|
Kenya is generally an arid land with over 70% of its area is classified as semi-arid and arid. The remaining 20% being viable for agriculture. As an Equatorial country, there is little variation in temperatures throughout the year. However, among regions there are great differences in average temperatures and rainfall. This climatologic diversity is mainly due to the winds and the altitude differences.
Generally the climate is warm and humid at the coast, cool and humid in the central highlands, and hot and dry in the northern and eastern parts.
The rainfall pattern across most of the country, rainfall is strongly seasonal,although its pattern, timing and extent vary greatly from place to place and from year to year. The rainy season is divided in two periods: the long rains fall between March and June, whereas the short rains take place between October and November.
Overall weather and climatic conditions in Kenya can be split into four regions
* Lake Victoria basin
* Coastal regions
* North, North Eastern and Eastern Highlands
* Rift Valley and Highlands
Lake Victoria basin
The weather conditions in and around the basin of Lake Victoria is modulated by altitude,and humid winds blowing from the Great Lake. Temperatures are high during the day and moderate at night, with annual highs of 31°C and lows of 17°C.
In and around Mount Elgon there are still areas of tropical rainforest. The topography of the whole region is characterised by the highlands.
Coastal Regions
The average annual temperature of the kenyan coastal regions is around 28°C. In general, weather is warm and humid . Storms are frequent and temperatures rarely drop below 21°C, with the highests around 32°C . Total annual rainfall rises to 1,100 mm.
The temperature and humidity conditions make this region the suitable habitat for tropical vegetation. Mangroves and coconut palm trees grow along the shores with areas of tropical rainforest.
Rift Valley and Highlands
The altitude and winds in this region are the cause of a moderate and mild climate. In Nairobi, 1,700 m high, highest temperatures are 26-27°C in the hottest months with the lowest in the range of 12-15°C. In the Mount Kenya and Aberdare regions, mean temperatures are between 12 and 18°C, with night temperatures below 10°C. Rainfall is usually plentiful in the rainy season, with higher levels in the long rains.
The savannah is actually nothing but a transition between rainforest and the arid steppe. It is mainly a grassland, dominated by gramineae and with variable presence of trees and bush, especially Acacia.
Species of the Acacia genus, belonging to the Mimosa family, growing as tree or bush, are the most common and typical in the savannah. Acacias are easily distinguished by their flat top, their hard thorns, their composed leaves, their cylindrical clustering flowers and their leguminous-like fruit.
The Highlands preserve, above 1,300 m, the richest extensions of rainforest in Kenya, though they do not exceed 3% of the total surface of the country. The largest patches are in Mount Kenya region. Ferns, Mediterranean cedars, junipers and conifers of the Podocarpus genus are widely present. Bamboo forests are found above 2,000 m. At higher altitudes, above 3,000 m, mountain vegetation predominates, mainly heather, peat bogs, montane prairies and giant lobelias.
North, North Eastern and Eastern Highlands
Rainfall is scarce, with annual levels around 350 mm. Temperatures are high all the year round, rising to 37°C during the day in the hottest months. Night temperatures do not usually fall below 21°C. In the Eastern Highlands, temperatures are also warm but lower, around 30°C during the day and 20°C at night, with higher average rainfalls, specially in the areas surrounding Kilimanjaro.
Vegetation in the north and northeast is sparse, primarily consisting of thornbush. In the south area there are acacias and tree cacti of the Euphorbia genus. The giant Baobab , of the Bombacacea family, outstands for its spectacularity, sometimes growing to 18 m high and with the trunks reaching 9 m in diameter.
Vegetation is more diverse and abundant only at the oasis in the north and northeast, in the river valleys and in areas such as Taïta Hills, with an alpine-like landscape. |
