Kenya is one of the most interesting and exciting countries on the East African
Coast. It straddles the equator and shares a border with Somalia, Ethiopia, Uganda
and Tanzania. Its coast is lapped by the Indian Ocean and it shares the vast
waters of Lake Victoria with its western neighbors. The Rift Valley and central
highlands area form the backbone of the country, and this is where Kenya's
scenery is most spectacular. The humid coastal belt includes the Tana River
estuary and a string of good beaches. Western Kenya takes in the fertile
fringes of Lake Victoria and some prime game parks. The vast, arid northeastern
region is where Kenya is at its wildest and most untouched.
Tourism is the mainstay of the economy and is helped by the picturesque game parks teeming with lions, buffalos, elephants, leopards and rhinos combined with zebras, antelopes, wildebeest and others. Kenya's climate varies enormously from place to place. The Rift Valley offers the most agreeable weather, while the arid bushlands and semi-desert regions can range from daytime highs of 40 degrees Celsius to lows of about 20 degrees Celsius at night. Western Kenya and the eastern coastal fringe are generally hot and humid year round.
Nairobi, Kenya's capital, is cosmopolitan, lively, interesting, pleasantly landscaped and a fun place. Nairobi sprang up with the building of the Mombasa-to-Uganda railway. Originally little more than a swampy watering hole for Maasai tribes, it had become a substantial town by 1900.
The largest port on the coast of East Africa, Mombasa is hot, steamy and historical. This town of about half a million people dates back to the 12th century. A Muslim haven for centuries, it was attacked by the Portuguese in 1505 and burnt to the ground. it was quickly rebuilt only to be reduced to rubble again by an embattled Mombasa ruler during the long fight against the Portuguese. Mombasa's Old Town is a testament to this tumultuous era. Filled with ornate wooden shopfronts and balconies, it's a constant source of delight for the observant wanderer. The old quarter's most prominent attraction is Fort Jesus, which dominates the harbor entrance. Begun in 1593 by the Portuguese, it changed hands nine times between 1631 and 1875. Now a museum, the fort is a fascinating mixture of Italian, Portuguese and Arabic design.
Kijabe, the small village that bears the name for this book,
is just off the road from Nairobi to Nakuru. Arriving in Kijabe, one would
understand why Mehar Singh decided to settle there. Kijabe is at the edge of
the Great Rift Valley Escarpment and overlooks a breathtaking scene across the
valley with animals roaming and dust blowing across the horizon. On a clear
day, you can look across the valley and see for miles and miles. About 6,000
feet above sea level, the climate is cool and the winds often blow at a strong
pace. Kijabe means "windy" in the Maasai dialect. There is a hot
water spring with sulphur in it at the foot of the slopes, and people come from
far away to enjoy the healing, medicinal qualities of the spring. For the
entrepreneur and businessman Mehar Singh, Kijabe was central in terms of access
from Nairobi, Nakuru, and Narok. It was centrally located in the heartland of
Maasai land where Mehar began his traveling duka business which helped make his
fortune.
Click here for map of Kenya
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