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