The Republic of Kenya is a country in Eastern Africa. It is bordered by Ethiopia to the north, Somalia to the east, Tanzania to the south, Uganda to the west, Sudan to the north-west and the Indian Ocean running along the south-east border. The country is named after Mount Kenya, a very significant landmark.

At 224,961 square miles (582,646 square kilometres), Kenya is the world's forty-seventh largest country (after Madagascar). From the coast on the Indian Ocean the low plains rise to central highlands. The highlands are bisected by the Great Rift Valley; a fertile plateau in the west. The Kenyan Highlands comprise one of the most successful agricultural production regions in Africa. The highlands are the site of the highest point in Kenya (and the second highest in Africa): Mount Kenya, which reaches 5,199 metres (17,057 ft) and is also the site of glaciers. Mount Kilimanjaro (5,895m - 19,341 ft) can be seen from Kenya to the south of the Tanzanian border.

Kenya’s wilderness areas are famous world wide. The name Kenya has become synonymous with the great wilds of Africa but they represent far more than you would ever expect, protecting and showcasing a broad range of habitats and species. They are complex ecologies that depend on the conservation of diverse natural resources and systems. The parks, sanctuaries and conservation areas co-exist with and depend on the communities that surround them and work together to protect the future.

From the depths of a coral reef to alpine mountains, from one of the world’s most endangered owls to a herd of wildebeest more than a million strong, the wilderness of Kenya is a wonder to behold.

Masai Mara National Reserve

South-western Kenya is the heartland of the Maasai. The Maasai are a strongly independent people who still value tradition and ritual as an integral part of their every day lives. They regard themselves not just as residents of this area but that they are as much a part of the life of the land as the land is part of their lives.

Traditionally, the Maasai rarely hunt and living alongside wildlife in harmony is an important part of their beliefs. Lions and Wildebeest play as important a role in their cultural beliefs as their own herds of cattle. This unique co-existence of man and wildlife makes this Maasai land one of the world’s most unique wilderness regions.

At the heart of these lands is the Masai Mara Game Reserve, where Kitchwa Tembo Tented Camp, Bateleur Camp at Kitchwa Tembo and Olanana are situated. This area is widely considered to be Africa’s greatest wildlife reserve. The Mara comprises 200 sq miles of open plains, woodlands and riverine forest. Contiguous with the plains of the Serengeti, the Mara is home to a breathtaking array of life.

Each year the Mara plays host to the world’s greatest natural spectacle, the Great Wildebeest Migration from the plains of the Serengeti that cross the Tanzanian border and rivers to reach the Mara’s lush grassland. From late June to October, the promise of rain and fresh life giving grass in the north brings more than 1.3 million wildebeest together into a single massive herd. They pour across the border into the Mara, making a spectacular entrance in a surging column of life that stretches from horizon to horizon.

At the Mara River they mass together on the banks before finally plunging forward through the raging waters, creating a frenzy as they fight against swift currents and waiting crocodiles.

The wildebeest bring new life to the Mara, not just through their cycle of regeneration of the grasslands, but also for the predators that follow the herds.

Apart from the seasonal migration, game viewing is excellent year round. Game includes: elephant, black rhino, buffalo, plains zebra, roan antelope, white-bearded gnu, oribi, warthog, thomson's and grant's gazelle, hartebeest and leopard. The rivers are home to hippo and crocodiles. The Mara has been called the Kingdom of Lions and these regal and powerful hunters dominate these grasslands. Cheetahs are also a common sight in the Mara, as are hyena and smaller predators such as jackals.

Birdlife is as profuse as wildlife. This includes red-winged schalow's turaco, white-tipped crest, ross turaco, orange buff pel's fishing owl and wary guinea fowl. The open plains birds include jackson's bustard and black-bellied hartlaubs bustard. 53 Species of birds of prey have been recorded with secretary birds being a common occurrence.

The Mara is an awesome natural wonder, a place where Maasai warriors share the plains with hunting lions, a place of mighty herds and timeless cycles of life, death and regeneration.



Kenya's Climate

Kenya enjoys a tropical climate. It is hot and humid at the coast, temperate inland and very dry in the north and north-east parts of the country.

The country receives a great deal of sunshine all the year round and summer clothes are worn through out the year. It is however usually cool at night and early in the morning.

The long rain season occurs from April to June. The short rain season occurs from October to December. The rainfall is sometimes heavy and often falls in the afternoons and evenings. The hottest period is from February to March and coldest in July to August.