Kenya: The Heart of East Africa
Kenya: The Heart of East Africa
Items in this lesson
Kenya: The Heart of East Africa
What do you already know about Kenya?
Learning Objective
At the end of the lesson you will know about the geography, culture, wildlife and important facts about Kenya.
Where is Kenya?
Kenya is in East Africa, bordering Ethiopia, Somalia, Uganda, Tanzania, South Sudan, and Lake Victoria.
Quick Facts about Kenya
About 55 million people live in Kenya.
Languages
Official languages: English and Swahili.
Population
Capital City and Big Cities
The capital is Nairobi. Nairobi is one of the largest cities in East Africa.
Other big cities: Mombasa (port city) and Kisumu.
The Tallest Mountain
Mount Kenya is 5,199 metres high and the second highest mountain in Africa, with glaciers and snow at its peak.
The Longest River
The Tana River is about 1,000 km long. It is vital for farming, wildlife, and flows to the Indian Ocean.
National Animal: Lion
The lion is Kenya’s national animal. It is known as the King of the Jungle and is found in Kenya’s national parks.
National Flower: Orchid
Orchids are Kenya’s national flower, with many colourful species in the country’s tropical climates.
Traditional Food
Popular foods: Ugali (maize porridge) and Nyama Choma (grilled meat), often eaten at celebrations.
Traditional Clothing
Many tribes wear colourful clothes. Maasai people wear a red shuka, bead necklaces, and sandals.
Tribes of Kenya
Maasai, Kikuyu, Luo and 40+ tribes.
Examples
Different languages, traditions, music and dance.
Culture
Famous Landmarks
Maasai Mara National Reserve, Diani Beach, and Amboseli National Park are famous sights.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Lake Turkana National Parks, Fort Jesus, Mount Kenya NP, and Lamu Old Town are protected for their history and nature.
Fun Facts About Kenya
Famous for the Great Migration. Many national parks. Some of the world’s fastest runners are from Kenya.
Kipchoge is the 2016 and 2020 Olympic marathon champion, and was the world record holder in the marathon from 2018 to 2023, until that record was broken by Kelvin Kiptum at the 2023 Chicago Marathon. Kipchoge has run 4 of the 10 fastest marathons in history, and is widely considered to be one of the greatest marathon runners of all time
To include on Map
Nairobi
Tana River
Mt. Kenya
Mt Kilimanjaro
Mombassa
Kisumu
Lake Victoria
Masai Mara Reserve
Countries
South Sudan
Ethiopia
Somalia
Tanzania
Uganda
