare.

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

Entry point by Land: 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
Entry point by Air: Jomo Kenyatta international airport, Nairobi; Moi International Airport, Mombasa; Kisumu and Wilson Airport, Nairobi.

Lakes Of Kenya: Victoria (63,000 square kilometers); Turkana (6,500 square kilometers); Baringo; Bogoria; Nakuru; Elmentaita; Ol bollosatt; Naivasha; Magadi; Chala; and Lake Jipe

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

African Kenya Safari Planners