History of Kenya

Kenya as a geopolitical entity was born in 1920 as a colony of the British Empire. It was named after Mt. Kenya which the local natives, the Kikuyu, refer to as Mt. Kirinyaga to the present day. The name Kenya therefore came about as a result of the British not being able to pronounce "Kirinyaga" correctly.


Kenya became independent from the British in 1963. It covers as area of 586,000 square kilometres in its current form and has a population of 34 million people.


The country has 42 distinct ethnic communities with different languages and dialects drawn from the three main African linguistic groups namely the Bantu, Cushites and Hamites: hence the name "land of diverse cultures".


Despite the myriads of impact from the external environment, many communities have managed to retain their traditions almost as they were many centuries ago. Others have integrated significant elements of foreign influences to evolve a new culture that is uniquely Kenyan. In a nutshell, Kenya's ethnic diversity has ways of life that reflect African, Asian and European influences. This is most evident in the Coast parts of the country where a blend of Arabic and African cultures have evolved into the unique Swahili culture.


Kenya has been described as the "geographical heart" of the African continent by virtue of being the only country in the world where snow occurs on the equator. The Great Rift Valley is famous for the lakes it houses which make Kenya, a birdwatcher's paradise. The Rift Valley is also attributed to other geological features of importance such as volcanic mountains and hot springs.


Kenya Attractions


Central Kenya
  • Aberdare National Park
  • Mt. Kenya
  • The Laikipia Plateau
  • Lewa & I1 Ngwesi Conservancies
  • Coffee and Tea Farms

Western Kenya
The West of Kenya is home to the mighty Lake Victoria which is Kenya's largest fresh water lake in Africa and home to the source of the Nile River; the longest river in the world. Its shores are home to an abundance of birdlife and its freshness brings life to not only people living around the lake, but also to life in the nearby Ruma national Park which is inhabited by two very rare species of game namely the Roan Antelope and the Oribi.

Another attraction is Kakamega forest; a remnant of the tropical rain forests. The forest is very popular with nature lovers including birdwatchers. Common species to be identified with the forest are the Blue headed bee eater, Chapin's flycatcher, Urner's Amerola and the Blue Turacco.

Other attractions in Western Kenya include Kit Mikayi, the weeping stone of Kakamega, Ndere Island, Elephant caves of Mt. Elgon National Park and the Sitatunga of Saiwa Swamp.

Nairobi
Nairobi city was founded in 1899 during the construction of the Mombasa to Kisumu railway line. The place was called Ewaso Nairobi by the Masai, meaning "a stream of cold water". It served as the provincial capital of the British colony until it became British East Africa in 1907. It became the capital of independent Kenya in 1963. It is commonly known as the green city in the sun by virtue of being the only city in the world which co-exists side by side with a typical African wilderness: the Nairobi national park.

The main highlights in Nairobi include
  • Kenya Railway Station
  • The National Museum of Kenya
  • The David Sheldrick Animal Orphanage
  • Nairobi National Park
  • Karen Blixen Museum
  • AFEW Giraffe Center
  • Arboretum Forest
  • Bomas of Kenya

Aberdare
The landscape of this park is quite varied and as it has mountain peaks at 14000 feet above sea level, as part of the Aberdare Mountain Range. Lower levels are home to rainforests. Most commonly viewed animals in this park include lion, leopards, baboons and a variety of monkeys.

Amboseli National Park
Even though it is quite small, approximately 395 sq. km, it is one of Kenya's most popular parks with the best views of mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest peak, coupled with the variety of game to be found. It is most famed for it's large herds of elephants.

Lake Baringo
Unlike the neighbouring Lake Bogoria which is saline, Lake Baringo is a fresh water lake. With over 400 species of birds of resident and migrant species, the lake is richer in terms of species diversity than all the Rift valley lakes. The Njemps Island within the lake is inhabited by one of the smallest tribes in the country: the Njemps.

Lake Bogoria
Lake Bogoria is a soda lake and has its own share of flamingos and other species. The lake is most famous for its hot springs, geysers and steam jets whose temperatures rise above the normal boiling point. The cliffs over looking the lake are inhabited by Klipspringers while the plains below them favour the greater Kudu - another very rare and endangered species of antelope.

The Coast
Kenya's Coast is divided into five regions: the city of Mombasa; the North Coast; the South Coast; Malinda, and Lamu. The coast has a very rich history dating back over one thousand years, epitomized by the Vasco da Gama's Pillar and Fort Jesus. These symbolize years of Portuguese influence in the region. The Coast has also a very diverse culture and a mixed culture from Italy, Germany and to a smaller extent, French and English.

The Great Rift Valley
The Great Rift valley which extends 6,000 Km from Lake Baikal in Russia which is the deepest lake in the world compared to the second deepest -Lake Tanganyika in Tanzania. The valley is famous for its Lakes (all of which are extremely salty) Except for Baringo and Naivasha which are fresh, despite having no physical outlet.

Lake Magadi
Lake Magadi is the second saltiest body of water in the world next to the Dead Sea. The soda mined from the lake supports the world glass industry.

Masai Mara
Masai Mara was in 2007 declared the 7th wonder of the world for hosting the most spectacular wildlife show on earth; the annual migration of wildebeests. The reserve is an integral component of the greater Serengeti ecosystem whose diversity of plain's game supports the highest concentration of herbivores in the world. Masai Mara owes its high numbers of wildlife to the Masai people whose culture and ways of life form a relationship for the people and wildlife to live in peace together.

Lake Naivasha
Unlike all the other Rift valley Lakes, Naivasha covers an area of 200 square kilometres. It is a crater lake which sits on the caldera of a volcano at 6,200ft. The lake's origin is associated with other geological features such as the neighbouring Mt. Longonot and the Olkaria geo-thermal power station. Apart from the birdlife, another important feature is the Elsamere Conservation; home of the late Joy Adamson where most of her artwork is on display. Joy Adamson was the first lady in the world to tame lions and she is the author of "Born Free". The story of the world famous Elsa the lion cub she raised to lioness. Naivasha area is also home to huge flower farms that supply flowers all over the world. The neighbouring Hell's gate is home to the rare Lammergeyer Vulture (bearded vulture).

Lake Nakuru
A shallow alkaline soda lake is the namesake for this park. Lake Nakuru national Park, known as "Ornithologists Paradise" covers an area of 188 square kilometres out of which 44 square kilometres is lake. The lake is known worldwide as the home of flamingos which at times number up to one million. The park is Kenya's most popular Rhino sanctuary with both black and the white rhinoceros foraging within the same neighbourhood. The park is also home to the rarest and most endangered species of giraffe - the Rothschild Giraffe. Neighbouring is the Menengai crater, the second largest caldera in the world, after the Ngorongoro in Tanzania.

Samburu National Reserve
Established in 1948, this reserve is dominated by the mighty Ewaso Nyiro River - meaning "muddy waters" in Samburu. The thorn shrub and arid terrain supports the northern species of game including the gravy Zebra, the Beisa Oryx, the Reticulated Giraffe and the blue necked Somali Ostrich. It has numerous families of elephant and a superb birdlife hosting over 380 recorded species.

Shaba National Reserve
Situated right next to Samburu game reserves, Shaba's scenery is stark and beautiful dominated by the hills and deep ravines. The wildlife and terrain is similar to Samburu.

Tsavo and Amboseli
Tsavo West National Park has been branded the park of man-eaters, springs and lava while Tsavo East is branded "a theatre in the wild".

Tsavo lions are descendants of the notorious man-eaters of Tsavo who interrupted the construction of the Kenya/Uganda railway by evading death for almost one year before they were eventually gunned down by Col. Patterson in December 1898.

Mzima (a swahili word for life) is a geological wonder located in the vast semiarid wilderness of Tsavo and is reminiscent of a desert oasis. After travelling ten kilometres underground from the Chyulu hills, 282,000 litres of clear water rush out of the volcanic rock per minute.

Chyulu hills, Shetani caves and Chaimu lava are all described as volcanic eruptions. It is estimated to be less than 500 years old.

Tsavo east and west National parks cover an area of over 20,000 square kilometres. It accommodates more than half of Kenya's population of 26,000 elephants. Tsavo east and west combined, is larger than the size of Jamaica.

Lake Turkana
This is Kenya's northern most lake. Over 200km long it is properly named the "Jade Sea". It gets its water from the Omo River in Ethiopia. The Turkana has been the focus of archaeological investigations where fossil deposits have been found and evacuated by the famous Leakey family.