Mount Kenya is considered one of the highest. It is located at equatorial latitudes in the Eastern Hemisphere. The geographical peak is located in the East African Mountains (Africa) - East Central Kenya.
Country Kenya
In which country is Mount Kenya? It is located in Africa, in the country of the same name. It occupies the East African coast of the Indian Ocean. The country is called the cradle of the human race.
During excavations on Lake Turkana, tools and remains of the first humanoid inhabitants were found. They lived in this area over 3 million years ago.
Population of Kenya
Over 50 African tribes form the ethnic diversity of the country. Some of the tribes consist of only 1-2 thousand people. They do not have traditional clothes, so today it is difficult to distinguish belonging to one of the tribe.
The official language is English and Swahili.
Mount Kenya
The country got its name from the mountain, which is an inactive volcano. According to various legends, it was the home of the local African deity, the Kikuyi. The mountain is the highest in Kenya and the second highest inAfrica (following Kilimanjaro).
Kenya is an ideal travel destination for those who cannot imagine their life without mountain tracks and climbing.
Origin of the mountain
Mountain is a stratovolcano that arose about 3 million years after the appearance of the East African Rift. For many thousands of years, the mountain was covered with crusts of ice. As a result, on the peaks one can observe great erosion, a huge number of valleys that diverge from the center.
Mount Kenya (photo can be seen below) is different from its larger brother (Kilimanjaro), the peak of which looks smooth, like a dome under the snow. The top of the mountain looks like a sharp fragment that burst into the vault of heaven. This "fragment" is nothing more than a volcanic plug that has formed in the vent of the crater.
Today, the mountain has 11 glaciers and is considered a valuable source of water for most residents of the country of the same name.
First Discoverer
In 1849, they learned about an extinct volcano. It was found by Johann Ludwig Krapf, who can be considered the discoverer of the volcano. He was European. But then most scientists spoke negatively about the possible existence of glaciers in the immediate vicinity of the equator. The fact that the mountain really exists was confirmed only in 1883. Four years later, Mount Kenya has already hosted researchers.
Nature
The mountain has eight different natural belts. The slopes are covered with various types of forests, where you can find manyPlants and animals characteristic of mountainous terrain.
Due to the fertility of the land up to 2000 m on the mountain, the tribes are actively engaged in agriculture. Above are forests with cedar, where you can find ferns, olive groves, creepers.
After walking about 2,5 thousand meters, you can see thickets of bamboo, the height of which reaches 12 meters.
The National Park was created in 1949 to preserve nature. It occupies about 715 sq. m. The park bears the same name. Organized at a distance of about 3200 m from the foot.
In 1997, the park entered the World Heritage List under the auspices of UNESCO. Over 15,000 visitors visit the park every year.
Mount Kenya is an important tourist attraction for the region and the country. The leadership of the Republic formed the park based on the following considerations:
- implement the protection of the beautiful nature of the mountain;
- preserve the diversity of flora and fauna on the mountain and park;
- keep the drinking keys for the tribes near the mountain.
What people usually do in the National Park:
- observe the behavior of rare and endangered species of animals;
- observe the behavior of birds (over 130 species);
- hiking;
- visit Ol Paget Nursery.
Glaciers
11 glaciers have been discovered on the mountain. In 1980, their area was measured. It is equal to 0.7 square meters. km. But since then it has drastically reduced. There are photographs of the mountain that have been preserved since the beginning of observations. Their comparison with modern photographs is clear.shows that there is a reduction in the area of glaciers. Experts believe that over the next 30 years, not a single piece of land will remain on the mountain where snow can be found.
Mountain and country culture
Mount Kenya, where you can observe the virgin nature, is home to several tribes. It is an integral part of their life, culture and way of life.
The Kikuyu tribe believes that the mountain is sacred. Therefore, they erect dwellings with the front side towards the top. At the same time, the entrance doors are located as close as possible to the mountain. The tribe lives on the western and southern slopes. The main occupation is agricultural work. This is facilitated by the fertile lands that are located at the bottom of the mountain.
The tribe believes that the god Ngai, having come from the sky, lived on this peak. And the father of the tribe, after whom it is named, met with him.
They call Mount Kirinyaga, a loose translation of the word means "shining mountain". This is caused by the sun's rays reflecting off the ice crust covering the summit. They call the god of the tribe Mwene Nyaga, loosely interpreted as "master of the light."
The Embu tribe lives on the southeastern slope. It is similar to the previous people in that they build their dwellings, turning them to face the mountain. The deity who lives at the top is called Ngai. Mount Kenya for them is called Kiri Nyeru, or White Mountain. This tribe has close ties to the Mbeere tribe, who live on the windward side of an extinct volcano. The lands of this people are arid and rocky.
Masai - semi-nomads grazing onnorthern foothills of their animals. It is believed that previous generations lived on top of this extinct volcano and descended from it during the origin of life. For them, this volcano is called Ol-Donyo-Keri, in a literary translation it means "a mountain of stripes of different colors." The name indicates that the mountain has several natural areas that are visible from the plains.
Ameru live on the northern and eastern foothills. In general, they prefer to build farmland and graze animals. The mountain for them has the name Kirimara (that which has white material). Many songs have been composed in honor of the mountain. But the god of the tribe (Ameru) came from heaven, not from the mountain.
How to get there
From Nairobi it will take about two and a half hours by car. This is about 175 km, the road to the northeast.
Very comfortable to drive to Mount Kenya from nearby national parks.
It is possible to visit the mountain using the services of local airlines. Once you reach the local Nanyuki Airport, you should drive to the area where Mount Kenya is located.
There are several gates in the park near the mountain.
When is the best time to go
The best time to visit the mountain and explore its surroundings is the beginning of the year and the beginning of autumn (August-September). Then there is comfortable dry and warm weather.
Enjoy your travels and discover new roads!
