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INTRODUCTION
Kenya, a republic in East Africa, is a member of
the Commonwealth of Nations. It gained independence in 1963. Kenya's history dates back to the Stone Age, making Kenya a bearer of the largest and most complete record of man's cultural development, partly because of its rich variety of environmental factors conducive to human survival and development. Kenya is favored tourist destination especially because of its wildlife treasure.
Climate of Kenya
Even though the Equator cuts through Kenya, it enjoys a tropical climate in most parts. It is hot and humid at the coast, temperate inland and very dry in the north and northeast parts of the country.
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It is pleasant and favorable with plenty of sunshine all year round. Rainfall is sometimes heavy around April to May. Though it is cloudier in some areas around July/August, there is not much rain at that time.
Map of Kenya
The land stretches from sea level in the east, to 5,199 meters at the peak of the snow-capped Mount Kenya. From the coast, the altitude changes gradually through the coastal belt and plains, the dry intermediate low belt to what is known as the Kenya Highlands. The monotony of the terrain in the low belt is broken by residual hills, masses of broken boulders and inselbergs. Settlement is confined to places where water can be found and wildlife occupies the greater part.
The Great Rift Valley bisects the Kenya Highlands into east and west. Mount Kenya is on the eastern side. The Highlands are cool and agriculturally rich. The Kano plains dominate the Lake Victoria Basin. The northern part of Kenya is plain and arid.
Location of Kenya
Kenya lies across the equator on the East coast of Africa. It borders Somalia, Ethiopia and Sudan to the North, Uganda to the West, Tanzania to the South and the Indian Ocean to the East.
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Flora And Fauna of Kenya
Kenya contains diverse vegetation. Forests containing palm, mangrove, teak, and sandalwood trees can be found along the Indian Ocean coast. Baobab, euphorbia, and acacia trees dot the lowland plateaus, while extensive tracts of savanna (grassland), interspersed with groves of acacia and some temperate forests, characterize the terrain of the highlands up to about 3,000 m (about 9,000 ft). The higher alpine zone contains giant senecio and lobelia shrubs.
Kenya is known for its varied wildlife and is particularly famous for its big game animals in the African savanna. These include elephants, rhinoceroses, zebras, giraffes, and lions and other large cats. Most of these species are protected in national parks and game reserves. Birds, including ostriches, flamingos, and vultures abound in Kenya, as do reptiles such as pythons, mambas, and cobras.
The annual migration of wildlife between Serengeti National Park in Tanzania and Maasai Mara National Park in Kenya that takes place between June and September is a favorite with wildlife lovers. The migration of almost two million wildebeest, zebras and other species is one of nature's greatest spectacles.
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