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15 Intriguing Kenya Facts That Will Make You Want To Visit

Kenya Facts

Kenya is a country rich in diverse wildlife and stunning landscapes to attract tourists from all over the world. With lovely and friendly locals, it is the perfect destination for your next escape to the continent of Africa.

It shares its borders with Tanzania, Ethiopia, Uganda, Sudan, and Somalia. Kenya is home to the Big Five animals of Africa.

Don’t know what the Big Five are? Keep reading to learn more about the amazing country of Kenya.

Here Are Some Intriguing Facts about Kenya, the country of the Great Wildebeest migration

1. Kenya is a country that is home to many wildlife reserves

Kenya has almost 50 wildlife reserves in place to protect local natural habitats and animals.

Kenya has a lot of natural habitats for various animals, and to protect the wildlife, their habitats must be conserved. The highland forests in Kenya are home to some species that cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

Plants and animals are suited to certain areas of the country and need proper protection from wildlife poachers.

Masai Mara Nature Reserve is well-known for the Great Wildebeest Migration when more than a million wildebeests, zebras, and antelope migrate clockwise in the Tanzanian and Kenyan region.

Wildebeest in Kenya

2. Kenya has a unique and wonderful landscape

Kenya is a beautiful country with an amazing and diverse landscape. Lowland savannas, deserts, forests, swamps, mountains, and beaches make up most of the country’s geography.

The country is home to the second-highest mountain in Africa called Mount Kenya, after which the country was named.

The Kenyans do not have four distinct seasons a year, but they divide the year into two seasons: dry season and rainy season. The country has a coastline of about 536 kilometers and has white-sand beaches with blue-green water.

3. Kenya is a land of many languages

Almost 60 languages are spoken in Kenya, with Swahili being the most popular one. English is another common language in the country.

Everyone in this east-African country speaks more than one African language. Kikuyu and Kamba are two popular languages in the country as well.

4. There is free education in Kenya

Education is free in Kenya. According to the Kenyan constitution, basic education is compulsory and is a right of every child.

It is mandatory for parents to enroll their children in primary or secondary school according to the Basic Education Act of 2013.

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The country allocates a high budget to education and has implemented educational reforms to promote education throughout the country.

5. Kenya has a wide range of wildlife

Giraffes in Nairobi

Kenya is home to Africa’s Big Five – Elephants, Rhinoceros, Buffaloes, Lions, and Leopards are a part of the big five animals in Africa, which can be found in nature reserves and game parks.

Kenya has a rich population of birds and mammals in its natural habitats. Other common animals include wildebeests, zebras, giraffes, antelopes, and monkeys.

Various species of dolphins can also be found in the coastal areas in addition to sea turtles as well.

6. Kenya used to be a colony

Kenya used to be a part of the United Kingdom colony.

British rule started in 1920 and lasted till 12th December 1963 when the country finally got independence and became the Republic of Kenya.

Nevertheless, Kenyans speak English which was inherited from the British rule of the country.

7. Kenya has a history of slave abduction

During the 1600s and 1700s, many Kenyans were kidnapped for slavery. America and Arab and European countries displaced millions of Kenyans and East Africans.

The trans-Atlantic and Arab slave trade was inhumane as 3 out of 4 slaves died out of hunger, sickness, or exhaustion during the journey.

Many countries banned slavery by the mid 19th century, but millions of East Africans were already living in different parts of Europe, America, and the Middle East by then.

8. Kenya has a great archeological importance

Kenya has an important archeological significance as it has been the home to remarkable discoveries. It is believed by some scientists that Northern Kenya or Tanzania was the birthplace of humankind.

The famous Turkana Basin became widely known for the discovery of human bones from the most ancient humans. The Great Rift Valley was formed more than 20 million years ago.

The valley exhibits intense volcanism as Mount Kenya and Mount Kilimanjaro were produced as a result.

9. Kenya has a UNESCO heritage site

Lamu Old Town is one of UNESCO’s six heritage sites in the world. It holds significant historical importance for Kenya.

It is the best-preserved Swahili settlement in the world. It is a car-free site, which means no traffic in Lamu. People have been settled in the region for over 700 years.

The area has spectacular architectural sites which are influenced by Arabic, European, Indian, Persian, and traditional Swailian culture.

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10. Kenya is an ethnically diverse country

Kenya has a rich ethnic culture. Its location between the Indian Ocean and Lake Victoria resulted in travelers from the Middle East and all over Africa, which created a mix of cultures and gave birth to different languages.

With about 60 languages spoken in the country, there are around 42 ethnic groups with unique customs and dialects. Cushites, Bantu, and Nilotes make up the ethical structure of Kenya.

11. Kenya has a lot of popular and talented athletes

Kenya is widely popular all over the world for its marvelous athletes. Soccer is a popular sport in the country and is played by many of the Kenyan youth.

Rugby is another well-known sport. But the thing Kenyans are most famous for is their ability to champion long-distance running.

Most of the Olympic gold medals in Africa for running are won by hard working athletes in Kenya.

12. Kenya is an agricultural land

Kenya is widely popular for its agriculture as it amounts to one-third of the country’s income.

Around 75% of Kenyans are employed or work in the agricultural sector, including children. The key agricultural exports of Kenya include tea, coffee, and rose.

Kenya is the third largest tea exporter in the world after India and China. Kenya enjoys good trading relations with Uganda, India, Pakistan, the USA, and China.

13. The first woman to win a Nobel prize in Africa was Kenyan

Winning the Nobel prize is a prestigious honor. This honor was bestowed upon the Kenyan environmentalist Wangari Muta Maathai in 2004.

She was a political activist who founded the Green Belt Movement, a movement for the conservation of the environment and women’s rights.

This movement gave women the power to generate income for themselves and their families.

She was a persistent force campaigning for democracy and human rights. Wangari Maathai was the first woman in East and Central Africa to attain a Ph.D. degree.

14. Kenya has banned hunting

Kenya has a deep love for its animals and focuses intensely on protecting its wildlife and natural habitats.

This is the reason why Kenya has banned poaching and culling of animals. Kenya has worked hard to fight against illegal poaching, and it has been paying off greatly as populations of elephants and giraffes in the country are on the rise.

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Rhinoceroses also used to be hunted down for their horns. The country began to take active measures against the culling of its wildlife in 2002 when a family of ten elephants was killed brutally for the ivory trade.

15. Kenya has a bustling city life

Kenya is not only a rich rural landscape but is also an advanced country with busy city life. Nairobi is the capital of Kenya and is the hub of culture in the country.

Its name comes from the Maasai word for cool waters, as a stream once flowed through the region. Nairobi is the only capital city in the world which borders a national park called the Nairobi National Park.

Mombasa is the second-largest city in Kenya near the coastal area of the country. It is the largest seaport in the country and has the famous World Heritage site called Fort Jesus.

Experience Kenya: A day in Nairobi

Ultra-modern skyscrapers, chic cocktail bars, and hip hotels. This is the description of Kenya’s quirky, cosmopolitan and fast growing capital: Nairobi.

Summary

Kenya is a beautiful country in East Africa with wildlife attractions that will wow any tourist. This country offers a rich rural life with a vibrant geographical mix of mountains, forests, deserts, savannas, and swamps.

Agriculture plays an important part in the lives of Kenyans as about 75% of the people in Kenya work in the agricultural sector. Travelers from ancient times highly influenced Kenyan culture, architecture, and ethnicity.

The country was also occupied by British Rule in the early 20th century, so English became a popular language in modern Kenya. Home to cultural and historical sites, Kenya is a growing economic state that should be on your travel list if you ever visit Africa.

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