Introduction
The Republic of Kenya is a country in East Africa. It is bordered by Ethiopia to the north, Somalia to the northeast, Tanzania to the south, Uganda to the west, and Sudan to the northwest, with the Indian Ocean running along the southeast border. The country is named after Mount Kenya, a very significant landmark and the second among the highest mountain peaks of Africa, and both were originally usually. Although the native pronunciation and the one intended by the original transcription Kenia was. Before 1920, the area now known as Kenya was known as the British East Africa Protectorate and so there was no need to mention mount when referring to the mountain.

Geography and Climate
The country of Kenya is slightly smaller than the state of Texas, yet larger than France. It's 582,646 sq km contain most of the world's major climatic conditions. Kenya's topography is a study of contrasts. Features range from deserts to snow capped mountains, sandy coastlines to freshwater lakes, savannah grasslands to fertile agricultural plantations, extinct volcanoes to coral reefs. The eastern half of the country slopes gently downward towards sea level while to the west, the land patterns resemble a flight of stairs as a series of hills and plateaus alternate upward to the Rift Valley. On the western side of the Rift Valley the land again gently slopes downward towards Lake Victoria. Moving from east to west, a traveller experiences the white beaches of the Indian Ocean to the mile-high plateau of Nairobi, climbs higher still to the snow-capped summit of Mount Kenya, then drops across the Great Rift Valley to Lake Victoria. The Kenyan countryside boasts jagged, forested mountains, fertile red-soil agricultural belts surrounding Lake Turkana and sandy, dusty desert savannah regions.

Kenya lies on the equator and is bordered on the north by Sudan, Somalia and Ethopia; Uganda and Lake Victoria lie to the west; Tanzania and Mount Kilimanjaro are to the south while the Indian Ocean lies to the east. Kenya has twenty mountains, six of which rise to over 3,000 meters (9,900 feet). The Tana River, largest in the country, supports river traffic in its lower regions. Most of Kenya's rivers and small lakes dry up during the dry season making perennial water shortages an ongoing problem. Before the formation of the Rift Valley, Kenya's climate and vegetation could best be characterized as tropical. The great geological changes that created the Rift triggered extreme climatic changes as well. After millions of years of evolution, Kenya's climates now range from semi-arid to tropical, temperate to alpine, and also include artic. The country has three main geographic regions, each characterized by its own unique climate and vegetation.

The Coast
Kenya's coastal region extends for 480 km (298 miles) along the Indian Ocean from the Somalian border in the north to the wilds of Tanzania in the south. This region is world famous for its mangrove swamps, rocky inlets, and palm trees. The beaches are protected from destructive ocean waves by extensive coral fringe and barrier reefs. Throughout the centuries these reefs supplied building material for coastal cities. The reefs also shelter hundreds of aquatic species and are home to three marine national parks, Kisite, Watumu, and Malindi.

Rainfall along the coast is abundant, but often occurs in short bursts except during the April to June monsoon season. This region averages 40 -50 inches of rain per year. The coastal climate is hot and humid with little variation in annual temperature (87 F during the day, rarely below 68 F in the evening). This narrow coastal region is low-lying and fertile making it ideal for sugar cane and sisal plantations.

The Interior
The plateau beyond the coastal plain rises gradually to the central Highlands in the south and extends through Ethiopia in the north. The northeastern region of the plateau has only a few low valleys and monotonous vegetation marked by sparse savannah, thorn trees, huge boabab trees and scrub. The climate of these northern plains is the most extreme in Kenya with temperatures ranging from 40 C during the day to 20 C at night. This vast arid and semi-arid zone is agriculturally unproductive and therefore sparsely populated. This area is Kenya at its most remote with few roads, only a smattering of villages, and huge tracts of land that remain unmarked. Because ground water and rainfall are sparse in this region, only pastoral nomads inhabit the area. The nomads are always on the move, eternally searching for water for themselves and their subsistence cattle.

The landscape changes in the northwest where the Rift Valley and Lake Turkana cross the plateau. Vegetation is much the same but sparser, indicative of Kenya's growing desert region. This area is home to Lake Turkana, the largest of the lakes in the Rift Valley. Unfortunately, it is little use to man because of its alkaline water. The Great Rift Valley runs north-south almost the entire length of Kenya. The valley varies in width from 48 to 128 km (30 - 80 miles) and is over 2,000 m (6,560 feet) deep near Lake Naivasha. Throughout the Rift Valley there are numerous freshwater and alkaline lakes as well as remnants of long extinct volcanoes.

The Aberdare Mountains and Mount Kenya border the Rift Valley to the east while to the west is the Mau Escarpment. Rich volcanic soil coupled with frequent rain (courtesy of easterly air masses meeting the Aberdares) makes this region of Kenya very fertile. As a result, these eastern Highlands have long been intensively cultivated by Europeans and Kenyans alike. This region of south-central Kenya was popularized during the colonial days by Europeans who settled there and dubbed it the Highlands. The region is characterized by savannah grassland, deep green valleys, narrow canyons, and steep rugged mountains. Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, is located on the southern end of the Highlands. This region is the most fertile and, as a result, it remains the most densely populated. The Highlands are known for their temperate climate although there is major contrast between the floor of the valley and the summit of Mount Kenya. When travelling to higher altitudes, temperatures will drop, on average, 1 F per 328 ft., descending to below freezing on Mount Kenya and the Arberdare Mountains. Temperatures in the rest of the region are generally lower than in other parts of the county, ranging from between 50 - 58 F at night to 72 - 79 F during the day. There are two rainy seasons: the "long rains" between March and May, and the "short rains" which fall between October and December.

Western Kenya
This region of the country is characterized as a gentle plateau running the length of the country. This area is generally hot and humid, with an abundance of rainfall throughout the year. The land is especially fertile as lava deposits and volcanic activity have fortified the soil over the years. The world's second largest lake can be found in this region of Kenya on the western slope of the Rift Valley. Lake Victoria covers 26,830 square miles and its islands, creeks, bays and beaches have created a tropical micro-climate. The shores of Lake Victoria and the surrounding hills of Kakamega are home to abundant wildlife and dense tropical forests. To the north of Lake Victoria is Mount Elgon, the second highest mountain in Kenya. The land south of Mount Elgon gradually becomes less fertile as agriculture gives way to scrubland. This southern stretch of Kenya is home to a vast expanse of game preserves. An endless parade of animals roam about in the country's major wildlife sanctuaries including Maasai Mara, Amboseli, and Tsavo.

Kenya Travel Tips