By Madigan and Victoria
Location: Kenya is located in East Africa and borders Somalia to the northeast, Ethiopia to the north, South Sudan to the northwest, Uganda to the west, Tanzania to the south, and the Indian Ocean to the east. The country straddles the equator, covering a total of 224,961 square miles (2x the size of the state of Nevada). Latitude -1.17° and Longitude 36.49°
Culture: Ethnic groups are: Kikuyu 22%, Luhya 14%, Luo 13%, Kalenjin 12%, Kamba 11%, Kisii 6%, Meru 6%, other African 15%, non-African (Asian, European, and Arab) 1%. There are about 42 different tribes in Kenya. Most Kenyans speak English and Swahili, a Bantu language with Arabic, Persian, Middle Eastern, and South Asian loan words, developed for trade. Kenya is mostly Christian, about 70% of kenya is Christian(38% Protestant, 28% Catholic) and near ¼ are adherents of indigenous religions, and Muslims make-up 6%
Geography: Kenya has wide white-sand beaches on the coast. In the west are highlands and the altitude rises from 3000- 10000 feet. Nairobi, Kenya’s largest city and capital, is in the central highlands. At 17,058 feet (5,199 m), Mount Kenya is the nation’s highest point and the second highest in Africa. The Kikuyu name for Mt. Kenya is Kirinyaga, or “mountain of brightness.” Kenya shares Lake Victoria, the largest lake in Africa and the main source of the Nile River, with Tanzania and Uganda. Another significant feature of Kenya geography is the Great Rift Valley, the wide, steep canyon that cuts through the highlands.
History: The late 1960s and 1970s were years of prosperity for Kenya and agriculture developed rapidly. In 1982 Daniel arap Moi(leader) banned opposition political parties and in 1987 he changed the constitution of Kenya to strengthen his powers. However in the 1990s Moi faced growing opposition. In 1991 Moi was forced to allow other political parties to form in Kenya. In 2002 Mwai Kibaki became leader of Kenya and in 2003 he introduced free primary education. However in 2009 northern Kenya suffered a drought. However despite that the economy of Kenya is growing rapidly. Kenya is developing fast and there is every reason to be optimistic about its future.
Demographics: Agriculture employs 75 percent of Kenya’s workforce, though it is responsible for only about 30 percent of earnings and an average person gets a per capita income of $1,800. The median age is around 19, an average child has 2-3 siblings and the current currency is a shilling, a shilling is equal to 0.01 dollars or one cent. According to Kenyan Population Clock(always changing), Kenya’s population is currently 46,871,544. Only about half of all Kenyans have access to basic health care. Kenya’s Adult Literacy is 91% (male) and 84% (female). The Infant Mortality is 41 per 1,000 births and life Expectancy is 59 for male and 62 for female.
Monday: Nairobi National Park
Millions go to Kenya for a safari, but you barely need to leave the capital to take one. Nairobi National Park is perhaps the only wildlife park in the world that you can visit by taxi or bus. Inside are lions, cheetahs, leopards, buffaloes, hippos, zebras, giraffes, gazelles and more.
Tuesday: Kisumu, Kenya
Kisumu, the largest lakeside city, bubbles with regional character. The Kenyan town was founded as a market town, built to serve the railway and the lake port, and it still has a plethora of busy markets tucked along the shady streets. Kisumu has been economically and culturally stagnant for three decades, curtailing local growth — but resulting in a time-warp atmosphere that retains a traditional culture uprooted by progress in many of the other cities in the region.
Wednesday: The Nairobi Giraffe Center
Pet or feed them and even touch their tongues; at the Nairobi Giraffe Center, you get to be right at home with these incredibly tall and beautiful creatures.
Thursday: The Elephant Orphanage
The Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage in Nairobi gives you the rare opportunity to have an uninhibited view the majestic giants – Elephants. You will get to experience firsthand just how devastating poaching is in the world. It also gives you hope, for within all that anarchy, there is a sanctuary for the baby elephants left behind.
Friday: Nairobi Safari Walk
The Nairobi Safari Walk is a conservation-based recreational facility like no other. Only 7KM from the bustling Metropolis, here you will find a sampling of what wildlife in Kenya has to offer. Not only is the setting exceptionally serene, but you will get a chance to see some of the rarest animals on the planet. These include: the white Rhino, the Bongo and even the Albino Zebra. What this walk offers, is a chance to see most of Kenya’s wildlife within a single setting.
Saturday: Carnivore Restaurant
It’s unfortunate that the famous Carnivore Restaurant in Nairobi doesn’t serve game meat anymore, however, it still serves a bountiful array of delicious tender roasted meats. The meats are grilled over coals on a sword and carved directly onto your plate. Eating at the Carnivore has long been one of the most popular things to do in Nairobi.
