Domestic Tourism Safaris | Kenya
Official name: Republic of Kenya
Type of government; multiparty democracy (but currently running a coalition government)
Suffrage; 18 years
Capital; Nairobi
Population ; 38.5 million
Surface area / land area; 591,383 sq km
Time zone; GMT + 3.00
Telephone; Country code 254
Email; Country code. ke
Internet; Country code.co.ke
Language; Kiswahili (national & Official), English (Official), and numerous local languages
People ; 42 officially recognized ethnic groups
Terrain; Low plains in the east rise to central highlands bisected by the East African Rift Valley and fertile plateau to the west.
Lowest point; Indian Ocean (at 0)
Highest point; Mount Kenya (at 5,199m)
Coastline; 536 km.
Climate; Kenya enjoys a tropical climate with plenty of sunshine all year round –long rains occur in April to June, while there are short rains from October to December.
Provinces; Kenya has 47 countries, including Nairobi city, and Mombasa
Cities; Kenya has three cities; the capital Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu
Religion; Secular state, protestant 45%, Roman Catholic 33%,Muslim 10%, indigenous 10%, others 2%
Currency; The country uses the Kenya shilling (K.shs.) as its official currency.
Economy; Current GDP growth 4.5%
Industry; Small–scale consumer goods (plastics, furniture, batteries, textiles, soap, cigarettes, flour); agro – processing, oil refining, chemicals, cement, tourism.
Agriculture;The main products are coffee, tea, maize, wheat, sugarcane, fruit, vegetables, dairy products, beef, pork, poultry, eggs, sisal, and horticultural products. Arable land: 7%.
Exports; Tea, coffee, horticultural products, fish, cement, petroleum products, soda ash, precious stones, live animals.
Tourism ;Visitors to Kenya require a visa except for citizens of some common wealth countries. Visa applications can be made at Kenyan embassies and high commissions around the world or at Jomo Kenyatta Airport in Nairobi.
Transit Visa;Required by all persons intending to transit through Kenya for periods not exceeding 7 days.
Airports and air strips; Over 250, three of them are international – Nairobi, Mombasa, and Eldoret. The international airports handle most of the world’s major air lines, including of course Kenya Airways.
Estimated flying time from Nairobi;Europe’s 8 – 10 hours; North America 16 hours: the Gulf 4 hours; the far East, Australia 16 hours; South Africa 3 hours.
Railways: 2,778 km
Highways; over 70,000 km
Port and harbours; Mombasa, Kisumu, and Lamu
Electricity; All areas in Kenya have a supply of 220/240 volts Ac. The British square 3 –pin plug is the main in use.
Independence; 12 December 1963