Geography

Kenya is bordered to the north by Sudan and Ethiopia, to the east by Somalia, to the west by Uganda, to the south by Tanzania, and to the southeast by the Indian Ocean. Much of the country, especially in the north and east, is arid or semi-arid. From the Indian Ocean the land rises gradually through dry bush to the fine arable land of the highlands.

Kenya covers an area of approximately 582,646 km² and lies almost exactly astride the equator. Principal commercial cities and towns include Nairobi (the capital, largest city in East Africa and home to two UN agencies, UNEP and Habitat), Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, and Eldoret.

In the low-lying districts, particularly along the coast, the climate is tropical, hot and humid. On the Plateau and in the highlands the climate is more temperate. Western Kenya and most of Nyanza experience two rain seasons — the long rains from April to June and the short rains from October to November. Kenya's warm, dry season between September and March is favourable for tourism.