A land of ancient civilizations
traversed by the equator
where antelopes, jackals, leopards, lions and elephants
have established their kingdom,
where the hyena laughs in the dead of night
and tom-toms resound from village to village,
a mythical mysterious country
both wild and noble.

Kenya became the favored safari destination for the English upper classes, and later for the European aristocracy. Famous names such as Theodore Roosevelt and Winston Churchill were among those to sing its praises. Later, writers such as Hemingway and Robert Ruarke would paint a mythic picture of Kenya in their writings that surpassed even the legends.

We have to go back to 1920 when tourists discovered a new pastime. Hunting wild game became a passion, and lion's heads or tiger skins were hung in the library as readily as a new painting. It would still be many years before rhinos stopped being massacred for the purported aphrodisiac properties of their horns or elephants for their ivory. Today rifles have given way to cameras. Techniques have been perfected that allow tourists to get close to animals and take photos without interfering with the animals' habitat. It's not so much a question of progress as it is one of common sense and respect.

Traversed by the equator, Kenya is divided from north to south by the natural barrier of the Great Rift Valley dominated by Mount Kenya with its two snowy peaks that rise to 17,058 feet.

There are 16 ethnic groups, and if you hear talk of Bomas, go and attend one of these tribal dances, a perfect introduction to Kenya's colorful culture and music.

Speaking of local color, if you're not looking for a luxurious seven-seater with guide, but want exotic exploration at a reasonable price - including dust and chaos - take the Turkana Bus, an army jeep accommodating 20 people that hits the road twice a month from Nairobi to Lake Turkana in northern Kenya.

Geography

Area: 582,650 square kilometers (569,25 km2 land; 13,400 km2 water)

Bordering countries: Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda

Climate
Varies from tropical near the Indian Ocean to arid in the interior Highest point: Mount Kenya, 5199 meters

Facts

Full Name
Republic of Kenya (formerly British East Africa)

Independence
December 12, 1963

Capital
Nairobi

Government
Republic

Currency
The unit of currency is the Kenya Shilling (KSh), which is divided into 100 cents. Notes are in KSh1000, 500, 200, 100, 50, and 20. Coins are KSH 1, 5, 10, 20 and Cents 50, 10, 5.

Religions
predominantly Christian; Muslim and native

Languages
The national language is Swahili (Kiswahili) although English is spoken throughout. Kenyans involved in the tourist trade speak English, however it is good to have a working knowledge of Swahili. In total there are 42 ethnic languages in Kenya.