Kenya is a beautiful country located in the eastern part of the African continent. Many books have been written about the history, nature and the fascinating life in this beautiful country and not without reason. There is so much to say about Kenya with its rich culture, the many different tribes who live here, the huge variety of landscapes and not to forget the incredible natural beauty and wildlife.
Kenya is the home of many tribes and ethnic groups. There are a total of about 42 tribes, most of which have migrated from the western and southern part of Africa. The Kenyan tribes were mostly nomadic tribes and are an important part of the current population.
One of the most famous tribes of Kenya is the Maasai. The members of this tribe live mainly in the southern part of the country as a nomadic herdsmen and their livestock is by far the main source of livelihood.
The Kikuyu tribe is among the oldest tribes of Kenya. During the Bantu migration the Kikuyu came from the western part of Africa. This strain was founded by a man named Gikuyu, and the Kikuyu are mostly living at the foot of Mount Kenya. They are farmers of origin and settled on the best agricultural land of the country. The Kikuyu tribe has several clans including Achera, Agachiku, Airimu, Ambui, Angare, Anjiru, Angui, Aithaga and Aitherandu.
The Samburu tribe is another well-known tribe in Kenya. They are a semi-nomadic tribe, which has similarities with the Maasai. The Samburu have a warrior-based society. Milk is the main source of food of this tribe is known for their dance, music and traditional clothing and jewelry. Another important Kenyan tribe are the Turkana. It is the second largest tribe of Kenya and they live in the northern part of Kenya. The Turkana people attach great importance to their clothing and jewelry, both men and women.
Apart from those tribes, there are a large number of other tribes in Kenya, including Embu, Luhya, Marama, Luo, Kamba, Kisii, Meru, Miji Kenda, Digo, Duruma, Kambe, Ribe, Rabai, Somali, Taita, Taveta, Chonyi, Orma, Pokomo and Isukha. The different tribes of Kenya are known for their own culture, clothing, dance, music, food, customs and traditions have. Their unique cultures have given Kenya its cultural diversity and rich heritage, but unfortunately also a number of disputes.
The history of Kenya is rich and full of exciting events. Historical data and unique excavations show that primates already lived in Kenya 20 million years ago. The prehistoric humans (especially the Homo habilis and Homo erectus) lived in the fertile valleys of the country during the Pleistocene period. Around 3000-1500 BC. the Nolites from the Nile and the North-Ethiopian Cushitio came to Kenya, followed by the Bantu-speaking herdsman. This finally resulted in the spread of the Swahili culture.
Kenya also has a rich colonial history. The first to arrive were the Portuguese, Vasco da Gama came to Kenya in the year 1498. The Portuguese had control over the eastern part of the country. They conquered Mombasa where they build a fort 1593. Until the arrival of the Arabs the Portugese ruled here and had a flourishing trade colony.
In 1730 the Omani Arabs took over control of the Kenyan coast. The Arabs dominated the coast and only at this time, the slave trade really started and most plantations were built. By the end of the nineteenth century the country was a colony of the British Empire. The Mau Mau revolt, which lasted from 1952 to 1960, was one of the biggest events in the history of Kenya. It was an uprising of the Kikuyu rebels against British occupation.
In this period the state of emergency was declared and many people died by violence. Eventually there were many discussions that led to the end of the Mau Mau as a military group. The country got independence on December 12 in the year 1963. The first government of the country was formed by Jomo Kenyatta and his party the Kenya African National Union.
Kenya has a diverse and varied geography. The variation is easy visible in the mountains, coastline, countryside and flat plains. Kenya is located on the eastern part of the African continent and lies on the equator. The country is bordered in the north to Sudan and Ethiopia and Uganda in the west. Somalia and the Indian Ocean form the eastern border and Tanzania the southern border.
The Kenyan coast is an area which is extremely fruitful. It has a coral reef and borders dry coastal plains and savannah with thorny bushes. In general one can say that the country extends from sea to the east to the desert in the north. The landscape is changing gradually starting in the low-lying coastal areas and ending in the Kenyan highlands. The highest point in Kenya is Mount Kenya with an altitude of 5199 meters. The main feature of Kenya, the Great Rift Valley, is located in the western and central part of the country. The valley roughly divides the Kenyan highlands in half. The highlands have a cool climate and are known for their fertile soil. It is one of the main agricultural areas of the country. There are a large number of lakes and rivers in Kenya, which form an important part of the geography of Kenya. In the northern part of the country Lake Turkana is located. In the western part of the country Lake Victoria can be found. Other large lakes of the country are Lake Naivasha and Lake Nakuru. The Tana and Athi rivers flow in the south-eastern part of the country, while Nzoia, Yala and Gori flow across the country and end in Lake Victoria. Another major river of significance is the Ewaso Ngiro passing through the north-eastern part of the country. In the east there are a large number of the rainforests. Some of the most important forest areas of the country Kakamega Forest and Mau Forest.
Kenya has a rich bird life with more than a thousand species of birds including raptors, weaver birds and honey suckers. Flamingos live in large groups in the lakes of the Rift Valley. Other common birds are: storks, vultures, pelicans, herons and hornbill.
We like to give you a small selection of wild animals that can be encountered in Kenya:
