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Situated
on the eastern coast of Africa,
set astride the Equator and
bisected from North to South
by the Great Rift Valley, Kenya
covers a total area of 580,530
square kilometres, including
13,395 sq. km of inland water.
Its Indian Ocean coastline stretches
for 480 km.. Nairobi, the capital
of the country, is a colourful
striking city 500 km inland
from Mombasa, the major port
on the Indian Ocean. Official
languages are Swahili and English.
With
an estimated population of more
than 30 millions people, this
country gained full independence
on 12th December 1963 and was
admitted to the United Nations
four days later. In 1964, the
country became a sovereign republic
within the Commonwealth, with
Mzee Jomo Kenyatta as its first
president. He remained in office
until his death in 1978 when
President Daniel Arap Moi was
elected leader of the Nation.
For
the traveler Kenya is an enchanting
country because few places in
the world can better its varied
tourist attractions. The overwhelming
appeal of the wildlife sanctuaries,
glorious beaches, breathtaking
scenery in a vast and unspoilt
land, an almost perfect climate,
sophisticated accommodation
and a hospitable happy people.
Kenya
contains almost every known
land form from true glacial
ice to arid desert, mountain
massifs to rich savannahs, large
lakes and dense forest: Mount
Kenya (5,199 m.) with its breathless
snow capped peaks stands sentinel
above rolling grassland plains
and the fascinating semideserts
are much further to the North;
Lake Victoria, the first lake
to be discovered and largest
in Africa; Lake Turkana now
known as the "Cradle of
Mankind"; the Indian Ocean
coast, a place of white sandy
beaches, turquoise seas and
archaeological antiquities...
Above
all are the wildlife sanctuaries:
the 25 National Parks, devoted
to the absolute protection of
the indigenous flora and fauna;
the 29 National Reserves, where
wildlife coexist from time immemorial
in perfect harmony with the
pastoral nomadic tribes ...
These wild and lovely places
vary in the abundance and variety
of their animals, in scenery,
in climate and altitude; from
the famous savannah of Masai
Mara to the ornithological paradise
of Lake Nakuru.
Variations
in altitude and terrain create
contrasts in the climate: from
the hot and humid coast to the
fresh, sometimes frosty mornings
of the central highlands and
the dry burning heat of the
northern desert; however, overall,
it is seldom harsh, neither
too hot nor too cold with long
sun filled days.
In
almost every part of Kenya there
are hotels which hold their
own with any in the world. Many,
like the famous Treetops, the
Norfolk in Nairobi and Mount
Kenya Safari Club are internationally
know. Some are architectural
masterpieces, some are tented
camps, true luxury in the bush.
All have one common aim, to
offer the best in comfort, quality
and service in true safari style.
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