Chapter 15-1 “Kenya and Tanzania”

KENYA

Geography of Kenya Kenya is about two times the size of Nevada. Offshore in the Indian Ocean lies a coral reef, a natural formation at or near the water's surface that is made of the skeletons of small sea animals. Millions of acres of land are set aside by the government to protect plants and wildlife.

Geography of Kenya In recent years there has been heavy poaching, the illegal hunting of protected animals. Dominating the western part of the country are highlands and the Kenyan branch of the Great Rift Valley. The Great Rift Valley is really a fault - a crack in the earth’s crust.

Geography of Kenya In many places water has flooded part of the valley to form lakes. Volcanoes also dot the area. One of them – Mt. Kenya rises 17,058 feet high. Fossils of the earliest human ancestors, dating back about 4 million years, have been found in the Great Rift Valley.

Kenya’s Economy Kenya has a developing economy based on a free enterprise system. In this economic system, people can start and run businesses with limited government involvement. Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, is a center of business and commerce for all of East Africa.

Kenya’s Economy Most Kenyans are poor. The main crops in Kenya are corn, cassava, sweet potatoes, and bananas. Cassava is a plant whose roots are ground into flour to make bread. In recent years, the weather has not been good for crops. One of the fastest-growing industries in Kenya is tourism.

Kenya’s History and Government The British made Kenya a colony in 1918 after World War I. They took land from the Africans and set up farms to grow coffee and tea for export. By the 1940s, Kenya's African groups like the Mau Mau fought in violent civil wars to end British rule.

Kenya’s History and Government Kenya won its independence in 1963 from Great Britain. The country’s first president, Jomo Kenyatta, won respect as an early leader in Africa’s movement for freedom.

Kenya Today Kenya’s official languages are Swahili, meaning “of the coast”, and English Kenya’s people are divided among 40 different ethnic groups. The Kikuyu are the main group. Mombasa, located on the Indian Ocean, is Kenya’s chief port.

TANZANIA

Geography of Tanzania Tourists flock to Tanzania’s Serengeti Plain, famous for its wildlife preserve, huge grasslands, and patches of trees and shrubs. In northern Tanzania, near the Kenyan border, a snowcapped mountain called Kilimanjaro towers over the region. It is the highest point in Africa.

Geography of Tanzania The Great Rift Valley cuts through the country in two places. Unusual fish swim in the deep, dark waters of Lake Tanganyika. Lake Victoria, also in Tanzania, is Africa's largest lake and one of the sources of the Nile River.

Tanzania’s Economy Most Tanzanians work in farming or herding. Some Tanzanian farmers grow sisal, a plant fiber used to make rope and twine. The government has set aside several national parks to protect the habitats of the country’s wild animals.

Tanzania’s Economy A habitat is the type of environment in which a particular animal species lives. Serengeti National Park attracts many eco-tourists, or people who travel to another country to view its natural wonders.

Tanzania’s History and Government Tanzania’s people include more than 120 different ethnic groups. Each group has its own language, but most people also speak Swahili. Tanzania’s two main religions are Christianity and Islam.

Tanzania’s History and Government In 1964 the island of Zanzibar and the German colony of Tanganyika united as Tanzania. Since then, Tanzania has been one of Africa’s most politically stable republics.