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
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