Discover Africa through a Safari


Kenya Sights,Sounds & the Maasai

i. Location: Kenya is an East Africanwildlife and ecosystem of this fascinating
country that rises from a low coastal plaintribal people. Another spectacular culture
on the Indian Ocean to mountains and plateausis the Swahili, an urban culture along the
at its center. The country size is 582,650East African coast. The Swahili do not form
and is bordered by Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudanan ethnic unit, however, since the population
Tanzania, Uganda. Most Kenyans live in theof the coastal region comprises Bantu, Arab,
highlands including, main cities and towns.Persian, Indian and Indonesian peoples who
Nairobi, is the capital centre and stands atall speak their language "Swahili", a Bantu
an altitude of 1,700 meters (5,500 feet).language. Lamu is one of the last viable
Even though Nairobi is near the Equator, itsremnants of the Swahili civilization, which
high elevation brings cooler air. To the westwas the dominant cultural force all along the
of Nairobi the land descends to theKenyan coast. It is a place of fantasy,
north-south running through the Great Riftwrapped in a clock of medieval romance known
Valley-the valley floor is at its lowest nearas the "Kathmandu" of Africa. iii. Climate:
Lake Turkana further in the deserts ofKenya enjoys a tropical climate. It is hot
northern Kenya. Around Lake Turkana,and humid at the coast, temperate inland and
scientists have discovered some ofvery dry in the north and northeast parts of
humankind's earliest ancestors-a fossil knownthe country.The country receives a great deal
as Kenya Man, that was dated at 3.5 to 3.2of sunshine all the year round and summer
million years old. ii. The People and Cultureclothes are worn throughout the year. The
Kenya is host to Forty ethnic groups,terrain is low plains rising to the central
including Kikuyu farmers and Maasai cattlehighlands bisected by Great Rift Valley;
herders, three-quarters of Kenya's people isfertile plateau in west.The Kenyan Highlands
also located in the country side. The totalcomprise one of the most successful
population stands at 33,830,000 withagricultural production regions in Africa;
2,818,000 staying in the capital city Kenyaglaciers on Mt. Kenya; unique physiography
is a diverse country, with many differentsupports abundant and varied wildlife of
cultures represented. Today, the Massaiscientific and economic value. iv. The
culture is the best known, due to its heavyteaming Wildlife Kenya has considerable land
exposure from tourism. Kenya's culture isarea of wildlife habitat, including much of
both varied and fragmented. Nowhere else inthe Serengeti plains, where Wildebeest and
Africa is there such a large number ofother bovids participate in a large scale
ancient cultures, all alive and well in noannual migration. Up to 250,000 Wildebeest
hurry to change. Each cultural / ethnicperish each year in the long and arduous
group have their unique traditional arts &movement to find forage in the dry season.
crafts, architecture in homestead designs,The annual migration occurs between June and
clothing and jewellery, food, social andSeptember with millions of wildlife taking
economic activities etc. Kenya is bestowedpart. It has been a popular event for
with well over 40 different ethnic groupsfilmmakers to capture.The "Big Five" animals
with different languages and dialects,of Africa can also be found in Kenya and
customs, beliefs and lifestyles. Unique ofthese include the Lion, the Leopard, the
all tribes is the Elmolo, Kenya's smallestBuffalo, the Rhino and the biggest of them
group which is a surviving tribe justall - the Elephant. A significant population
emerging from the stone age standard ofof other wild animals, reptiles and birds can
living usually described as the race that hasbe found in the national parks and game
stood the test of time. iib. The Maasaireserves in the country. v. The cradle of
warrior people: The well known Maasai too,mankind. Man was born on the eastern shores
famous for their warriorship, have a strongof Lake Rudolf, now Lake Turkana, according
practical lifestyle which is basically seento recent fossil evidence, which makes Kenya
to represent Kenya's traditions bythe "Biblical Garden of Eden, from which
foreigners. The Maasai land incorporates manydescendants moved out to populate the world."
of the National Parks like Amboseli, Mara,A reverse migration began nine to ten
Tsavo and Nairobi National Park is nowthousand years ago when Kenya became the
involved in the wildlife conservationpoint of contact in Africa for the Stone Age
projects to encourage eco-tourism. Thisand civilisation, spreading from the
enables the Maasai tribe to make a livingMediterranean through to Southern Arabia.
from conservation and is an important factorThe National Museums of Kenya runs one
in the preservation of wildlife habitatsNational Museum in Nairobi and seven other
outside the Parks. Visitors can experience aregional museums elsewhere in the country
unique holiday learning about their culture,enhancing Kenya's rich cultural heritage.



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