| i. Location: Kenya is an East African country that rises | | | | spectacular culture is the Swahili, an urban culture |
| from a low coastal plain on the Indian Ocean to | | | | along the East African coast. The Swahili do not form |
| mountains and plateaus at its center. The country | | | | an ethnic unit, however, since the population of the |
| size is 582,650 and is bordered by Ethiopia, Somalia, | | | | coastal region comprises Bantu, Arab, Persian, Indian |
| Sudan Tanzania, Uganda. Most Kenyans live in the | | | | and Indonesian peoples who all speak their language |
| highlands including, main cities and towns. Nairobi, is | | | | "Swahili", a Bantu language. Lamu is one of the last |
| the capital centre and stands at an altitude of 1,700 | | | | viable remnants of the Swahili civilization, which was |
| meters (5,500 feet). Even though Nairobi is near the | | | | the dominant cultural force all along the Kenyan coast. |
| Equator, its high elevation brings cooler air. To the | | | | It is a place of fantasy, wrapped in a clock of |
| west of Nairobi the land descends to the north-south | | | | medieval romance known as the "Kathmandu" of |
| running through the Great Rift Valley-the valley floor | | | | Africa. iii. Climate: Kenya enjoys a tropical climate. It is |
| is at its lowest near Lake Turkana further in the | | | | hot and humid at the coast, temperate inland and |
| deserts of northern Kenya. Around Lake Turkana, | | | | very dry in the north and northeast parts of the |
| scientists have discovered some of humankind's | | | | country.The country receives a great deal of |
| earliest ancestors-a fossil known as Kenya Man, that | | | | sunshine all the year round and summer clothes are |
| was dated at 3.5 to 3.2 million years old. ii. The People | | | | worn throughout the year. The terrain is low plains |
| and Culture Kenya is host to Forty ethnic groups, | | | | rising to the central highlands bisected by Great Rift |
| including Kikuyu farmers and Maasai cattle herders, | | | | Valley; fertile plateau in west.The Kenyan Highlands |
| three-quarters of Kenya's people is also located in the | | | | comprise one of the most successful agricultural |
| country side. The total population stands at | | | | production regions in Africa; glaciers on Mt. Kenya; |
| 33,830,000 with 2,818,000 staying in the capital city | | | | unique physiography supports abundant and varied |
| Kenya is a diverse country, with many different | | | | wildlife of scientific and economic value. iv. The |
| cultures represented. Today, the Massai culture is the | | | | teaming Wildlife Kenya has considerable land area of |
| best known, due to its heavy exposure from | | | | wildlife habitat, including much of the Serengeti plains, |
| tourism. Kenya's culture is both varied and | | | | where Wildebeest and other bovids participate in a |
| fragmented. Nowhere else in Africa is there such a | | | | large scale annual migration. Up to 250,000 Wildebeest |
| large number of ancient cultures, all alive and well in | | | | perish each year in the long and arduous movement |
| no hurry to change. Each cultural / ethnic group have | | | | to find forage in the dry season. The annual migration |
| their unique traditional arts & crafts, architecture in | | | | occurs between June and September with millions of |
| homestead designs, clothing and jewellery, food, | | | | wildlife taking part. It has been a popular event for |
| social and economic activities etc. Kenya is bestowed | | | | filmmakers to capture.The "Big Five" animals of Africa |
| with well over 40 different ethnic groups with | | | | can also be found in Kenya and these include the |
| different languages and dialects, customs, beliefs and | | | | Lion, the Leopard, the Buffalo, the Rhino and the |
| lifestyles. Unique of all tribes is the Elmolo, Kenya's | | | | biggest of them all - the Elephant. A significant |
| smallest group which is a surviving tribe just emerging | | | | population of other wild animals, reptiles and birds can |
| from the stone age standard of living usually | | | | be found in the national parks and game reserves in |
| described as the race that has stood the test of | | | | the country. v. The cradle of mankind. Man was born |
| time. iib. The Maasai warrior people: The well known | | | | on the eastern shores of Lake Rudolf, now Lake |
| Maasai too, famous for their warriorship, have a | | | | Turkana, according to recent fossil evidence, which |
| strong practical lifestyle which is basically seen to | | | | makes Kenya the "Biblical Garden of Eden, from |
| represent Kenya's traditions by foreigners. The | | | | which descendants moved out to populate the |
| Maasai land incorporates many of the National Parks | | | | world." A reverse migration began nine to ten |
| like Amboseli, Mara, Tsavo and Nairobi National Park is | | | | thousand years ago when Kenya became the point |
| now involved in the wildlife conservation projects to | | | | of contact in Africa for the Stone Age and civilisation, |
| encourage eco-tourism. This enables the Maasai tribe | | | | spreading from the Mediterranean through to |
| to make a living from conservation and is an | | | | Southern Arabia. The National Museums of Kenya |
| important factor in the preservation of wildlife | | | | runs one National Museum in Nairobi and seven other |
| habitats outside the Parks. Visitors can experience a | | | | regional museums elsewhere in the country enhancing |
| unique holiday learning about their culture, wildlife and | | | | Kenya's rich cultural heritage. |
| ecosystem of this fascinating tribal people. Another | | | | |