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Climate, Physical Features of Interest and Wildlife

The Republic of Kenya is situated on the east coast of Africa, and occupies a total land area of 582,647 sq.km. It lies across the equator, about 4.5o S. to 4.5o N., but its climatic variations are influenced mainly by altitude and distance from the sea. Mombasa on the Indian Ocean coastline is only 17m. (57ft.) above sea-level, so one would expect it to be very hot at just 3o South of the equator, but in fact the climate is pleasant almost all through the year - 70o to 90o F (20o to 34o C). It is warmest from October to March, cooler from April to September and coolest in July/August. This is due to the cooling breezes from the broad expanse of the ocean.

By contrast, the convents of Lokori and Lodwar, and those of Ukambani, especially Mutomo, Nuu, and Masii, are rather unpleasantly hot, although at a relatively similar altitude (i.e. below 300m.) due to their distance from the ocean. They are desert and semi-desert regions, due to this heat and lack of adequate rainfall.
Nairobi - at an altitude of 1,661m. (5,450ft.) - has probably the world's ideal climate for human habitation.
Its temperatures range from 52o to 85oF (11o to 28oC), with little variation above or below the mean temp. of 68oF (20oC). Ngarariga, at a higher altitude 7,900ft. above sea-level, is cold, especially at night, but it gets a good deal of sunshine as well as frequent, and often heavy rain.

Physically, also, Kenya is a land of great contrasts, and the Highlands, at either side of the Great Rift Valley provide a fascinating aspect of this feature. The Rift itself, stretching as it does from Zambia to the Near East, is perhaps more spectacular in Kenya than throughout much of its length. Eighty kms. or so wide in places and thousands of metres deep, travellers are constantly drawn to one of nature's wonders. Along the floor of the valley, numerous lakes, brilliantly blue in this land of sunshine, contrast with the hues of extinct volcanoes.

All this is overshadowed by the majestic peaks of Mount Kenya, or Kirinyaga. Is summit is cloaked by eternal snows. This, the highest mountain in Kenya and second-highest in all Africa (5,199m.), provides a spectacular challenge to those interested in climbing. Travelling north from Nairobi to Nyeri and Nyanyuki, one can see the land rich in fruit, sisal, coffee and tea; To Nakuru and north-west are ranches and great areas of corn-crops; westwards from Nakuru one will see some of the world's finest tea, coffee and sugar plantations on the way to Lake Victoria, the largest lake in Africa, on whose shore the city of Kisumu is situated. Areas of lush green rolling countryside with herds of Friesians and Jerseys, contrast with a land of great plains, all this in the agricultural Highlands.

Nairobi, Kenya's capital, is a thriving cosmopolitan city and the commercial and communications center of East Africa. It is 140kms. south of the equator and about 483kms. north-west of Kenya's second-largest city, Mombasa, on the Indian Ocean coastline. Nairobi is often called "City of Flowers" or "City in the Sun" and although its lovely appearance has been somewhat tarnished during the past two decades, it has recently begun to reclaim its former right to these poetic titles. There are many open spaces, parks and gardens surrounding its mini skyscrapers and odd reminders of its birth as a railway town about a century ago. The main streets are a riot of colour, with bougainvillea, hibiscus, oleanders and the glorious blue/mauve flowering jacaranda trees. The skyline is dominated by the towering Kenyatta International Conference Centre. Among the main attractions of the city are the National Museum and the snake-park.

Numerous hotels offer a wide range of accommodation - from de luxe international standard to more modest and moderately-priced establishments. Restaurants cater for every taste and many offer excellent entertainment opportunities.
A number of modern, air-conditioned cinemas, a delightful theatre club, and a broad selection of plays at the National Theatre are available. One of Nairobi's highlights is its own National Park and Animal Orphanage.
There are six first-class golf courses around the city. Facilities for swimming, tennis and squash abound, and horse-racing is held on most Sunday afternoons at the Ngong course, close to the city.
To the north of Nairobi is a beautiful mountain range, the Aberdares, whose forested slopes hide the streams which are an invaluable source of water supplying Nairobi. During the past two corrupt and irresponsible regimes, much of this natural treasure has been destroyed, but now intensive efforts to protect it have got under way.
Lake Naivasha, 90kms. north of Nairobi lies in the shadow of Mount Longonot, which has a spectacular crater. Ornithologists have recorded over 300 species of bird including the rare Lammergeyer Vulture in this area.

Lake Nakuru, already referred to above, is a shallow alkaline lake on the floor of the Rift Valley. It has been described as the world's greatest bird-spectacle, due to the vast number of pink flamingoes who make it their base for most of the year.

Flamingoes can often be seen also in their thousands in Lake Bogoria National Reserve, which is located in a remote area on the eastern side of the Great Rift Valley.

Mount Elgon straddles the Kenya-Uganda border with part of the eastern slopes forming the Mount Elgon National Park. Here in the dense forest, Colobus monkeys, forest elephants, and giant forest hogs are to be found.

Samburu National Reserve, at the very edge of the arid northern region of Kenya, is the home of the Samburu people. Wildlife within the reserve includes Grevy's zebra and the graceful gerenuk, a long-necked antelope.

Several other national parks and reserves are found in this area and farther north, e.g. Buffalo Springs, Shaba, Losai, and Marsabit, each with its own particular attractions. Maralal National Sanctuary, the administrative headquarters of the Samburu people, is an area of beautiful scenery on the main road north to Lake Turkana.

Lake Turkana (formerly l. Rudolph) is almost 300 km in length. It is also known as the Jade Sea. On the eastern banks of the lake is the Sibiloi National Park, an arid region, supporting oryx and tiang (a sub-species of the topi) as well as several other animals.

In the south-west Amboselli National Park, home of the Masai people, is an area of hot, dry, thorn-bush country, where big game animals can be observed against a backdrop of the snow-capped peak of Mount Kilimanjaro, which peak lies across the border in Tanzania, yet can be clearly viewed for most of the year from the steps of the church in Mutomo, in Kitui, Eastern Province.

North and South Kitui Nat. reserves, Rahole and Bisinadi Nat. Reserves are of less interest, but Kora and Meru Nat. Reserves are famous as the reserve where Elsa, the lioness, was returned to the wild by Joy Adamson in her book "Born Free", which was screened later. This area supports a great variety of wildlife.

There can be few places on earth that rival the Kenyan Coast for a beach holiday. With its hundreds of kilometers of sun-drenched, palm-fringed shore, it is difficult to imagine a more idyllic area. The vividly-coloured bougainvillea, mangoes, casuarinas and hibiscus are everywhere. The white sandy beaches leading to crystal-clear water are protected by the coral reef, less than a kilometer out in the Indian Ocean, and running almost the full length of the Kenyan coast.

Throughout the length of the coast the Arab influence is very noticeable, and their presence in the area dates back to 900 A.D. The island of Lamu is at the northern end of the Kenya coast and has changed little over the centuries. A visitor often feels as though she has stepped back in time. The mosques, courtyards and intricately-carved doorways set among the narrow, twisting streets make this a most interesting place.

Malindi is situated on a wide sandy beach, ideal for surfing and other water sports. Just to the south of Malindi are the mysterious ruins of Gedi and the Watamu Marine National Park.

Mombasa is the country's second-largest city and its major sea-port, with a history that was first recorded by the Greek traveler, Diogenes, in the second century. The city is a wonderful mixture of ancient and modern with a unique blend of cultures. The Old Town, a maze of narrow streets, is dominated by Fort Jesus,built by the Portuguese in the sixteenth century. In contrast the four artificial giant elephant tusks arching over Moi Avenue are a more recent landmark.

The world's largest game sanctuary is the combined area of East and West Tsavo National Park and travellers will be delighted by the large elephant population as well as many other plains game. The picturesque Mzima Springs in Tsavo West forms a river that supports both hippo and crocodile.

Situated on the Tanzanian border, the Masai Mara National Reserve is a large area of grassy plains, gentle hills and abundant wildlife. From July to September visitors to the Masai Mara can witness the spectacular migration of more than two million wildebeest, which have followed the rains north from the Serengeti in Tanzania to Kenya.

One should make some reference to the birds and flora of Kenya in this summary of features of interest, but so many books have been devoted to them that it is probably superfluous.

As one would expect, the variety of trees and shrubs is as extensive as that found in other tropical and sub-tropical regions such as the Americas, Australia and the Mediterranean region, but they seem particularly happy and accessible in their Kenyan home!

Countless trees are indigenous, such as the unique Baobab, which has so many uses - storing water, making canoes, ropes and baskets, medicine for fever, not to mention its edible leaves and seeds. There are 42 indigenous species of Acacia Thorn trees, from the flat-topped, 50ft. (15m.) tall Red Thorn whose extremely hard, durable and very heavy red wood is used for pulley blocks and bridge timbers to the incorrectly-named Fever-tree, the Naivasha Thorn. Among the many striking flame-trees the Nandi Flame or Tulip Tree is indigenous, but the Australian Flame and the magnificently spectacular Flamboyant, whose original home was Madagascar, are equally at home here, an example of the latter seeming to thrive in the semi-arid climate of Mutomo, causing the observer's heart to "leap for joy" as she passes along the path from the convent to the hospital. The Coconut Palms, the "Whispering Palms" of the coast, have already been mentioned, but the Date Palm, first introduced by Arab traders also has considerable potential as a source of food, while the indigenous Doum Palm seeds are eaten by elephants, and are also used to produce buttons and necklaces.

 

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