African countries developing their tourism infrastructures over the past years have threatened the health of Kenya’s tourist sector. This trend has been overcome by the government of Kenya, by seriously investing in hotel infrastructure and communications.

Instability both politically and socially seriously disrupts the tourist sector.
Because of the bombing of the US Embassy in 1998, the upswing of crime in the cities and tourist areas and due to Ethnic riots, over the past years, Kenya was abandoned by tourism.

However, the year 2000 was forecasted to have good results due to the recovery of the rising trend of this sector in the year 1999.

Wildlife and road conditions are influenced by the rainfall pattern and therefore, it’s very vital. Many roads are flooded and impassable when rains are received.
The Long rainfall between the period of March and June and the Short rains from October to November are the two periods in which the rainy season is divided.
Generally, temperatures in months corresponding to those in the boreal winter like January, February and March, are usually higher.

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Kenya’s Vegetation and Climate by region:

Top Rift Valley and Highlands:
Altitude and winds are responsible for the mild and moderate climate in this region generally.
During the boreal summer months, the highest temperatures are 230C and are 26-270C during the boreal winter months in Nairobi, which is 1700m high, 12-150C is the range within which the lowest temperatures lie.
At higher altitudes, temperatures drop as a must.

120C to 180C is the range within which the average temperatures lie, with night temperatures going below 100C in the region of Mount Kenya.
In the Aberdare region, like the Mount Kenya region, the night lows are cold in the rainy season, rainfall is usually in plenty and in the long rains, higher levels are experienced.

The origin of the Savannah, the most peculiar and tropical landscape in this region of the world, as a natural or man-made ecosystem is controverted and it (the Savannah) is nothing other than a transition between rainforest and the arid steppe.
A variety of trees and bush mostly Acacia and Gramineae dominate the savannah, which is mainly a grassland.

A consequence of the several factors’ action is the natural balance of the savannah.
The factors include; Migrations of large herds of herbivores in search for the young pastures rich in salt, fire action, by which overgrowth of trees and bush which would be in competition for sunlight and the soils’ nutrients with grass, is limited and finally the regular rainfall pattern, by which growth of tender pastures is promoted.

The most common and typical species in the savannah are the Acacia genus species growing as tree or bush and belonging to the Mimesa family.
The cylindrical clustering flowers, the leguminous-like fruits, the flat tops, composed of leaves and the hard thorns, are the factors by which Acacias can easily be identified from other species.

The Acacia bark is pretty vital for use in manufacturing pharmaceutical products and dyes, since it’s rich in tannin.

It’s also equally important for animal species like elephants, gerenuks and giraffes because it serves as food to them.

Though highlands do not exceed 3% of the total surface of the country, they preserve the richest extensions of rainforest in Kenya, above 1300 meters.
In the Mount Kenya Region is where the largest patches are.
Largely present are the ferns, conifers, Mediterranean cedars and Junipers of the Podocarpus genus.
Bamboo forests are cited above 2000 meters. Mountain vegetation mainly peat dogs, giant Lobelias, heather and montane prairies predominates at higher altitudes, say above 3000 meters.

Top Lake Victoria Basin:
Altitude say around 1200 meters and most winds emerging from the Great lakes, modulate the climate at the lake Victoria shores.
During day, the temperatures are high compared to the night where they are moderate, with yearly highs of 310C and lows of 170C.

Some patches of tropical rainforest are still evident at the Mount Elgon slopes on the vast part of this territory is where the typical highlands vegetation is located or cited.

Top NE, Nyika [Eastern Highlands] and North:
The roughest climate is experienced in the Northern and North Eastern regions of the country whose reflection is in the arid landscape.
Very little rainfall with yearly levels of about 350mm is experienced.
All throughout the year, temperatures are high and rise up to 370C during the day in the hottest months.
Temperatures usually do not fall below 210Cduring the night.
Unlike in the Northern and North Eastern Regions, temperatures in the Eastern highlands are warm, but a bit lower, approximately 300C in the day and 200C in the night.

In the Northern and North Eastern regions, the vegetation is basically composed of thornbush and is sparsely populated.
Acarcias and tree cacti of the Euphorbia genus are found in the Southern region.
Because of it’s spectacularity, in certain cases growing to 18m high and with tree trunks reaching 9 meters in diameter, the giant Baobab (Adansonia digitata) of the Bombacacea family stands out distinctively.

It’s bark is very important for use in ropes and cloth manufacturing, in addition to which it’s pulpy fruit is good for eating.

In the Northern and NorthEastern regions as well as in the river valleys plus in areas having an alpine-like landscape such as the Taita Hills, the vegetation is more diversely and abundantly populated only at the Oasis.

Semi-deserted Steppes or Deserts make up the vast part of Kenya’s land given the extension of the arid regions.

Top of the Coast of Kenya:
In the Kenyan Indian Ocean Coast, the mean yearly temperatures are about 280C.
As corresponds to the coast’s altitude, it’s weather, generally speaking is humid and warm.

In the period of the boreal winter months, the temperatures are drier and warmer in general terms, with the highest at about 320C and rarely drop lower than 210Cand as well, the storms are frequent.

The coastal region is made the suitable habitat fro tropical vegetation by it’s temperature and humidity conditions.
Some patches of tropical rainforest are still evident along the shores and as well, the mangroves and coconut palm trees grow there.

From as far as the moon can you see and view the Great African Rift Valley on the surface of the earth. Both walls of this wide wonder can be seen at Nakuru, where the valley is 45Km wide and so that can make us conclude that the Great Rift Valley is at it’s scenic best in Kenya.
In the middle of Aberdare Mountain and the Mau Escarpment is where the narrowest point is located.

There are 8 Provinces in Kenya and they include; Nyanza, Eastern, Central, Rift valley, Western, Nairobi, Coast and North Eastern Province.

Kenya is also endowed with the second highest summit in Africa, which is Peak Batian, Mount Kenya at 5199m.

Tana and Galana are the major rivers in Kenya, Both of which rise in the highlands and die in the Indian Ocean.

Kenya’s Total surface Area is 582600Km2.

Lake Victoria Basin [Nyanza].

To the South Western end of the country is the location of the plateau called Lake Victoria Basin, which is also in the Administrative region corresponding to ‘Nyanza’, which means Lake in Swahili. Language and Western Provinces.
This plateau, the Lake Victoria basin, goes as afar as to the North East, to Mount Elgon, which is 4321 meters in Uganda boundary and in the Western edge of the Rift valley.
Mau Escarpment boarders the plateau to the East and goes up to the shores of Lake Victoria, which is above sea level by 1200 metres.

Kisumu is the most vital city in this region, in Lake Victoria at the banks of Winam Bay.
The vitality of this town is seen in it being the Capital of Nyanza province and of the Luo people, but most importantly, it is the 3rd largest city in Kenya.
Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania share the Inland Sea, which is Lake Victoria considered as the 3rd largest lake in the world, with approximately 68,000Km2 as it’s Surface Area.

Rift Valley and Kenyan Highlands:
A huge scar, which crosses from North to South through the half of Africa, specifically the Eastern half and the Middle East is referred to as the Rift Valley, which is also called the Great African Fault.
The earth is filled with inactive volcanoes alternating with tectonic lakes alongside the rift valley’s great depression.

Such small lakes like Naivasha, Baringo, Magadi, Bogoria, Nakuru and Elementeita, compose or make up the Kenyan Rift, from the Turkana or Rudolf situated in the Northern frontier, to the Natron in Tanzania.

The Rift Valley partitions the large central plateau, the highlands into two parts.
The Mau Escarpment rises from the Tanzanian boarder up to the Cheregan Hills at the Western edge, which creates a boundary to the plateau that elongates itself to the slopes of Mt. Elgon.

The Ngong Hills, Southwest of Nairobi and yet Northward to Laikipia Escarpment back up the Aberdare Range at the East side of the Rift.

The highest Monte in Kenya, yet takes the 2nd position in the whole continent, known as Monte Kenya, dominates the Eastern Highlands, and the 3 striking peaks, the Twin Nelion which is 5188m, the Batian which is 5199m and Lenana which is 4985m, are seen at it’s [Monte Kenya] snowy heights.

Nairobi, Central and Rift Valley are the provinces that compose or make up this region and it includes 2 major cities, the County’s fourth city names after a lake, Nakuru, and the Capital to Kenya, Nairobi.

The very first pioneers settled in Kenya because they were attracted by the highlands’ moderate climate and fertile valleys.

Eastern Highlands [Nyika], N & NE:
The Provinces North Eastern, part of the Coast Province and Eastern, are part of the extremely large and arid region that goes as far as the East of the highlands.
A smooth orography is displayed by this plateau, which descends without disturbance, to the shores of the Indian Ocean, and is only interrupted by the low hill assemblies.
Tsavo contains their main Geographic features, to the West of Voi lies the Taita Hills and the range that runs parallel to Mombasa known as the Chuulu Mountain Range, which is also parallel to the main communication channels between the coats and the inlands.

The two major streams, Tana and Galana mainly and partly flow through these lands.
They both (Tana and Galana) begin and rise from the Eastern highlands and finally poor their content to the Indian Ocean.
The confluence of Athi and Tsavo is responsible for the origin of the Galana.

The Semi desert and un inhabited landscape of this region is solely determined by the scarce rainfall got in this region, plus the high temperatures experienced. This region, in the most Northern areas is turned into a true desert and it goes as far as the shores of Lake Turkana.
The Landscape is often times covered with impenetrable thornbush implying therefore, that  it is dry and is only relieved of the dryness up the slopes of Taita Hills and down the river banks.

It’s the Longest Lava stream in the world, the Yatta Plateau, which is the Lava currents, that you witness the existance of a great  number of volcanoes which has today made itself extinct.

The Coast of Kenya:
The smooth hills that act as a pass out to the highlands of Kenya somehow hinder the Kenyan Coastal strip which is a plaine, to continue up to the interior.
The coral reefs with an exquisite biological wealth by which several marine national parks therein protect, protect the surge and the currents of the East Indian which in turn also give protection to the white sandy beaches, lined by coconut palms and their crystal coves.

Formerly known as Formesa is the Ngwana Bay which is the first in it’s northern end and the second in the South, close to Malindi City and is where the mouths of river Tana and Galana are borne.
The Island of Mombasa, the 2nd city in the country and Lamu Island among others, rise along the coast.

Numerous  colonialists in the ancient days, whose tracks are still felt in History, invaded the warm and Hospitable Kenyan Coast.
A blend of the Bantu roots together with the Arab influence resulted into the Swahili culture prospered in this coast until before the arrival of the First European Explorers, a point of great development was attained.

Due to the abundant avian population known of Kakamega and the reserve that attracts many of the nature lovers, wildlife enthusiasts and many bird watchers from the world over have been pulled to this region.
Including some of Africa’s hardest and softest wood like Elgon teak, Red and white stink woods and several varieties of croton, Kakamega forest has 380 species of plants.
These provide an awesome sight to the visitors. The exceptionally large -sized trees with enormous branches having beautiful orchids, act as captivating sceneries for the visitors.

The forest has many beautiful walking trails like the scenic Buyango Hill, which is the highest point in the forest, offering a perfect destination to adventure seekers.
Game viewing, bird watching, hiking and walking, as well as fishing in the rivers, are the most prime attractions for tourists visiting Kakamega.

Among the wildlife are the Bohor’s Reedbucks, Rothschilds Giraffes, Jackson’s Hartebeests, Roan Antelopes, Buffaloes, Black and White Colobus, Blue monkey, Leopards, Olive baboons, Hyenas, Porcupines and the Red tailed monkeys, which are the most popular animals.
It as well shelters 350 exotic and colourful bird species including rare snake-eating birds.
Kakamega is a must visit destination on your Kenya tour, since it’s a peaceful haven for nature lovers, wildlife enthusiasts and bird watchers.

You will be offered a thrilling range of Kenya tour packages with Kenya Wild Safari, which also offers online booking. For more information or booking, enter your query in the form below.

The Mt. Kenya Forests, Aberdares Mountain regions, Arabuko Sokoke forests and Equatorial Kakamya forests, are the four main forest regions in Kenya.

Due to the fact that Kenya’s forests provide shelter to some of the rare and most endangered plant and animal species, they are considered to have great potential for eco-tourism. You can be sure to get perfect conditions for game watching, nature walking and bird watching while in the tropical rainforests.

Another thrilling attraction in Kenya’s forests is the tree top lodges.
It’s truly an awesome experience for one to explore the scenic beauty and amazing wildlife from the top of a tree. Please Don’t miss it in the world.
Not only do the Kenya forests support many industries like the wood curving industry, the pulp and paper industry and building and construction industry, but also provide numerous weeds to be used as medicinal herbs.

You will be offered a fantastic range of Kenya tour packages with Kenya Wild Safari, which in addition offers online booking. For more info. or for booking, enter your query in the form below.