Kenya

Quick Facts

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Capital

Nairobi

Government

Republic

Nationality

Kenyan

Population

35 112 181 ^[1]

Languages

Swahili, English

Religions

Christianity (Protestant, Catholic), Indigenous beliefs, Islam

Currency

Kenyan Shilling (KES)

Calling Code

+254

Time Zone

EAT (UTC+3)

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Introduction

water buffalo

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Though it's probably best to leave your valuables at home before travelling to Kenya (the country's crime rate is shocking), the risk of getting mugged is well outweighed by the fabulous attractions Kenya has to offer. Straddling the coast are cities like Mombasa and Lamu: cities with a long and sometimes tumultuous history, but whose heritage is proudly preserved by architecture which has survived centuries. Also boasting a spot along the coast (known widely as the Coral Coast) is Malindi, where visitors can enjoy some of the nation's finest beaches and diving opportunities.

But the undeniable highlight of any trip to Kenya has to be the safari. Well-organized tours provide an ideal way of getting up close to the wildlife, for a truly ethereal experience. Images of elephant herds passing before the mighty backdrop of Mt. Kilimanjaro (at Amboseli National Park) will undoubtedly be ingrained on your memory forever.

Brief History

Geography

Regions

Kenya consists of eight provinces (mkoa) which are subdivided into 71 districts (wilaya'at).

• Central: Nyandarua, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Maragua, Muranga, Thika, Kiambu
• Coast: Kilifi, Kwale, Lamu, Malindi, Mombasa, Taita-Taveta, Tana River
• Eastern: Embu, Isiolo, Kitui, Machakos, Makueni, Marsabit, Mbeere, Central Meru, Northern Meru, Southern Meru, Moyale, Mwingi, Tharaka
• Nairobi: It's both a province and a district and forms the total urban area of the capital Nairobi.
• Northeastern: Garissa, Ijara, Wajir, Mandera
• Nyanza: Bondo, Gucha, Homa Bay, Kisii, Kisumu, Kuria, Migori, Nyamira, Nyando, Rachuonyo, Siaya, Suba
• Rift Valley: Baringo, Bomet, Buret, Kajiado, Keiyo, Kericho, Koibatek, Laikipia, Marakwet, Nakuru, Nandi, Narok, Samburu, Trans Mara, Trans Nzoia, Turkana, Uasin Gishu, West Pokot
• Western: Bungoma, Busia, Butere, Kakamega, Lugari, Mount Elgon, Teso, Vihiga

Cities

• Nairobi
• Mombasa
• Nakuru
• Meru
• Kisumu
• Eldoret

Sights and Activities

Kenya, along with Tanzania, is East Africa's prime country to enjoy a real African safari. There are many national parks to enjoy, all with their own characteristics and some parks have animals you won't see anywhere else, like certain types of zebra or giraffe.

Masai Mara Game Reserve

Although it does not enjoy the privilege to be called a national park, that doesn't change anything to the experience of this most famous park in Kenya. The park is actually a continuation of the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania and the yearly migration of hundreds of thousands of animals, manly gazelles, zebras and wildebeests, is something you can enjoy in this game reserve as well. The Masai Mara is also known for its relative easy to see large quantities of predators, like lion, cheetah, leopard and several smaller ones like the caracal, serval and jackall. Other animals include the giraffe and all other large animals of the big five, like elephant, buffalo and rhino. Hippos and crocs are mostly seen in or near the Mara river and prey of the latter one include many sorts of antelopes. Birds are equally impressive though, albeit way smaller, but more colourful.

Amboseli National Park

Shower Time

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If you have seen photos of elephants or giraffes in front of a snowcapped cone of the Kilimanjaro, chances are almost 100% they were taken in this park, on the southern border of Kenya with Tanzania. You will see elephants for sure and very close as well, just roaming freely along the roads in this park, which mainly protects swampy areas and savanna grasslands. The park is relatively small though and a few days here is probably enough before moving on to other impressive safari places in Kenya.

Tsavo National Park

This is the largest of all national parks in Kenya, and actually consists of two national parks, aptly named Tsavo West and Tsavo East with the main Mombasa-Nairobi road dividing the two. While Tsavo East is the biggest, Tsavo West is the one which enjoys the most scenic landscapes, higher animal densities and a beautiful black rhino sanctuary. As a consequence Tsave West is more visited, but Tsavo East is equally good and you won't see many travellers here, which only adds to the experience. The park is also known for its lions which killed many people working on the railway across the park in the early twentieth century.

Lake Nakuru National Park

Lake Nakuru National Park is located in the central southern parts of Kenya, close to the city of Nakuru. The park is famous for its tens of thousands of flamingos nesting along the shores and the lake sometimes looks like one big pink mass. The park has been enlarged mainly to protect other animals as well, like the Rothschild giraffes and black rhinos who roam here since several years. Other animals include predators like lion and leopard as well as several of antelope species and numerous birds.

Events and Festivals

Weather

While most of Kenya lies in the hot and humid tropical zone, there are huge differences regarding temperatures and rainfall that mainly coincide with either altitude or latitude. The coastal zone is hot and humid year round with temperatures above or around 30 °C during the day and still above 20 °C at night. Like the rest of the country, the hottest months are from December to March while June to September is the coolest time of the year. Also like most of Kenya, the area has two rainy seasons, a longer and heavier one from March to early June and a shorter one from late October to early December, with some downpours at the end of the day instead of days of rain on end in April and May. This climate applies to the southwest of the country as well, albeit with cooler nights.

South central parts of Kenya are mainly somewhat cooler and less humid because of its elevation. Nairobi rarely sees temperatures of more than 28 °C during the day while nights can drop below 10 °C in July and August.

The centre and the north of the country are much hotter and drier with temperatures even in the cooler months of June to September rarely below 32 °C during the day and even hitting 40 °C (or more!) up north in January and February. Rain is becoming less reliable here and even the wetter months of April or November can see days without a single drop.

Getting There

By Plane

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (IATA: NBO, ICAO: HKJK) is the main gateway to the country. Located 15 km from the city centre of Nairobi, it is the base of Kenya Airways, the national airline of the country and also one of the biggest in Africa. International destinations include Abidjan, Accra, Addis Ababa, Amsterdam, Bamako, Bangkok, Bujumbura, Cairo, Moroni (Comoros), Dar Es Salaam, Dakar, Djibouti, Douala, Dubai, Entebbe, Freetown, Guangzhou, Harare, Hong Kong, Johannesburg, Khartoum, Kigali, Kinshasa, Lagos, Lilongwe, London-Heathrow, Lubumbashi, Maputo, Mayotte, Monrovia, Mumbai, Port Louis, Seychelles, Yaoundé and Zanzibar.

Several dozens of other airlines serve Nairobi, mainly from other African and European cities.

Moi International Airport (IATA: MBA, ICAO: HKMO) near Mombasa receives international flights as well, mainly catering to package holidays from Europe. There are direct flights from Amsterdam, Brussels, Frankfurt, London, Milan, Manchester, Paris and Zürich.

By Train

By Car

By Bus

Bus services to international destinations include those from Nairobi to Kampala in Uganda, and Arusha and Dar es Salaam in Tanzania.

By Boat

Getting Around

By Plane

Domestic flights in the country are served by Kenya Airways, Air Kenya, Safari Link, Mombasa Air Safaris. Apart from those, there are many smaller private airlines serving no less than 150 airstrips throughout the country.

By Train

There are trains that connect the coastal city of Mombasa with the capital Nairobi. They are usually overnight trains and the journey takes between 12 and 15 hours. There are three classes ranging from comfortable double cabins to basic seats.

Unfortunately, trains don't travel further to Kampala in Uganda anymore.

By Car

Roads in Kenya are not very good except some major roads linking the bigger cities like Nairobi with Mombasa. Gravel roads are of course worse although there are good stretches. It is best to rent 4-wheel drive vehicles only as road conditions can be bad and you are most likely to visit some national parks where these kind of vehicles really are recommended. Also, use the main international companies like Hertz and Avis, which offer good deals, although they certainly are not cheap. You may use your national driving licence but it has to be in English, so an additional international driving permit is recommended. Most car rental companies are located in Nairobi, Malindi and Mombasa and although possible, most people choose for a car with driver or a package deal including car and lodging/camping and most meals.

By Bus

Buses link most major cities and towns while smaller minibuses (matatus) often travel along the same routes but stop in every town and village, so they are much slower but a great way to travel with the locals. Long distance bus services are comfortable and reliable.

By Boat

The only notable ferries you are likely to take are ferries going to Lamu and the ferry link from Mombasa south which offers access to the beaches and resorts south of Mombasa, like Diani Beach. Dhow trips are generally of the tourist type and passenger dhows don't carry foreigners most of the times.

Red Tape

Money

Work

Study

Language

There are 42 tribes in Kenya and each tribe has their own dialect. Kenyans speak Kiswahili, the national language, and majority of them understand English as well. All tribes understand each other in Swahili and they have no difficulties in communication even in Tanzania. The other foreign languages are not known at all.

Eat

Sleep

Drink

Health

Safety

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