Kenya, like most countries, cannot be defined by just a couple of stereotypes. You probably know about the beautiful animals of Kenya. You may even know someone who has been on a safari. No doubt, seeing these animals up close is a once-in-a-lifetime event. But it is only a part of this amazing country. With a short plane flight, you can go from 105° to 50° and terrain that varies from desert to fertile farmland. The beautiful Great Rift Valley at its highest peaks and lowest valleys offers lush, green pastures. The coffee and tea plants are in abundance. Lots of rain makes it possible. From here, go north and you will see the ground quickly change from green to brown as the desert takes over. Church may be held under a tree or maybe even in a small building made from termite dirt. And even in the desert, there are lakes… Welcome to Nairobi, the fast-moving capital city of Kenya. The city’s 2.9 million people whirl about each other on foot, on bicycles, in cars and matatus (small buses), and you are just sure one false move will throw the whole system into a tailspin. It is the most populous city in East Africa and the 4th largest in all of Africa. It is estimated that half of Nairobi’s population live in slums which cover only 5% of the city area. The drought in Kenya has forced many to move to the city with hopes of finding a better life. That, in addition to poor planning and lack of jobs have attributed to the enormous growth of the slums. Kibera (bottom right)is the largest slum in Nairobi and the largest in all of Africa, covering two square kilometers. It has been the setting for several films, the most recent being The Constant Gardener. Gorgeous valleys, vast lakes and even skyscrapers don’t hold a candle to the country's richest resource, it’s PEOPLE. And, they are as varied as the landscape. More about Kenya Population: 36,913,721 Ethnicities: There are 42 tribes in Kenya   Kikuyu 22%   Luhya 14%   Luo 13%   Kalerjin 12%   Kamba 11% Religion: Protestant 45%   Catholic 33%   Muslim 10%   Indigenous beliefs 10% Age structure: 0-14 42.1%   15-64 55.2%   65+ 2.6% Life expectancy: 49 years HIV/AIDS: Adult prevalence rate 6.7% (2003)   Living with HIV/AIDS 1.2 million (2003)   Deaths in 2003 150,000 Sources: The World Fact Book https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ke.html