About Kenya

Kenya lies across the equator on the east of the African continent. Neighbouring countries are Ethiopia to the north, Somalia to east, Tanzania to south, Uganda to west and Sudan to north-west.

Location: Latitude 4° North to 4° South and Longitude 34° East to 41° East
North to South Longest Distance: 1,025 kms

Flying Time to Nairobi:
From Europe: 8-10 hours
From N. America: 16 hours
From The Gulf: 4 hours
From Far East, Australia: 16 hours
Kenya covers an area of 582,646 square kilometres.

The land stretches from the sea level (Indian Ocean) in the east, to 5,199 meters at the peak of the snow-capped Mount Kenya. From the coast, the altitude changes gradually through the coastal belt and plains (below 152 metres above sea level), the dry intermediate low belt to what is known as the Kenya Highlands (over 900 metres above sea level).
The monotony of terrain in the low belt is broken by residual hills, masses of broken boulders and inselbergs. Settlement is confined to places where water can be found. Wildlife are masters of the greater part of the low belt. The famous Amboseli Game Reserve and Tsavo National Parks are situated here.

The Great Rift Valley bisects the Kenya Highlands into east and west. Mount Kenya is on the eastern side. The Highlands are cool and agriculturally rich. Both large and small holder farming is carried out in the highlands. Major cash crops are tea, coffee, pyrethrum, wheat and corn. Livestock farming is also practiced.

The Lake Victoria Basin is dominated by Kano plains which are suited for farming through irrigation. The northern part of Kenya is plain and arid. Pastoralism is the main land use activity. However, a variety of food crops do well through irrigation.