The Republic of Kenya is a country in East Africa, made up of 42 different ethnic tribes. Lying along the Indian Ocean to its southeast and at the equator, Kenya is bordered by Somalia to the northeast, Ethiopia to the north, Sudan to the northwest, Uganda to the west and Tanzania to the south. Lake Victoria is to the southwest and is shared between Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. The capital city is Nairobi. Kenya's area is 580,000 km2 with a population of nearly 39 million which is diverse: more than 40 different ethnic groups are present. The country is named after Mount Kenya, a significant landmark and second among Africa's highest mountain peaks. At 580,367 km2 (224,081 sq mi), Kenya is the world's forty-seventh largest country (after Madagascar). From the coast on the Indian Ocean the Low plains rise to central highlands. The highlands are bisected by the Great Rift Valley; a fertile plateau in the east. The Kenyan Highlands comprise one of the most successful agricultural production regions in Africa. The highlands are the site of the highest point in Kenya (and the second highest in Africa): Mount Kenya, which reaches 5,199 m (17,057 ft) and is the site of glaciers. Climate varies from tropical along the coast to arid in the interior. Mount Kilimanjaro (5,895 m/19,341 ft) can be seen from Kenya to the South of the Tanzanian border.
Kenya has a tropical climate. It is hot and humid at the coast, temperate inland and very dry in the north and northeast parts of the country. There is a lot of rain between March and May (the long rains) and moderate rain in October and November (the short rains). The temperature remains high throughout these months.
The country receives a great deal of sunshine all the year round and summer clothes are worn throughout the year. It is usually cool at night and early in the morning. The long rain season occurs from April to June. The short rain season occurs from October to December. The rainfall is sometimes heavy and often falls in the afternoons and evenings. The hottest period is from February to March and coldest in July to August.
Kenya has numerous wildlife reserves, parks and marine reserves containing thousands of animal species. Examples of these Wildlife reserves and parks are:-
NATIONAL PARKS
- Aberdare National Park
- Amboseli National Park
- Arabuko National Park
- Hells Gate and Mount Longonot National Parks
- Kora Natonal Park
- Lake Nakuru National Park
- Marsabit National Park
- Meru National Park
- Mount Kenya National Park
- Mount Elgon National Park
- Nairobi National Park
- Ndere Island National Park
- Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park
- Ruma National Park
- Saiwa Swamp National Park
- Sibiloi National Park
- Tsavo East and west National Park.
RESERVES
- Arawale National Reserve
- Boni National Reserve
- Dodori National Reserve
- Kakamega Forest National Reserve
- Kisumu Impala Sanctuary
- Samburu National Reserve
- Buffalo Springs National Reserve
- Mwaluganje Elephant sanctuary
- Shimba Hills National Reserve
- Maasai Mara National Reserve
MARINE PARKS AND RESERVES
- Kiunga Marine National Reserve
- Kisite-Mpunguti Marine National Park
- Malindi/Watamu parks and reserves
- Mombasa Marine National Park and Reserve
- Mpunguti Marine National Reserve
- Tana Delta Reserve.
These are the National Parks and reserves in Kenya with the most common and advisable places to visit are Aberdare National Park, Amboseli National Park, Hells Gate and Mt. Longonot National Parks, Lake Nakuru National Park, Nairobi National Park, Tsavo East and West National Parks, Samburu National Reserve and Maasai Mara National Reserve.
These parks and game reserves are home to thousands of animal species and wildlife for example wildebeest; topi, zebra and Thomson’s gazelle migrate into and occupy the Mara reserve, from the Serengeti plains to the south and loita plains in the pastrol ranches to the north east from July to October or later. Herds of all three species are also resident in the reserves.
All members of the “Big Five” (Lion, Leopard, Elephant, buffalo and rhinoceros) are found in these reserves. Hippopotami and Nile crocodiles are found in large groups in the Mara and Tsavo West reserves. Leopards, hyenas, cheetahs, jackals and bat eared foxes can also be found in the reserves.
The wildebeest are dominant inhabitants of the Maasai Mara, and their numbers are estimated in the millions. Around July each year these animals migrate north from the Serengeti plains, in search of fresh pasture, and return to the south around October. The Great Migration is one of the most impressive natural events worldwide, involving some 1,300,000 wildebeest, 500,000 Thomson gazelle, 97,000 topi, 18,000 eland and 200,000 Zebras. These migrants are followed along their annual, circular route by hungry predators, most notably Lions, Cheetahs, Leopards and Hyenas. You can also have a choice of viewing all this from above via our balloon safari using the hot air balloons.
Other animals that can easily be seen in our parks and reserves are the Giant forest hog, waterbuck, various types of monkeys and baboons, jackals, warthogs and numerous flamingos in Lake Nakuru National Park. More than 570 species of birds have also been identified, many of which are migrants, with almost 60 species being raptors including vultures, marabou storks, hornbills, crowned cranes, ostriches, long crested eagles, African pygmy-falcons.
Other places of interest in Kenya are the lakes i.e. lake Baringo and bogoria which are hot water springs, Lake Nakuru home to the flamingos, Lake Magadi, Lake Elementaita, Lake Naivasha, Turkana and Victoria as well as the mountains, Mt. Kenya, Mt longonot and Mt. Kilimanjaro in neighbouring Tanzania.
We have special itineraries that combine most of the parks and game reserves into one tour/safari depending on the time one has.
Kenya as well as the parks and game reserves are further complimented by our different types of hotels, lodges and campsites ranging from 5 stars to the small camps thus we are able to give our visitors and tourists a good budget safari or a luxury safari. But whatever one chooses the experience of the magic that is Kenya and its wildlife will not be forgotten.
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