Map of Kenya
Kenya lies astride the equator on the east coast of Africa between the 5oS and 40oS parallels, covering a total land area of 582,000 sq. km (which includes 13,600 sq. km of inland lakes).
Its western border touches the 34oE longitude. It is bordered in the north by Ethiopia and the Sudan, in the west by Uganda, in the south by Tanzania, and in the east by Somalia and the Indian Ocean.
The country rises from sea level at the Coast to altitudes of 5,100m (Mt. Kenya).
This explains how one can experience the hot and humid climate of the Coast, the damp moorland climate of the highlands, the bone-chilling snow of Mt. Kenya, and the scorching desert climate of Mandera, all in the same country.
The changes in altitude create habitats and ecosystems that support a great diversity of plant and animal life.
Tourism is Kenya's biggest foreign exchange earner.
Kenya's wildlife, its pleasant climate, beautiful scenery, sandy beaches, range of water sports, developed hotel infrastructure and hospitable people have made the country one of Africa's most popular tourist destinations.
Kenya has set aside 10 per cent of its landmass for wildlife conservation.
It has more than 50 national parks and game reserves, each having its own unique landscape and individual character.
Area:
582,000 sq. km
Time:
GMT +3
Population:
27 million
Capital City:
Nairobi
Kenya's topographical make up is unique. Historically, topography provides the physical setting for much tourism.
About scenic beauty, found in Kenya is the Gregorian Rift - part of the great Rift Valley (5400 miles) running from the middle East cutting through East Africa and finally reaching the Indian Ocean near the Zambezi River.
The most scenic region in Kenya is the Rift Valley area followed by the Lake Victoria region. The valley's formation is associated with unique landforms whose scenery is dramatic and breathtaking.
Such landforms include craters, inselbergs, waterfalls, calderas, the riftvalley lakes and many more. With increasing popularity in photography and site seeing, typical developments and interesting drives along the country could yield to some good tourist experience. Your tour operator will include in your tourist circuit visits to Kenya's major scenic landforms.
Kenya's plains and plateau regions, the Eastern and Lake Region provinces, are dotted with inselbergs and volcanic hills and rock.
The highland region in Kenya comprises truncated spurs and valley bottoms offering an essential ingredient to the natural environment as a product. Also, for many tourist developments, from the tundra to the rain forest of the tropics, vegetative cover is an important resource.
While deserts may have some appeal to tourists, much more popular are the verdant landscapes of Kenya. Forests create appealing scenic vistas, offering dramatic panoramas of colour and could form scenic photography sites.
