Don’t just see the sights—get to know the people. Culture Smart! Kenya  provides a cultural bridge that will carry you beyond the gloss of the hotels and deep into the warp and weft of everyday life; beyond the game parks and into the intricacies of community and wildlife coexistence; beyond the bounds of tourism and into the freedom of cultural understanding and exchange. A true "insider’s take" gleaned over years of living and working in the country, this guide delivers key insights into the forces, ancient and modern, that have shaped Kenya—and practical guidance on how best to enter into the modern Kenyan social and business environment. Due to its high-action pursuits, cultural treasures, wealth of wildlife, and glorious beach life, it is one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations, and the unrivaled “safari capital of the world.” As to its people, Kenya is a cultural microcosm comprising more than seventy ethnic groups. Each has its own distinctive cultural identity. All extend the warmth of welcome that has proved to be Kenya’s most valuable asset to tourism. Demonstrate an interest in their history, traditions, and way of life, and your welcome will be warmer still. Have a richer and more meaningful experience time abroad through a better understanding of the local culture. Chapters on values, attitudes, customs, and daily life will help you make the most of your visit, while tips on etiquette and communication will help you navigate unfamiliar situations and avoid faux pas. "Culture Smart!  has come to the rescue of hapless travellers," - Sunday Times Travel "...the perfect introduction to the weird, wonderful and downright odd quirks and customs of various countries," - Global Travel "...full of fascinating, as well as common sense, tips to help you avoid embarrassing faux pas," - Observer "...as useful as they are entertaining," - Easy Jet Magazine "...offer glimpses into the psyche of a faraway world," - New York Times Jane Barsby is an English journalist, writer, and PR consultant who has spent twenty-five years traveling in East Africa. Based in Nairobi, she has lived on one of the last colonial cattle ranches; she worked as a reviewer of Kenyan hotels, as a commercial exhibition organizer, and as a local travel writer. She has also written a book on the history of the Block family, the founders of the Kenyan hotel industry, and worked with the Kenya Wildlife Service to produce a series of guidebooks on the Kenyan national parks. Culture Smart! Kenya By Jane Barsby Bravo Ltd Copyright © 2016 Jane Barsby All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-1-85733-858-4 Contents Map of Kenya, Introduction, Key Facts, Chapter One: LAND AND PEOPLE, Chapter Two: VALUES AND ATTITUDES, Chapter Three: RELIGIONS AND BELIEFS, Chapter Four: MAKING FRIENDS, Chapter Five: KENYANS AT HOME, Chapter Six: TIME OUT, Chapter Seven: TRAVEL, HEALTH, AND SAFETY, Chapter Eight: BUSINESS BRIEFING, Chapter Nine: COMMUNICATING, Further Reading, Tourist Information, CHAPTER 1 LAND & PEOPLE GEOGRAPHY Named after Mount Kenya, or Kirinyaga ("Mountain of Whiteness"), which lies almost in the center of the country, Kenya straddles the equator and covers an area of just under 225,000 sq. miles (583,000 sq. km). Bounded to the east by the Indian Ocean, it shares borders with Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, Uganda, and Tanzania. Most of the north and northeast of the country is either uninhabited or sparsely inhabited desert. The Kenyan landscape is divided into two distinct halves: the eastern half slopes gently to the coral-backed seashore; the western portion rises more abruptly through a series of hills and plateaus to the Eastern Rift Valley, known in Kenya as the Central Rift. West of the Rift is a westward-sloping plateau, the lowest part of which is occupied by Lake Victoria. The highest point in the country is the snowcapped peak of Mount Kenya, at 17,000 ft (5,199 m) the second-highest mountain in Africa and one of the largest freestanding mountains in the world with a base diameter of 124 miles (200 km). The coastline extends some 333 miles (536 km) from the Tanzanian border in the southeast to the Somali border in the northeast. The main rivers are the Athi/Galana and the Tana. The major lakes are Victoria, Turkana, Baringo, Naivasha, Magadi, Jipe, Bogoria, Nakuru, and Elementeita. CLIMATE Kenya displays great contrasts in topography and climate: snowcapped peaks give way to deserts, palm-fringed beaches to rolling savannah plains, alpine highlands to the lunar semideserts of the northeast. Since the country lies on the equator, the climate remains stable all year. The days are sunny and hot, but the nights can be cool. Broadly speaking, January to February is dry; March to May is wet ("long rains"); June to September is dry; October to December is wet ("short rains"). The coast is always hot with an average daytime temperature of 81–88°F (27–31°C). The average daytime temperature in