Explore Kenya: Game Reserves, Lakes, and Nairobi

1. Chapter 9 Kenya

2. Kenya • Country name: Republic of Kenya, Kenya • Capital: Nairobi • Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Somalia and Tanzania • Border countries: Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda • Government type: republic

4. Population: 31,639,091(July 2003 est.) (note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected) • Languages: English (official), Kiswahili (official), numerous indigenous languages • Religions: Protestant 45%, Roman Catholic 33%, indigenous beliefs 10%, Muslim 10%, other 2%

5. GDP – per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,100(201st out of 231 in the world) (2002 est.) • Industries: small-scale consumer goods (plastic, furniture, batteries, textiles, soap, cigarettes, flour), agricultural products processing; oil refining, cement; tourism • Currency: Kenyan shilling (KES)(CIA, World Fact Book)

6. Important Facts • Not among the top destinations in the world or in Africa • 838.000 international tourist arrivals • $297 million international tourism receipts (WTO, 2003) • Coastline: 536 km • Terrain: low plains rise to central highlands bisected by Great Rift Valley; fertile plateau in west

7. Climate: varies from tropical along coast to arid in interior(CIA, World Fact Book).

8. Selling Points • Game reserves, beaches, scuba diving, tribal culture, gambling, history, shopping, varied scenery, and golfing.

9. Game Reserves • the main attraction in Kenya is the game reserves • there are many parks, each has different animals, terrain, climate and accommodations with varying degrees of comfort. • methods of viewing animals vary: minivans carrying 6 to 8 passengers; planes; hot-air balloons; private or chauffeured jeeps. • Masai Mara, Amboseli and Tsavo West are among the best parks, located south of Nairobi.

10. Masai Mara National Park • Bordering Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park • offers a wide variety of animals to see including lions, hippos, crocodiles, antelopes, giraffes, wildebeests, warthogs, baboons, hyenas, jackals, zebras, cape buffaloes, civet cats, eagles, cranes and storks • the park is large and can be toured by four-wheel-drive vehicle, small aircraft and hot-air balloon • tented camps are common for accommodation • the Mara plains (gorgeous landscape that provided material for “Out of Africa”)

11. Amboseli National Park • in the shadow of 5964 m. Mt. Kilimanjaro, in the neighboring Tanzania • the mountain makes a great backdrop for animal photography • the park has one of the few elephant herds in East Africa that is not decreasing in number

12. Tsavo West • covers 3900 sq km and is filled with crocodiles, elephants, baboons, antelope, giraffes and hippos • also lies within sight of Mt. Kilimanjaro • some baobab trees are 1000 year old • at Mzima Springs, tourists can view animals (hippos) from a glass paneled underwater observation tank • there are two Hilton’s in Tsavo West that share a private game park

13. Aberdare National Park • has diverse typology that includes waterfalls, rain forests and highlands • there are two country club hotels (Aberdare Country Club and Outspan Hotel) which have British-colonial ambience and tree hotels. Guests usually spend one night at the country club-type facility and the second night at the tree hotel. From those tree hotels, various animals (warthogs, birds, monkeys, elephants, bongo antelopes and leopards). The are is lit at night.

14. Mt Kenya National Park • the park consists of three terrains: forest, alpine, and rocky peak • Mt Kenya is more than 5200 meters high, above 3200 meters is designed as the game park • lions, elephants, antelope and leopards can be seen in the park • the principle hotel is the Mt Kenya Safari Club; a formal place where men must wear a coat and tie for dinner

15. Lakes • There are numerous lakes throughout Kenya that host rare and spectacular birds • Lake Naivasha (hippos, birds and fishing) • Lake Turkana (comorants and sacred ibises) • Lake Baringo (hippos, 450 species of birds, camel rides, tours of nearby tribal villages) • Lake Victoria (world’s second largest lake and the main source of water for the Nile River)

16. Nairobi • 145 km south of Equator • founded by the British • a modern commercial center • Attractions of the city are; • The City Market (one of cleanest in Africa; residents shop for tropical fruits, vegetables and meat) • Kenyatta Boulevard (shopping for handcrafts) • the National Museum (ethnographic, paleontological and ornithological displays)

17. the Arboretum (excellent collection of East African flora) • the university (architecture of the buildings) • Kenya Railway Museum • farm house of Karen Blixen; the writer of Out of Africa

18. Other Important Places • Mombasa • has been a trading center for centuries – Persians, Turks, Indians, Portuguese, British • Ancient mosques, forts, museums, temples, narrow roads and markets, wood carvings and dhow trips with onboard entertainment (acrobats, fire eating, limbo, fashion shows) are attractions of the city • Malindi • on the Coral Coast,

19. place for coral reefs and beaches • destination for surfing, snorkeling, deep sea fishing and other water sports • The Malindi Marine National Park (has fine beaches, clear water and very colorful fish) • has beautiful narrow streets, post-colonial homes, trees and flowers

20. Things to Remember • Best way to see the country is by hosted or escorted tour • Street crime in Nairobi is a threat to travelers