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Location,
Geography & Climate
Kenya
is still the primary focus of all adventure travel in Africa. It is
one of the finest--and undoubtedly the most famous--safari
destination in the world.
Safari, however, is by no means
the only reason to visit Kenya, for the attractions of its
rich culture and diverse environments are considerable.
Kenya is situated right along the equator, on the eastern coast of
the African continent. Its coastal region is on the southeast, and
to the east lies Somalia. Ethiopia is to the north, the Sudan to the
northwest, and Uganda directly to the west. The southwestern border
of the country is marked by Lake Victoria, and southward lies
Tanzania. Kenya's geography is marvelously varied. While much of
northeastern Kenya is a flat, bush-covered plain, the remainder of
the country encompasses pristine beaches, scenic highlands and lake
regions, the Great Rift Valley, and the magnificent Mount Kenya.
Although Kenya's varied environments experience a wide variety of
climate conditions, the temperature remains comfortably warm
year-round. Much of Kenya experiences heavy rainfall from March
through May and, to a lesser extent, from October through December.
The best time for most
outdoor acitivities (including safari and mountain climbing) is
during the dry season (June-September).
History & People
Kenya has known the presence of humankind since the very earliest
development of our species. Moreover, the region has long been a
migratory path, passed through by wave upon wave of peoples from all
over Africa and, later, from the Middle East as well. By the 10th
century or so, the region had developed its own lingua franca,
Swahili, which is a Bantu language heavily overlaid with
Arabic. Among other familiar words, safari is Swahili, meaning
simply travel.
With the arrival of the Portuguese at the end of the 15th century,
the East African coastal region was for a time dominated by the
Europeans. However, in
1729 the Portuguese were expelled, to be replaced by
two Arab
dynasties. Arab rule lasted until the end of the 18th century,
when Kenya passed into the
British sphere of influence. The country became independent
in
1963. Although it has experienced its share of internal and
external strife, Kenya has in recent years been moving toward a more
stable, multi-party political system.
Kenya's population is overwhelmingly (97%) comprised of people of
African descent, though that group is composed of over
70 different tribal groups. Among the most significant are the Kikuyu,
Kamba, Gusii, Luhya, and Luo. Kenya's primary languages are
English and Swahili, though regional tribal languages abound.
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Geography
Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Somalia and Tanzania
Area: total: 582,650 sq km
land: 569,250 sq km
border countries: Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda
Climate: varies from tropical along coast to arid in interior
Terrain: low plains rise to central highlands bisected by Great Rift Valley; fertile plateau in west
Natural resources: gold, limestone, soda ash, salt barites, rubies, fluorspar, garnets, wildlife, hydropower
Population: 30,765,916
Nationality: noun: Kenyan(s)
adjective: Kenyan
Ethnic groups: Kikuyu 22%, Luhya 14%, Luo 13%, Kalenjin 12%, Kamba 11%, Kisii 6%, Meru 6%, other African 15%, non-African (Asian, European, and Arab) 1%
Religions: Protestant 38%, Roman Catholic 28%, indigenous beliefs 26%, Muslim 7%, other 1%
Languages: English (official), Kiswahili (official), numerous indigenous languages
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Kenya
former: British East Africa
Government type: republic
Capital: Nairobi
National holiday: Independence Day, 12 December (1963)
Constitution: 12 December 1963, amended as a republic 1964; reissued with amendments 1979, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1992, and 1997
Legal system: based on English common law, tribal law, and Islamic law; judicial review in High Court; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations; constitutional amendment of 1982 making Kenya a de jure one-party state repealed in 1991
Executive branch: chief of state: President Daniel Toroitich arap MOI (since 14 October 1978); note
- the president is both the chief of state and head of government
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green; the red band is edged in white; a large warrior's shield covering crossed spears is superimposed at the center
Economy - overview: Kenya is well placed to serve as an engine of growth in East Africa, but its economy has been stagnating because of poor management and uneven commitment to reform. In 1993, the government of Kenya implemented a program of economic liberalization and reform that included the removal of import licensing, price controls, and foreign exchange controls. With the support of the World Bank,
IMF, and other donors, the reforms led to a brief turnaround in economic performance following a period of negative growth in the early 1990s.
In 1997, political violence damaged the tourist industry, and Kenya's Enhanced Structural Adjustment Program lapsed due to the government's failure to maintain reform or address public sector corruption. Severe drought in 1999 and 2000 caused water and energy rationing and reduced agricultural sector productivity. A new economic team was put in place in 1999 to revitalize the reform effort, strengthen the civil service, and curb corruption. The IMF and World Bank renewed their support to Kenya in mid-2000, but a number of setbacks to the economic reform program in late 2000 have renewed donor and private sector concern about the government's commitment to sound governance. Long-term barriers to development include electricity shortages, inefficient government dominance of key sectors, endemic corruption, and high population growth.
Currency: Kenyan shilling (KES)
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