MORE ABOUT KENYA

Think of Kenya and you think of ...
 

• Safaris,

• Elephant, lion, zebra, giraffe ...

• The Masai Mara stretching to infinity,

• Serengeti, the Great Rift Valley

• Children barefoot in the African dust,

• Masai resting under baobab trees

"Revered by anthropologists as the 'cradle of humanity', Kenya is also the heart of African safari country, boasting the most diverse collection of wild animals on the continent. And no matter how many Tarzan movies you've seen, nothing will prepare you for the annual mass migration of wildebeests."

Kenya is not just about big game - it also has beautiful unspoilt beaches, thriving coral reefs with their glorious colours, memorable mountain vistas and ancient Swahili cities. It is an independent republic which lies on the Indian Ocean coast and forms part of the East African Region. The capital city is Nairobi, and its’ other major towns are Nakuru and Kisumu and the port of Mombasa.

The people here are extremely friendly and their hospitality can sometimes be over whelming. Their culture and traditions date back for centuries, and with up to 70 different tribal communities you will find plenty to talk about.

"In my spare time I’m mainly at the beach or in the public pool nearby. I've been going jogging on the beach in the early mornings (watching the sunrise here is amazing) before going to work each day. I went down all the craft shop lanes, down to the very seaweedy and rocky beach near Fort Jesus. Also to the bottom of the island to see the baobab forest. The amount of hellos I got was astounding."  Kayshani Gibbon

Mombasa is an island connected to the mainland by bridges and ferries and the town itself overlooks a fascinating harbour of traditional sailing dhows alongside commercial shipping. To most people, Mombasa is a wonderful place, a combination of a tourist resort and a working city with a throbbing heart and laid-back attitude.

This sultry area offers interesting things to see, beaches to relax on and beautiful nature reserves to visit. Mombasa is a bustling city with a history stretching back to the 12th century. There is a vibrant mixture of cultures, architecture and entertainment.

The true heart of Mombasa is the exotic old town. Here the streets are narrow and winding and filled with the heady scent of spices. Amongst the Arab architecture you'll find women wearing the traditional bui bui and busy markets that throb with life and colour, all added to by the wrap-around cloth of the traditional coastal khanga and kikoy that is worn by both men and women.

Fort Jesus lies at the edge of the water. This is an imposing fort that stands watch over the harbor. It was built in the 16th century and has high gun turrets, battlements and underground passages.

Modern Mombasa is a city of great diversity and life. This is a town were all are welcomed and quickly absorbed into this great coastal melting pot. Mosques, Hindu Temples and Christian churches surround streets that thrive with a world of cultures.

Outside Mombasa, at the Shimba Hills National Reserve, you will encounter a lovely forest setting with elephant, leopard and the rare, sable antelope. Towards the south, there are a number of beaches and resort hotels. The beaches are white and sandy with coral reefs which are heaven to scuba and skin divers. Further south, on Shimoni and Wasini islands, authentic Swahili culture survives and you can also visit the protected marine reserve. North of Mombasa there are also several beaches like Nyali, Bamburi, Shanzu, Kikambala and Vipingo.

Photos of Mombasa

Street Vendors offering freshly picked exotic fruits are plentiful in Mombassa

Volunteers with tribal villagers on a weekend excursion
 

Kenya's most spectacular annual event is staged by ........ wildebeests.

Literally millions of these ungainly antelopes (about 2 million) move en masse in July and August from the Serengeti in search of fresh grasslands. They head south again around October. The animals spend the rainy season (March – April) widely scattered in the area around Ngorongoro in the southern part of the Serengeti Park (Tanzania). By March this area usually dries up and huge herds form and the animals start moving north towards Masai Mara in Kenya. The herds arrive in Masai Mara around August – September and stay there until November. The calving starts with the normal time for the rainy season. If the rain is delayed a large percentage of the calves will die due to lack of food.

The best place to see this migration is at the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. Certainly one of nature's greatest spectacles, the great wildebeest migration can be an awesome sight. Another good time to view the wildebeest is during the calving season in February.

• Full country name: Republic of Kenya
• Area: 583,000 sq km
• Population: 30,339,770
• Capital city: Nairobi
• People: 22% Kikuyu, 14% Luhya, 13% Luo, 12% Kalenjin, 11% Kamba, 6% Kisii, 6% Meru, 16% other
• Languages: English, Swahili, indigenous.
• Religion: 40% Protestant, 36% Roman Catholic, 16% Muslim, 6% Animist
• Government: Republic (multiparty state)
• President: Daniel arap Moi (but elections are being held at the time of writing (December 2002) and Kenya will have a new President.
• GDP: US$43.9 billion
• GDP per head: US$1550
• Annual growth: 1.6%
• Inflation: 2.5%
• Major industries: small-scale consumer goods (plastic, furniture, batteries, textiles, soap, cigarettes, flour), agricultural processing, oil refining, cement, tourism
• Major trading partners: Uganda, Tanzania, UK, Germany, UAE, South Africa