Kenya gets talked about far too little, in my opinion, considering how amazing it truly is! Here are ten fascinating facts about Kenya to add to your memory bank, regardless of whether you’ve been dying to visit the Masai Mara or simply have a fascination with learning odd stuff.
1. There are 50 national parks and reserves in Kenya.
The Masai Mara National Park and Amboseli National Park are presumably both familiar to you. They’re both well-known safari locations, and Amboseli has the best views of Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro. But did you realize that Kenya has 50 national parks and reserves altogether? Yes, the Kenya Animal Service oversees the management and upkeep of 28 national reserves and 22 national parks, protecting the safety of the region’s native animals against hunters and poachers.
2. It took more than 25 million years for the Great Rift Valley to emerge.
The most intriguing information about Kenya is most likely this. The East African Rift Valley, sometimes referred to as the Great Rift Valley, runs through Kenya from north to south. It is roughly 6500 kilometers long and 60 kilometers wide, and it was produced more than 25 million years ago by geological strain in the earth’s crust. Due to the vast valley’s ability to hold lakes, the region’s wildlife now has special habitats.
3. There are over 60 languages spoken in Kenya.
There are roughly 68 languages spoken in Kenya, despite the fact that the country only has two official languages: English and Kiswahili (commonly known as Swahili).
When introducing yourself to people in Kiswahili, use “Jambo” to express “hello” or “Habari” to say “Good day, how are you?” if you’re traveling with Contiki on the Kenyan Highlights tour.
4. The second tallest peak in Africa is called Mount Kenya.
In addition, Mount Kenya is the second-highest mountain in Africa, trailing only Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Kenya’s neighbor.
5. The East African Lion serves as Kenya’s emblem.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature now classifies the East African lion as a vulnerable species. It is Kenya’s national animal. The African lion, along with the African leopard, African elephant, Cape buffalo, and rhinoceros, is one of the “Big 5” mammals of Africa.
6. The largest desert lake is called Lake Turkana.
Lake Turkana is not only Kenya’s largest lake, but its main claim to fame is that it is the largest desert lake in the world. It is part of the three Lake Turkana National Parks, Sibiloi National Park, Central Island National Park, and South Island National Park, and is situated in the northern portion of the Great Rift Valley. It is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
7. The nation’s top export is coffee.
About 4.56 billion Kenyan shillings, or roughly 40.2 million in US dollars, worth of coffee was exported from Kenya in March 2021. Most Kenyans don’t actually drink coffee, and very little of it is marketed domestically because locals place such a high value on the commodity.
8. The most popular safari country worldwide is Kenya.
The World Travel Awards have named Kenya, which has maintained this title for the last seven years, as the top safari destination in the world for 2021.
9. The top long-distance runners in the world reside in Kenya.
Kenya’s water must have some substance! The nation’s Kalenjin population, in particular, has produced a number of long-distance runners who have dominated marathon circuits across the world and set numerous world records in sports.
10. No beginning or end can be found for the Great Wildebeest Migration.
One of the most fascinating facts about Kenya is that while many people believe the Great Migration only occurs once a year, in reality, it occurs continuously. Since it literally has no “start” or “finish,” it is one of the most fascinating natural phenomena in Kenya.
One of the best places to see one of nature’s greatest spectacles is in Kenya’s Masai Mara Nature Reserve, which is located between Kenya and Tanzania, where the wildebeest, zebra, and antelope move in a clockwise loop.
