Country of runners, leopards and Dutch roses: interesting facts about Kenya

Kenya is an amazing and distinctive country that is very different from its African neighbors. In some ways, Kenya, which gained independence from Britain in 1963, is even ahead of developed European countries. The equator divides this country into almost two equal parts, and the beautiful nature and the abundance of wild representatives of the African fauna attract a large number of tourists.

Equatorial glaciers

Kenya has an incredible diversity of natural ecosystems. There are moist forests and swamps, savannahs, deserts and even glaciers. At the top of Mount Kenya, there are 11 glaciers that never melt. It was in honor of this mountain that the country got its name. At an altitude of 5,199 meters, Mount Kenya is the highest in the country and the second in Africa after Kilimanjaro.

The habitat of the oldest ancestors of people

Kenya is one of the oldest habitats of hominids - the ancestors of people. In the vicinity of Lake Rudolph, the remains of hominids were found, whose age is estimated at 3 million years. In addition to them, many different-aged remains of ancient people were found on the territory of the country.

The largest tea producer

Kenya is the largest tea producer in Africa and the third in the world (473 thousand tons in 2016), second only to China and India. But, unlike India and China, tea in the country is not so popular, and most of it is exported.

Most valuable - coffee and pristine nature

Nature is valued and protected here.

About 20% of the country's area is occupied by specially protected natural areas. The country has 65 reserves, national parks and nature reserves, as well as 10 nature conservation areas located in the adjacent waters of the Indian Ocean. The largest in area is East Tsavo National Park.

The largest number of leopards in the world

In the Kenyan Masai Mara Reserve, the largest leopard population lives not only in Africa but also in the world.

The best runners in the world come from Kenya

In the sports world, Kenya is famous for its track and field athletes. Since gaining independence in 1963, Kenyan athletes have won 75 Olympic medals (including 23 gold). But the most striking thing is that 99% of Kenyan Olympic champions come from one region - the vicinity of the city of Eldoret.

Men are welcome not everywhere

In Kenya, there is a unique settlement called Umoja, which was founded in 1990. About 300 women, representatives of the Samburu tribe, who decided to leave their families and native villages, live here. They disagreed with the subordinate and disenfranchised position of women in their communities and decided to establish their own.

Dutch roses are grown in Kenya

The famous Dutch roses have long ceased to be Dutch, because the main plantations of these flower crops have long moved to developing countries. Today, Kenya is one of the main suppliers of roses to Europe, and large plantations of these plants are located in the vicinity of Lake Naivasha.

Never take plastic bags with you when traveling to Kenya

In Kenya, the sale and use of plastic bags is prohibited, and violation of the law is punishable by severe fines and even imprisonment. This is not even in Europe, the USA or Japan, but all for the sake of improving the environment and attracting tourists to the country. Therefore, going to Kenya, remember that plastic bags are prohibited here, and their use can result in 4 years in prison.