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Surprising Facts About Kenya
Whenever traveling to a new place, getting acquainted with the culture and some cool facts about that destination is an excellent way to get started. Doing this will help you craft an itinerary that you will love and allow you to have a fuller and more immersive experience. For those looking for a travel destination that offers them beautiful landscapes, fantastic wildlife, and unique adventures, this travel destination might well be Kenya.
Kenya is one of the hottest destinations for safaris in Africa hands down. Still, there is so much more that this travel destination has to offer (and that includes some pretty interesting history). So we wanted to share some of those fascinating facts about Kenya with you, so before you even set foot on the soil, you already know you are going to have a truly unique experience!
1. Kenya Is More Than Grasslands
If you have ever opened a National Geographic and seen images of cheetahs racing over the Serengeti after a gazelle, you have probably seen Kenya. Maybe this is the image that inspired you to put Kenya on your travel bucket list, but Kenya offers more diversity when it comes to landscapes than that. Sitting on the eastern coast of Africa, Kenya also has 536 kilometers of coastline that runs along the beautiful Indian Ocean.
On this stunning coast, places like Malindi Beach (which is close to several other stunning beaches, including Diani and Shelly as well) and Watamu Beach are very popular. Besides lounging on these beaches and getting yourself a great tan, you can also jump in the waters and enjoy a little diving. There is a spectacular Marine National Park at Watamu beach that has stunning coral reefs ripe with unique marine life for those wanting a one-of-a-kind diving experience.
2. So Many Languages
Someone walking through the streets of any city in Kenya may be a bit confused. Listening to the people converse with each other, a traveler may notice that several different languages are being spoken. Because of this, one might ask themselves, what is the Kenyan national language?
You might be surprised to find out that though the country has two official languages – Swahili and English – there are also many other languages spoken within the borders of this country. In fact, there are more than 60 different languages that can be heard throughout the country. Most of these come from two different linguistic families – Bantu and Nilotic. There are also Arabic and Indo-European languages spoken in the country due to the colonization and migration of people in the 19th century.
3. Coffee Is To Export, Not To Drink
Many people can’t start their morning without a cup of tea or coffee. That caffeine gets them energized to tackle their day. Since most of us don’t have a coffee plant in our backyard, that means we have to buy it. One of the chief industries in Kenya is agriculture and among the popular things grown (and exported) are coffee, tea, and flowers. Though not the biggest export that Kenya has, coffee is still one of the most important.
When it comes to production and exporting, coffee brings in more than $100 million in revenue for Kenya every year. The importance of this bean to the economy of Kenya may be why you won’t find many Kenyan’s enjoying it regularly. In fact, you are more likely to find them sipping on a cup of tea instead.
4. Get Up Close & Personal To The Big Five
Anyone heading out on a safari will be on the hunt, camera in hand, ready to take a snap of tons of beautiful and exotic creatures in the wild. After all, that is what a safari is for right? to take in the beauty of an unknown land. We bet you are wondering what animals live in Kenya that can be seen while you’re driving through the plethora of national parks?
One of the big goals of any safari is to see as many of the big five as you can. This list is a list of species native to Africa that are exceptionally hard to find in the wild. Kenya is one of the places where it may be the easiest to check off those boxes when it comes to this list. This list includes the lion, the elephant, the buffalo, the leopard, and the rhino.
5. No Hunting Allowed
Many of the animals that roamed the grasslands of Kenya are now endangered due to hunting. For this very reason, hunting any protected animal in Kenya was made illegal. In place, for several decades, this law was drafted to help conserve the dwindling wildlife thanks to big game trophy hunting.
After agriculture, tourism is the next biggest industry because of the biodiversity of this fantastic East African country. So to preserve these natural resources, the Kenyan government started setting up game reserves and national parks figuring the more they could protect the country’s precious wildlife, the longer they will have it to share with the world.
6.Watch Out For That Donkey
With so much fantastic coastline, it is a foregone conclusion that Kenya must also have a few islands, too, right? In fact, it does, and one of these islands, Lamu, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Just a little ways away from Mombasa, the second-largest city in Kenya, this historically significant and stunning island allows you to take in some unique sites and get up close and personal with Kenyan culture.
But if you put Lamu island on your itinerary and are worried about the traffic all the tourists must cause, don’t be, there is no traffic (well, not like you are thinking anyway). The island itself prohibits the use of automobiles. Instead, you will find that most of the transportation is done via donkey. (If you love donkeys, you can even visit a donkey rescue facility while there.)
7. Check Out Where The Earth Split
Over 20 million years ago, something amazing happened – Earth’s crust began to crack and separate. This natural phenomenon left a 6000-mile rift valley, and this Great Rift Valley has become one of the most prominent tourist destinations in Kenya. The unique landscape of this valley offers beautiful lakes and natural parks that are lush with wildlife and mountainous regions that are so biodiverse they are like no other place on the planet.
Lake Turkana, the largest desert lake in the world, is one of the many lakes you can tour while visiting the valley to experience a unique side of Kenya. This lake also houses the largest population in Africa of Nile crocodiles. You can also visit another lake, Lake Bogoria, which is home to more true geysers than any other place in the world. These lakes are also home to many large and pretty impressive flocks of flamingos.
8. Looking To Go On Safari
Though there are plenty of great places to go on safari in the South of Africa, Kenya has been recognized as one of the best safari destinations for years. Because of the government’s focus on protecting the wildlife, safari’s in Kenya are more likely to, as we said above, allow you to see some pretty amazing animals.
Of the most elusive that you might be able to spot on your safari is the fastest land animal in the world, the cheetah. Not only will travelers be able to snap some pretty epic wildlife pics, but on many of these safari’s or tour packages, they will have the chance to see unique flora and fauna and even visit some traditional tribal villages.
9. Famous Migration
One of Kenya’s most significant game reserves is the Maasai Mara National Reserve, located in southwest Kenya. This reserve covers an area of about 583 square miles and is rife with beautiful landscapes and wildlife. Within its borders, you can also visit a Maasai village to learn about this fantastic Kenyan tribe’s culture.
Many travelers try to schedule their trips to participate in one of the most significant and iconic yearly occurrences on the reserve – the Great Migration. Every year during the dry season, typically in July, a migration of millions of wildebeest, zebras, and antelope is triggered by the change in weather. It is one of the most fantastic and awe-inspiring spectacles to behold and should be on your to-do list if you are visiting Kenya at the right time fo year.
10. Home of The Second Largest Mountain In Africa
There are some stunning mountain ranges throughout Kenya. Within these mountain ranges sits the second largest mountain in Africa – Mt. Kenya. Mount Kenya is comprised of three prominent peaks – Batian, Nelion, and Lenana – which reach an altitude of over 17,000 feet.
The mountain itself is an extinct volcano, and to many people’s surprise, two of the peaks continually have snow on them and are even home to several small glaciers. For those travelers who love a challenge and are into extreme adventures and outdoor activities like hiking and climbing, planning a trip to visit Africa’s second-largest mountain might be a great idea.
So, There Are Some Fun Facts About Kenya!
With all this amazing trivia about Kenya, you are ready to hop on that plane and experience the effervescent culture and stunning vistas this amazing country has to offer. Armed with this knowledge, we are sure you will be able to craft an itinerary that keeps you busy for several weeks.
You can spend a few days driving through national parks, snapping photos of the impressive wildlife, and then head to the coast to lay out, taking in the sun on Kenya’s gorgeous beaches. It seems to us that this East African country has something for everyone and should be on any traveler’s must-see list.
