COUNTRY INFO - KENYA
| Area |
583,000 sq km² |
| Population |
30,765,900 |
| Population Growth Rate |
2.8% |
| Capital |
Nairobi |
| Largest Towns |
Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru, Kisumu, Eldoret |
| Head of State |
President Mwai Kibaki |
| Official Languages |
Kiswahili & English |
| Other Languages |
70 including Kikuyu, Luo, Akamba, Masai |
| Currency |
Kenya Shilling |
| When to visit |
June to October & December to January |
| Temperatures |
(day) 20-36°C or 65-95°F |
| Rainy Season |
April to May & November |
| International Airport |
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) |
| Travel Options |
Railway, Flying, Car Rentals, Driving,
Taxis, Ferry |
Travel Information:
Kenya has long been recognized as “Big Game”
country, with huge numbers of animals in over 40 National
Parks and Reserves. The country has a history of protecting
its wildlife, which gives the visitor a wonderful range of
experiences in all sorts of different terrain, awakening images
of beauty and romance, which it well deserves.
In terms of tourism, the country has a reputation for being
almost too popular, with lots of minibuses and large safari
lodges. This is especially applicable to the Masai Mara. However,
Kenya copes very well with package tourists, but the recent
trend is towards personalised tour packages, where you have
the freedom of suggesting your own itinerary with a smaller
number of guests in an exclusive remote setting. Likewise,
Kenya has had its fair share of publicity, from adventurous
hunters like Teddy Roosevelt and Earnest Hemingway to popular
movies like 'Out of Africa' and ‘The Lion King'.
With its amazing landscapes - from the snows of Mts. Kenya,
to the Great Rift Valley with its string of strange lakes,
from open savannah with no evident horizon, to mountain ranges
with extraordinary rock forms, from coffee plantations, tea
and coconut palms to tropical lush green gardens with flowers
and colourful birds, it is easy to see why Kenya is an ideal
tourist destination.
It is not just outstanding wildlife and scenery that you
come to Kenya for, it is also the rich culture of Kenya's
tribes, of whom the Masai and Samburu are instantly recognisable.
Their elaborate and colourful clothing is extremely distinctive
and their lifestyle is a fascinating contrast to western culture.
This mix of great wildlife experiences and eye-opening cultural
encounters makes Kenya a very desirable safari destination.
In addition, the Kenyan coast is simply one of the best
places in Africa to spend time at - the beach with miles of
soft white sandy beaches, warm sea, bright skies, waving palms
and coral reefs bright with exotic fish. There are hundreds
of beach resorts most offering a multitude of activities.
Several of Kenya's wildlife parks are within a reasonable
drive from the coast including, Tsavo, Taita Hills and Shimba
Hills.
On our camping or lodge tours you will explore the hills
of Mount Kenya, the arid semi-desert of Samburu, the dry hot
Chalbi Desert, the lush rain forests of Mount Elgon, Kakamega
and Aberdares, the rolling savannah of the Masai Mara and
the stunning Rift Valley and her lakes; you will meet and
interact with the many tribes and cultures along the way;
and you will get the chance to view wildlife and birds in
the many game parks and reserves you cross. A combination
of walks, game drives and village visits ensure an excellent
introduction to Kenya's many faces!
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