Kenya, an East African country, is well-known for its mountain highlands, vast wildlife reserves, and numerous safaris, making it a truly breathtaking beauty to behold. The country shares borders with five countries: Ethiopia to the north, Somalia to the northeast, Tanzania to the south, Uganda to the west, and South Sudan to the northwest.
Here are 10 Facts About Kenya You Didn’t Know
1. It is home to the Big Five
The big five are Lion, Leopard, Rhinoceros, Elephant, and cape buffalo. At one time, the big five were at the top of hunter’s lists and considered the most difficult African game to shoot on foot.
While their population has reduced drastically over the years, there are several places in the country where they still exist in their numbers. Examples of such places are Lake Nakuru, Ol Pejeta Conservancy, and the Lewa Wilderness Conservancy, where there are large populations of Rhinos.
However, the country’s most famous reserve, The Masai Mara, is one place you will get to see all the Big Five.
2. The Country has the second-highest mountain in Africa
The second-highest peak in Africa after Mount Kilimanjaro and the highest in the country is Mount Kenya. It is an ancient extinct volcano that rose to a height of 5,199 meters (17,057 feet). The mountain is located in the central region of the country.
It was first explored by Sir Halford John Mackinder, Cesar Ollier, and Josef Brocherel on September 13, 1899, after 3 failed attempts that same year.
In 1949, a national park was founded to protect the region surrounding the mountain. In 1978, it was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.
At this point, you might be wondering if the mountain got its name from the country or vice versa. Well, the country was named after the mountain and not the other way around.
3. It is the world’s leading safari destination
One of the first things that come to mind anytime we hear the name Kenya is safari. The country offers one of the best safari experiences in the world.
Some of the famous safaris to visit in Kenya include the Sarara Camp, Kicheche Bush Camp, Asilia Rekero Camp, Lewa House, Lengishu House, and Segara Retreat. These are just a few of the numerous safari experiences in the country.
Most of these safaris are family-friendly and budget-friendly. Travelers are also privileged to see the Big Five. Kenya was recognized as the world’s leading safari destination in 2021, a position it has held for 7 years. So if you’re wondering where to go for your next vacation, this is the sign you need to visit Kenya.
4. Education is free
One of the major problems in Africa is affordable and quality education. In 2003, the Government of Kenya implemented the Free Primary Education policy, which allows free education for pupils of government-owned primary and secondary schools in the country. The scheme was made available to both citizens and international students.
However, this is not without challenges. Some of the challenges encountered by this development are understaffing, poor working conditions, inadequate funding, and a lack of school libraries.
5. Kenya is one of the most peaceful African countries
With the chaos in the world, This African country has managed to remain relatively peaceful over the past decades. The country has never been under a military dictatorship nor has it experienced any major conflict that could be referred to as a civil war, since its independence.
This does not mean that the country has been void of conflicts or crises. It has experienced outbreaks of communal violence which is a result of political instigation, access to water and pasture resources, land conflict, cattle raiding, and theft.
The most renowned nationwide conflict the country has experienced since independence was a series of clashes that occurred in 2007-2008, as a result of a disputed presidential election.
See Also: Kenya Beaches; These 10 Beaches are The Best in Kenya to Have a Good Time
6. Kenya has over 50 national parks and reserves
If you’ve read or heard about this African country before, its abundance of parks and reserves might not be news but how many parks and reserves can one country have?
Kenya has 22 national parks including Nairobi National Park, Meru National Park, Tsavo East National Park, and Hells Gate National Park. Similarly, the country has 28 national reserves including Buffalo Springs National Reserve, Shimba Hills National Reserve, and Shaba National Reserve.
It abundance of these national parks and reserves is to ensure the native wildlife of the country is protected against poachers and hunters.
7. There are over 60 spoken languages in the country
This African country is considered a multi-lingual country. While it has 2 major languages, Swahili and English, there are about 68 languages spoken throughout the country.
These languages are divided into three, The Bantu branch, which includes Kikuyu, Kamba, Luhya, and Gusii, The Nilotic branch, which includes Dholuo, Maasai, and Turkan and lastly, the Cushitic branch, which includes Oromo, Borana, Orma, and Somali.
Other minor languages that are not widely spoken include Rendille, Arabic, and Hindustani.
8. The world’s largest desert lake is found in Kenya
Aside from having a lot of national parks, reserves, and safaris, this East African country is also home to the largest desert lake in the world, Lake Turkana. It is the fourth largest and most saline lake in Africa.
Previously known as Lake Rudolf or Lake Jade, Lake Turkana is a vast but shallow body of water located in the Arid desert of the Kenyan Rift Valley. It stretched over 150 miles long and 20 miles wide.
Despite the country being hit by drought in recent years, lake Turkana is flooding. It is said to have swept entire villages away over the past years. Its expansion is estimated to be about 10 percent over the last decade.
9. This East African country is home to The Great Rift Valley
One of the most interesting facts about Kenya is the Great Rift Valley, also known as the East African Rift Valley. It was formed more than 25 million years ago by geological tension in the earth’s crust. It is approximately 6,500 kilometers long and 60 kilometers wide.
The rift lies within the boundaries of different national parks and stretches across 14 countries including Uganda, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Burundi, and Zambia. The lakes in the rift are shallow and have huge mineral deposits.
10. The country’s major export is Coffee
Kenya’s majority are farmers and coffee is one of the most valued exports of the country. This is because the country’s soil is unusually fertile due to the presence of an active volcano in the Great Rift Valley, which provides nutrients to the soil and enhances the flavor of the coffee.
Kenyan coffee is referred to as one of the world’s five best coffee. It is known for its rich body, high acidity, intense flavor, and delightful aroma. The coffee is exported to different countries and in May 2022, Belgium was said to be the largest Kenyan coffee market. Other products exported by the country include Tea and Flowers.
