About Kenya

LOCATION

The Equator divides Kenya, which has a surface area of 580,000 km2, horizontally.  Kenya’s borders with Somalia and the Indian Ocean are on its east, Ethiopia and Sudan are on its north, Uganda is on its west, and Tanzania is on its south.

CLIMATE AND WEATHER

The climate in Kenya varies from tropical regions in the south, west, and center to arid and semi-arid parts in the north and northeast. 

The warm, tropical climate of Kenya, which is located on the equator, is impacted by a number of variables, including altitude, but there are significant regional climatic variations as well. Kenya’s daily highs range from 20°C (68°F) to 28°C (82°F), while the coast experiences higher temperatures. The equator is too close to Kenya for there to be a true winter and summer. But there are dry and wet seasons as well.

June to October is the dry season. Daytime highs during the dry season often range from 28°C/82°F at lower altitudes, like the coast, to 23°C/73°F at higher altitudes, like the Masai Mara. The days are sunny and the sky is clear.

These months—June, July, August, September, and October—are the coolest. Higher altitudes often have morning temperatures of 10°C/50°F. Packing warm clothing is advised because early game drives in open vehicles will be chilly. The majority of the nation experiences very little rainfall.

November to May is the wet season. At higher altitudes, daily temperatures during the Wet season range from 24°C (75°F) to 27°C (81°F). Lower altitudes have more stable daytime temperatures that average approximately 30°C/86°F. Higher altitude mornings remain chilly, so it’s best to take warm clothing for early morning game drives.

The rainy season experiences a dry period with lower rainfall in January and February. The exact timing of the spell’s onset and duration are unpredictable.

‘Short showers’ in November and December a month-long period of erratic, light rains that falls between November and December. Rain can be heavy at times, but it typically falls in the late afternoon or evening and rarely has a detrimental effect on your safari.

‘Long rains’ in March, April, and May The wettest months are those. Particularly in the highlands, such as in Aberdare National Park and the Laikipia Plateau, it is very overcast. The coastal districts will be especially affected by the increased humidity.

CURRENCY

The Kenyan Shilling (KES) is the country of Kenya’s official currency. Additionally frequently accepted and simple to convert into Kenyan Shillings is the US Dollar. Only US dollars that are undamaged and under ten years old are accepted. Smaller denominations are challenging to trade or use.

Major Credit Cards may also be acceptable in some large Hotels, however it is advisable to always carry Cash US Dollars

PEOPLE AND CULTURE

Kenya is not an ethnically homogenous nation. Kenyans are predominantly made up of 13 ethnic groups, with a total of 27 other smaller groupings. Most Kenyans are members of ‘Bantu’ tribes such the Kikuyu, Luhya, and Kamba. ‘Nilotic’ tribes like the Luo, Kalenjin, Maasai, and Turkana are also present.

The culture of Kenya is incredibly communal. Kenyans share everything, even their space, food, and clothing! Personal goods are frequently shared among all family members at home.

TOP TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN KENYA

1. Maasai Mara National Reserve .One of Africa’s most stunning game reserves is the Maasai Mara National Reserve (commonly known as “Masai Mara”). The Serengeti’s northern extension, the Mara, borders Tanzania and creates a wildlife corridor between the two nations.
2. Tsavo National Park. Tsavo, the biggest park in Kenya, is divided into Tsavo West and Tsavo East. Together, these parks cover 4% of the nation’s total land area and are home to a remarkable variety of species, as well as rivers, waterfalls, savannah, volcanic hills, and a sizable lava-rock plateau.
3. Lake Nakuru National Park. Large flocks of pink flamingos can be seen in Lake Nakuru National Park in Central Kenya. One of the soda lakes in the Rift Valley, Lake Nakuru, which makes up roughly a third of the park’s area, is overrun with birds.
4. Amboseli National Reserve One of Kenya’s most well-liked tourist destinations is Amboseli National Reserve, which is crowned by Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain. The Maasai word “Amboseli” means “salty dust,” which is a fitting description of the dry conditions in the park. One of the best spots in Africa to see big herds of elephants up close is the reserve.
5. Ol Pejeta Conservancy Ol Pejeta Conservancy, located next to Mount Kenya National Park and around 200 kilometers north of Nairobi, is a great location for up-close wildlife encounters.At this 90,000-acre private game reserve, where you can see the Big Five (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, and buffalo) as well as other animals like cheetahs, hyenas, zebras, and hartebeest – all set against the stunning backdrop of snowcapped Mount Kenya – conservation and sustainability are paramount.
6. Hell’s Gate National Park. One of the few parks in Kenya that allows camping and allows you to explore on foot or by bicycle, Hell’s Gate National Park is a popular destination for climbers.
   With two extinct volcanoes, the red cliffs of Hell’s Gate Gorge, Obsidian Caves, and Fischer’s Tower, a former volcanic plug, Hell’s Gate provides excellent climbing and trekking options
7. Mount Kenya National Park Mount Kenya National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Central Highlands to the east of the Great Rift Valley, offers the unusual spectacle of tropical snow. It includes the 5,199-meter-high mountain bearing the same name as the nation.Three summits covered in glaciers make up Mount Kenya, which was created by a succession of volcanic eruptions.
8. Mombasa Mombasa attracts tourists from all over the world. It is also the biggest port and second-largest city in Kenya. Immigrants from Britain, Portugal, the Arab world, India, and Asia enrich the region’s diverse cultural mix, and their impact can be seen in both the architecture and the cuisine’s wide variety.
9. The Giraffe Center The Giraffe Center, which is close to Nairobi National Park and the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Elephant Nursery, is a must-see sight. The center’s focus is on the Rothschild Giraffe’s recovery and reintroduction to Kenya’s wildlife areas. During a visit, the team provides a 15- to 20-minute overview of their work

10. David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Elephant Nursery. The opportunity to observe these endearing animals up close is provided by this renowned wildlife refuge, which also rescues and rehabilitates orphaned elephants. You may see the keepers bottle-feed the infant elephants here, where the young ones are raised by hand until they are two or three years old. You can interact with adorably adorable baby pachyderms and feel good about helping a vital conservation organization at the same time when you visit the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. 
11. Lake Naivasha. Lake Naivasha, which is a haven  for birds, is located at the highest point of the Great Rift Valley. Here, more than 400 different bird species have been recorded, including African fish eagles, jacanas, white-fronted bee-eaters, and various kingfisher species.
12. Nairobi national park, At Nairobi National Park, just a 15-minute drive from the hubbub of Kenya’s capital, you can observe a sleeping pride of lions or a gorgeous giraffe striding across the golden grass.

13.  Samburu, Buffalo Springs, and Shaba National Reserves. The Samburu, Buffalo Springs, and Shaba Reserves are located in an arid region in the far north of Kenya, along the banks of the palm-lined Ewaso Nyiro River. Elsa the lioness, who became well-known through the movie Born Free, was raised by George and Joy Adamson in one of two locations, the Shaba National Reserve.
14. Diani beach. The main beach in Kenya’s Indian Ocean coastline is called Diani Beach. It is situated in Kwale County, 30 kilometers south of Mombasa.
15. The Masai people and Culture. Native to Africa, the Maasai tribe is a semi-nomadic people that have settled in Kenya and northern Tanzania. The Maasai are one of the most prominent African ethnic groups and are well-known internationally because of their ties to the national parks and reserves. This is due to their unique traditions, rituals, and apparel as well as their proximity to the  national game parks of East Africa where they settled. The core of Maasai culture is the conviction that they are the keepers of all cattle in the world because God (known as Engai or Enkai in the Maa language of the tribe) created cattle specifically for them. For Maasai, gathering and grazing vast herds of cows (and, to a lesser extent, goats) is the center of life. Cows are not only the Maasai tribe’s main source of income (livestock is traded for other goods or money), but they also play a significant role in Maasai communal life.