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This is Kenya

Know About Kenya, The People, Tourism, Economy, Culture, Travel and Much More

Published: 05/03/2010 by Stevanov

Facts about Kenya

The Republic of Kenya is a country in East Africa. Lying along the Indian Ocean, at the equator, Kenya is bordered by Ethiopia (north), Somalia (northeast), Tanzania (south), Uganda plus Lake Victoria (west), and Sudan (northwest). The capital city is Nairobi. The population has grown rapidly in recent decades to nearly 40 million. Kenya has numerous wildlife reserves, containing thousands of animal species.

Kenya is the largest economy in East Africa which has other countries such as Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and Rwanda. The Kenyan People are known to be progressive hardworking and welcoming to guests and visitors. They are renowned to have one of the best accent free English speaking abilities, making Kenya preferred as the next big frontier of Business Process Outsourcing BPO destinations.

Kenya is also the transport hub of East Africa due to its strategic position and famous Jommo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi. It hosts many African and international missions, consulates, embassies and high commissions including the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Read More>>

The country is named after Mount Kenya, a significant landmark and the second among the highest mountain peaks of Africa, and both were originally usually pronounced Kenia. During the presidency of Jomo Kenyatta in the 1960s, the current English pronunciation of became widespread because his name retained the native pronunciation. Before 1920, the area now known as Kenya was known as the British East Africa Protectorate and so there was no need to mention mount when referring to the mountain.

Kenya is a country rich in wildlife, culture, history, beauty and friendly, welcoming people. Kenya is geographically diverse, from snow-capped mountain peaks to extensive forests to wide-open plains. Key geographical attractions include the Great Rift Valley, which features extinct volcanoes and hot springs, and Kenya's coastline, complete with reefs and magnificent beaches. Combine all this with a well-developed tourist infrastructure of hotels, lodges, campsites and a variety of activities, and its no wonder Kenya is a popular tourist destination attracting millions of visitors each year.

About Kenya's Geography and Climate

Kenya, an East African nation, spans more than 224,000 sq. miles (582,000 sq. Km), making it only slightly smaller than the state of Texas in the United States. Kenya is situated on the equator and is bordered by five countries: Uganda (to the west), Sudan (to the northwest), Ethiopia (to the north), Somalia (to the northeast), and Tanzania (to the south). Along its southeast edge, Kenya's tropical coastline connects the country to the Indian Ocean.

Kenya has 8 major provinces (States):

Nairobi,is the capital of Kenya, is located in the southwest. Other major cities include Mombasa (situated on the coast), Nakuru and Eldoret (found in the west-central region), and Kisumu (located in the west on the shores of Lake Victoria).

KENYAS ECONOMY

GDP (purchasing power parity):
$63.52 billion (2009 est.)

$62.39 billion (2008 est.) $61.35 billion (2007 est.)
note: data are in 2009 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):
$30.21 billion (2009 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
1.8% (2009 est.)

1.7% (2008 est.) 7% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita:
$1,600 (2009 est.)

$1,600 (2008 est.) $1,700 (2007 est.)
note: data are in 2009 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 21.4%
industry: 16.3%
services: 62.3% (2009 est.)

Labor force:
17.47 million (2009 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 75%
industry and services: 25% (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate:
40% (2008 est.)

40% (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line:
50% (2000 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 1.8%
highest 10%: 37.8% (2005)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:
42.5 (2008)

44.9 (1997)

Investment (gross fixed):
21.5% of GDP (2009 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $6.858 billion
expenditures: $8.759 billion (2009 est.)

Public debt:
54.1% of GDP (2009 est.)

60.1% of GDP (2008 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
20.5% (2009 est.)

26.2% (2008 est.)

Central bank discount rate:
NA% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate:
14.02% (31 December 2008)

13.34% (31 December 2007)

Stock of money:
$6.068 billion (31 December 2008)

$5.912 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money:
$5.468 billion (31 December 2008)

$6.464 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of domestic credit:
$10.83 billion (31 December 2008)

$10.67 billion (31 December 2007)

Market value of publicly traded shares:
$10.92 billion (31 December 2008)

$13.39 billion (31 December 2007) $11.38 billion (31 December 2006)

Agriculture - products:
tea, coffee, corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruit, vegetables; dairy products, beef, pork, poultry, eggs

Industries:
small-scale consumer goods (plastic, furniture, batteries, textiles, clothing, soap, cigarettes, flour), agricultural products, horticulture, oil refining; aluminum, steel, lead; cement, commercial ship repair, tourism

Industrial production growth rate:
2% (2009 est.)

Electricity - production:
5.223 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - consumption:
4.863 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - exports:
58.3 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports:
22.5 million kWh (2007 est.)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Oil - consumption:
75,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Oil - exports:
7,270 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - imports:
80,530 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)

Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)

Current account balance:
$-1.859 billion (2009 est.)

$-1.978 billion (2008 est.)

Exports:
$4.479 billion (2009 est.)

$5.04 billion (2008 est.)

Exports - commodities:
tea, horticultural products, coffee, petroleum products, fish, cement

Exports - partners:
UK 10%, Netherlands 9.2%, Uganda 9%, Tanzania 8.7%, US 6.3%, Pakistan 5.6% (2008)

Imports:
$9.031 billion (2009 est.)

$10.69 billion (2008 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and transportation equipment, petroleum products, motor vehicles, iron and steel, resins and plastics

Imports - partners:
India 14.1%, UAE 11.5%, China 10%, Saudi Arabia 8%, South Africa 5.7%, Japan 5.1% (2008)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$2.601 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$2.879 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

Debt - external:
$7.729 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$7.855 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$2.053 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$2.541 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$42 million (31 December 2009 est.)

$12.4 million (31 December 2008 est.)

Exchange rates:
Kenyan shillings (KES) per US dollar - 78.042 (2009), 68.358 (2008), 68.309 (2007), 72.101 (2006), 75.554 (2005)

About Kenya People and Culture

Kenya has a population of more than 36 million people, with just under four million residing in its capital city, Nairobi. There are 42 ethnic groups who call Kenya home; each group has its own unique language and culture. Although Kikuyu is the largest ethnic group, the Maasai are the most well known due to both their long-preserved culture and their involvement in Kenyan tourism. Kenya is also home to immigrants of other nationalities, including Europeans, Asians, Arabs and Somalis. Kenya's official languages are English and Swahili.

Tourist Attractions in Kenya

Game Safaris and wildlife tours are Kenya's biggest attractions, drawing many visitors to the country each year. Kenya manages more than 20 national parks and national game reserves, where visitors can view some of the country's most spectacular wildlife, including the "Big Five" animals. In fact, the "Big Five" are the central focus of the majority of safari tours and wildlife expeditions offered within the parks. Kenya's most popular game park is the Masaai Mara, which borders the Serengeti plains in Tanzania. Between July and September, visitors can witness the remarkable annual wildebeest migration which takes place at the Mara.

Kenya's many beaches along the Indian Ocean are the country's second biggest tourist attraction. Visitors can enjoy clean beaches lined with palm trees and studded with luxury resorts, with coral reefs located just offshore. The City of Mombasa is the entry point to the coast, with beaches extending south to Malindi and north to Lamu Archipelago, a world heritage site.

Kenya's Agricultural Products

Kenya is one of the top agricultural producers in Africa thanks to the rich soil of the Kenyan highlands. Coffee, tea, tobacco, cotton, pyrethrum, flowers, cashew nuts and sisal are Kenya's cash crops, with fruit, vegetables, beans, and cassava emerging as key crops for subsistence. Cattle, goats and sheep are also important agricultural products. Major export markets include Kenya's neighboring countries, as well as several European and Asian countries, and the United States.

The Government

The Republic of Kenya is a multi-party democracy with a National Assembly. The constitution declares the president as both the head of state and the head of government. Kenya's government has been stable and the recent administration has worked hard to improve the country on many levels, from education, technology to health care to economic growth.

Kenya National Parks & Game Reserves

Kenya national parks and reserves are major tourist attractions. Kenya is the "home of the safari" and offers 54 national parks and game reserves throughout the country. Kenya's national parks are where people go to experience the best Kenyan safaris.

Below you will find links to more information about Kenya national parks and game reserves, including an overview, photos and interesting facts about each of the main Kenya national park. If you're interested in making one or more of these parks your Kenyan safari destination, you'll want to review the information on how to get to and around the parks, what to see and do, accommodations and camping sites, suggestions on how and where to book your safari, admission fees and the best time to visit each of the national parks in Kenya.

Kenya National Parks & Reserves

Must-See Sights & Attractions in Kenya

Masai Mara National Reserve

The most famous and most visited of Kenya's national parks is the Masai Mara National Reserve. It offers breathtaking views and a chance to see Kenya's "big five" animals - rhinos, elephants, lions, leopards and buffalo.

The Masai Mara (or The Mara) is the best park to visit to enjoy the spectacular and world-famous annual wildebeest migration that takes place in Kenya every year.

Amboseli National Park

Amboseli National Park is Kenya's second most popular national park after the Mara. Located 160 miles from Nairobi, the park offers a stunning view of both Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Meru.

In addition to the beautiful sunsets and sunrises of Mt. Kilimanjaro, you can enjoy an eclectic array of animals, including large herds of elephants, and wildlife habitats, such as swamps, from atop The Observation Hill.

Aberdare National Park

Majestic peaks, moorland, deep ravines, streams and cascading waterfalls define the spectacular landscape of Aberdare National Park.

Aberdare is an ideal park for topography enthusiasts and bird watchers who also want a chance to view elephants, black rhinos and other game wildlife.

Nairobi National Park

Nairobi National Park is a major Kenya attraction for tourists to Nairobi, offering them a chance to enjoy Kenya's wildlife from within the city. Located less than 10 miles from Nairobi city, Nairobi National Park is also a rhino sanctuary and you are guaranteed to see a black rhino during your visit.

You can also enjoy buffalo, zebras, wildebeests and a host of birdlife. With picnic sites and nature trails, the park offers plenty of fun for Kenyans and tourists alike.

Tsavo East National Park

Now a separate park from the original Tsavo, the Tsavo East National Park is a very popular park for tourists from Kenya's coast. It's less than 100 miles from Mombasa and is served by several airstrips.

Tsavo East is the park where you can see the infamous "Man-Eaters of Tsavo" lions, as well as elephants, rhinos, birds and other wildlife.

Tsavo West National Park

Occupying 30 percent of Kenya's total park area, Tsavo West National Park is one of the largest national parks in Kenya. It is easily accessible from the Mombasa-Nairobi highway and borders Tanzania to the south.

Tsavo West offers tremendous views of a landscape packed with diverse wildlife habitats, rocky ridges, acacia woodlands, isolated hills, semi-desert scrubs and mountain forest.

Mount Kenya National Park

Mount Kenya, which is Kenya's highest mountain, lies within the Mount Kenya National Park. The park flourishes with pristine wilderness, glaciers, snow-capped peaks, flora and fauna.

It is an ideal park for hiking and mountain climbing, as well as for viewing some of Kenya's rare and endangered animal species.

Lake Nakuru National Park

About 95 miles northwest of Nairobi is Lake Nakuru National Park, popular for it's pink flamingoes. For those who love birds and bird watching, Lake Nakura offers a picturesque landscape, and is home to over 400 bird species, including both the greater and lesser flamingoes, as well as game animals such as the white rhinos.

Samburu National Reserve

Located in the Samburu district of Kenya is the Samburu National Reserve, a rugged, semi-desert park that has remained almost undisturbed by mankind.

In its remoteness, the park is an ideal retreat for those who enjoy calm and natural serenity. This former home to "Elsa the Lioness" is full of birdlife and Kenyan game animals, and is a great park to spot the elusive Kenya leopard.

Meru National Park

Meru National Park is located 350km (220miles) northeast of Nairobi and offers a spectacular view of Mt. Kenya. It is in this small savannah park, with its pristine landscape of wooded grasslands, thorn-bush and wilderness, that George Adamson and Elsa the Lioness lived.

Read more about Meru National Park>>>

Mount Elgon National Reserve

In Mt. Elgon National Reserve, located in Kenya's Rift Valley Province along the Kenya-Uganda border, you will find elephants living in caves. This park, situated on Kenya's second highest mountain, Mt. Elgon, is lush with fauna and flora, caves and waterfalls, hot springs and mountain peaks.

Mount Elgon is an ideal reserve for trekking, rock climbing, bird watching and hiking.

Saiwa Swamp National Park

As the smallest park in Kenya, this 1.9m² park lies below the the Cherangani Hills in the Rift Valley and is served by the Kitale airstrip. It is home to the semi-aquatic sitatunga antelope and various species of birds.

This swampy park is so small that you don't need to drive. Simply walk over to camp at the park, enjoy the antelope or view the birds.

Shimba Hills National Reserve

Located 20 miles in the Kwale district, to the south of Mombasa, Shimba Hills National Reserve is a dissected plateau with scenic landscapes comprised of rivers, valleys and hills - an ideal topography for bird-shooting.

Read more about Shimba Hills National Reserve>>>

Kenya's national parks are managed by the Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS), who are also responsible for protecting all Kenya wildlife animals and species. Kenya national reserves, on the other hand, are managed by the local county councils within their jurisdiction.

If you are going on a Kenya safari tour, it is possible to combine your tours and visit more than one park at the same time. Some of the parks are close to each other. However, for the best chance of spotting the animals in any park go on one of the game drives that take place during the early morning hours or late in the evening when most of the animals are active and moving around. During the day around the parks, tourists are invited to engage in other types of safaris, such as air balloon rides, cultural tours, and bird viewing, or to simply enjoy time in the lodge or camping site.

The Wildebeest Migration

Come and Enjoy the Wildebeest Wonder

The wildebeest migration - it's ultimately one of the most popular times to go on an African safari tour. A jury of experts polled by the United States' ABC Television in 2006 selected the event as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. During the migration, about 1.2 to 1.5 million wildebeest, zebra and several species of antelope, make an annual, circular tour between the Serengeti in Tanzania and Maasai Mara in Kenya, in search of greener pastures.

The Start of the Wildebeest Migration

The African animal exodus begins between January and March in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Conservation area, where the calving season brings forth a record of 500,000 new calves.

Enormous herds of wildebeest and zebras can be seen grazing on rain-ripened grass. As the food supply quickly diminishes, the herds are forced to head to the long grass plains and woodlands of the Serengeti's western corridor near Lake Victoria. Here, the animals divide, with some swinging further west and others heading northwest. They will meet up again in the Maasai Mara of Kenya. To watch the beginning of this mass migration, the best observation points are from Ndutu Safari Lodge, Kusini Camp and the Serengeti Serena Lodge.

April to July is a transitional period between the rains and the dry season and the wildebeests start moving north towards the Maasai Mara for greener pastures. As they go, they attract numerous predators such as lions, cheetahs and hyenas. They are all heading to the next watering point, the Mara River.

The Spectacular Wildebeest Movement

From July to October, the grazing animals take a four-month-long trek towards the Mara River. In desperate need of water to drink and grass to graze, the countless herds need to cross the river to reach the lush, green grasslands in Maasai Mara. The world's most spectacular sights truly happen at the mass crossing of the swollen Mara River.

Depending on the amount of rainfall, the chosen crossing place is usually shallow enough to allow the majority of the herd to cross safely. However, most of the river is deep and fast flowing, with steep banks on either side. Many of the weaker animals are swept away by the strong river currents or are trampled by the stampede of the other wildebeest as they swim. Hundreds of animals die during the crossing. The close-following predators are always in for a treat at this time of year.

The Wildebeest Exodus

In November, the short rains call the migration southward, back to the Serengeti. About 250,000 wildebeest die during this 1,800 mile journey due to predator attacks, exhaustion and sickness. Although the trek culls most of the old or very young wildebeests from the herd, the next calving season will produce another 500,000 new calves to continue Kenya's great "Seventh Wonder of the World". To view the return of the wildebeest to the starting point Lobo Wildlife Lodge or Klein's Camp (both in Tanzania) are good locations to stay during this time.

You can enjoy the adventurous experience of a Wildebeest Migration Safari in Kenya with professional guides in open-topped, 4WD vehicles and first-hand tours to remote villages of the neighboring communities. The wildebeest migration is definitely a must-see Kenyan attraction and a great reason to go on a safari in Kenya.