The Interior

The plateau beyond the coastal plain rises gradually to the central Highlands in the south and extends through Ethiopia in the north. The northeastern region of the plateau has only a few low valleys and monotonous vegetation marked by sparse savannah, thorn trees, huge boabab trees and scrub. The climate of these northern plains is the most extreme in Kenya with temperatures ranging from 40 C during the day to 20 C at night. This vast arid and semi-arid zone is agriculturally unproductive and therefore sparsely populated. This area is Kenya at its most remote with few roads, only a smattering of villages, and huge tracts of land that remain unmarked. Because ground water and rainfall are sparse in this region, only pastoral nomads inhabit the area. The nomads are always on the move, eternally searching for water for themselves and their subsistence cattle.

The landscape changes in the northwest where the Rift Valley and Lake Turkana cross the plateau. Vegetation is much the same but sparser, indicative of Kenya's growing desert region. This area is home to Lake Turkana, the largest of the lakes in the Rift Valley. Unfortunately, it is little use to man because of its alkaline water. The Great Rift Valley runs north-south almost the entire length of Kenya. The valley varies in width from 48 to 128 km (30 - 80 miles) and is over 2,000 m (6,560 feet) deep near Lake Naivasha. Throughout the Rift Valley there are numerous freshwater and alkaline lakes as well as remnants of long extinct volcanoes.

The Aberdare Mountains and Mount Kenya border the Rift Valley to the east while to the west is the Mau Escarpment. Rich volcanic soil coupled with frequent rain (courtesy of easterly air masses meeting the Aberdares) makes this region of Kenya very fertile. As a result, these eastern Highlands have long been intensively cultivated by Europeans and Kenyans alike. This region of south-central Kenya was popularized during the colonial days by Europeans who settled there and dubbed it the Highlands. The region is characterized by savannah grassland, deep green valleys, narrow canyons, and steep rugged mountains. Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, is located on the southern end of the Highlands. This region is the most fertile and, as a result, it remains the most densely populated. The Highlands are known for their temperate climate although there is major contrast between the floor of the valley and the summit of Mount Kenya. When travelling to higher altitudes, temperatures will drop, on average, 1 F per 328 ft., descending to below freezing on Mount Kenya and the Arberdare Mountains. Temperatures in the rest of the region are generally lower than in other parts of the county, ranging from between 50 - 58 F at night to 72 - 79 F during the day. There are two rainy seasons: the "long rains" between March and May, and the "short rains" which fall between October and December.

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