The Republic of Kenya is a country found in East Africa lying along the Indian Ocean at the equator. It is bordered to the north by Ethiopia; to the northeast by Somalia; Tanzania lies in the south, and Uganda as well as Lake Victoria to the west; and to the northwest is Sudan.
The country is named after Mount Kenya, a significant landmark and the second-highest mountain peaks of Africa. Nairobi is the capital city. Kenya spans an area about 85% a size comparable to that of France in Europe. The country’s population has grown rapidly in recent decades to nearly 38 million.
Kenya with an amazing landscape that includes the Rift Valley, the Masai Mara reserve, the Kikuyu moorlands, Mt. Kenya as well as the natural habitats arising to suit all types of wildlife, it remains Africa’s most appealing country with stunning Wildlife Parks and an evident safari destination. Naturalists book Kenya flights to explore its diverse terrain: forests, mountains and extreme expanses of plains, across which the famous migration of wildebeest takes place once a year.
Kenya is a diverse country, with many dissimilar cultures. This is largely attributed to the country’s paths of a long and complex history. Notable cultures include the Swahili on the coast, pastoralist communities in the north, and several different communities in the central and western regions. The Masai culture which is most known is given heavy exposure from tourism much as the Masai constitute a relatively minor percentage of the Kenyan population. The Masai are known for their jewellery.
Kenya has an amazing landscape suitable for wildlife habitation, including the Masai Mara, where Blue Wildebeest and other bovids participate in a large scale annual migration. Up to 250,000 blue wildebeest perish each year in the long and arduous movement to find forage in the dry season. The “Big Five” animals of Africa can also be found in Kenya: the lion, leopard, buffalo, rhinoceros and elephant. A significant population of other wild animals, reptiles and birds can be found in the national parks and game reserves in the country. Kenya National Parks include Masai Mara, Amboseli, Nairobi, Samburu, Aberdares, Tsavo, Mount Kenya, Lake Nakuru and Meru.
Kenya experienced tension and violence after the general elections in 2007 that erupted throughout the country and threatened tourists from the delights of Kenya, a state previously most visited on the continent, but the situation has immensely stabilized now and the nation has long regained its tourism glory. Now is the best period to enjoy cheap flights to Kenya, comfortable resorts and the best deals on hotels.
The rainy seasons in Kenya run from April to June and October to December. The coast is hot and humid all year round but tempered by strong onshore breezes, the lowlands are hot and dry and the highlands (including Nairobi) are more temperate and cool at night.
Enjoying a tropical climate, Kenya can be visited for warmth and sunshine throughout the year. Mombasa, on the coast, is hot and humid with an average yearly high of 30.3C and a low of 22.4C. Inland experiences a more temperate climate – Nairobi has an average annual high of 25.2C and low of 13.6C.
There are two rainy seasons, the long season is from March or April to June and a shorter one occurs between October and December. February and March are the hottest months and July and August the coldest.
Important to note also is that the variances in Kenya’s temperature are resultant of the altitude. Frost occurs regularly at 3,000 m and occasionally down to at least 2,400 m, and there are permanent snow and ice on top of Mt. Kenya at 5,200 m. The hottest areas are in the arid northeast, and west of Lake Turkana, where mean maximum temperatures average over 34 C.
Kenya offers the adventurous traveller an unrivalled range of tourist options. The incredible diversity of landscapes, cultures, wildlife Parks and activities mean endless opportunities. With so many choices at hand, some people find the prospect of planning a trip quite daunting. It doesn’t have to be that way. It is widely said that it is here in Kenya that every African Tour begins. It is very easy to plan and prepare for a safari that is as individual as you are, and that satisfies your own personal needs and interests.
