The Kenya Safari and a Brief History of Kenya

Kenya Safari Hot Topics; A Brief History of Kenya

Taking a Kenya safari vacation is taking a trip to the birthplace of mankind. It is here, in Kenya’s northern regions, that Robert Leakey carried out his groundbreaking paleontology work, uncovering the secrets of early human life and earning the region its nickname as the ‘Cradle of Mankind’. Although many fossil sites have been uncovered throughout the country, little can be said about the existence of these early hunter gatherer tribes, though they carried out their lifestyles for thousands of years. It is not until around 2000 BC that the real history of Kenya starts to take shape, with immigrants arriving from all corners of the continent. It is thought that explorers first landed on the coast of Kenya in around 500 BC, and in 500 AD, Arab traders established its importance as a trading port. The peaceful coalition between the Arab traders and the native Kenyans resulted in much of the culture that is visible on a Kenya safari today.

The Colonization Years

Kenya’s history then turns to the colonization years, with centuries under the rule of the Portuguese, then Omani powers, until the take over of British rule in the late 19th century. The influence of colonization can be clearly seen on a Kenya safari, especially along the coastal areas, with Portuguese architecture such as Fort Jesus demonstrating their presence. It was here at Fort Jesus that the Portuguese succumbed to the invasion of the Omani people. Britain’s imperial colonialism and the hunting activities that accompanied it, put increased pressures on the native inhabitants and the countries wildlife, creating a violent atmosphere foreign to today’s thriving Kenya safari culture. This violence wasn’t truly sedated until Kenya gained independence in 1962.

Independence and the Rise of the Kenya Safari

The infamous Mau Mau rebellion of the early 1950′s saw a national uprising so fierce that it forced Britain to declare a state of emergency and declare a willingness to grant Kenya its independence, though sadly not before the tragic loss of thousands of lives. The flag to be encountered on a Kenya safari today was raised in December 1962 and represents the mighty struggle faced in the quest for independence. The black represents Kenya’s native peoples, the green signifies its breathtaking lands and, most salient of all, the red remembers the blood loss in the centuries of violence and war. Whilst after receiving independence, Kenya continued to experience political and economic turbulence, today stability is ever more present, built strongly around its thriving tourist industry, putting the Kenya safari at the heart of this ancient countries bright future.

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The Kenya Safari and a Brief History of Kenya


Kenya Safari Hot Topics; A Brief History of Kenya
Taking a Kenya safari vacation is taking a trip to the birthplace of mankind. It is here, in Kenya's northern regions, that Robert Leakey carried out his groundbreaking paleontology work, uncovering the secrets of early human life and earning...