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Kenya
Kenya was named after Mount Kenya or ' Kirinyaga'
the mountain of whiteness. Kenya is part of East Africa, straddles
the Equator and is on The Indian Ocean. It covers an area of 583,
000sq km. Nairobi is the capital city of Kenya. Nairobi [ Nyrobi
in Maasai meaning of 'the place of cool waters' is the highest city
in East Africa - 1700m. It is also the most modern and the fastest
growing in the region with a population of approximately 3million.
Mombasa is the coastal capital and the largest port in the East
African coast
Full
country name: Republic of Kenya
Area: 583,000 sq km
Population: 30,339,770
Capital city: Nairobi
People: 24% Kikuyu, 16% Luhya, 13% Luo, 12% Kalenjin, 11%
Kamba, 6% Kisii, 6% Meru, 16% other
Languages: English, Swahili, indigenous.
Religion: 40% Protestant, 36% Roman Catholic, 16% Muslim,
6% Animist
Government: Republic (multiparty state)
President: Emilio Mwai Kibaki
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GDP:
US$42.4 billion
GDP per head: US$1525
Annual growth: 1.6%
Inflation: 2.5%
Major industries: small-scale consumer goods (plastic, furniture,
batteries, textiles, soap, cigarettes, flour), agricultural processing,
oil refining, cement, tourism
Major trading partners: Uganda, Tanzania, UK, Germany, UAE,
South Africa
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Facts
for the Traveler
Visas:
All visitors require a visa except citizens of some Commonwealth countries
and citizens of selected countries such as Denmark, Germany, the Republic
of Ireland, Italy, Norway, Spain, South Africa and Sweden. Apply well
in advance for your visa - especially if doing it by mail.
Health risks: Malaria (except in Nairobi and high-altitude
areas), cholera, hepatitis, meningitis, mugging, typhoid, schistosomisis,
HIV, Rift Valley fever and yellow fever.
Time: GMT/UTC plus three hours
Electricity: 240V
Weights & measures: Metric
Tourism: About 700,000 visitors per year
__________________________________________When
to Go
The
main tourist season is in January and February, since the hot, dry
weather at this time of year is generally considered to be the most
pleasant. It's also when Kenya's birdlife flocks to the Rift Valley
lakes in the greatest numbers. June to September could be called the
'High season' as the weather is still dry and Low season begins in
April and end in May. During these months things are much quieter
- places tend to have rooms available and prices drop. The rains generally
don't affect travellers' ability to get around.
Events
Kenya's
most spectacular annual event is organised by an unlikely group -
wildebeests. Literally millions of these ungainly antelopes move en
masse in July and August from the Serengeti in search of lush grass.
They head south again around October. The best place to see this phenomenon
is at the Masai Mara National Reserve. Kenya's more orthodox annual
events include public holidays such as Kenyatta Day (20 October) and
Independence Day (12 December).
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