The comparatively temperate climate of the highlands has made part of Kenya fit for occupation by whites. Yet a generation of occupation has proved, malaria has still to be combated. In districts 4,500 ft. above sea-level, e.g., Ft. Hall, the mean tempera ture is about 66° F (but with days when the thermometer registers over 90° F) ; above 5,000 ft. the heat decreases, the mean in the hot months varying, according to altitude, from 62° F to 69° F, and in the cool months from 55° F to 63° F. The range of temperature is, however, great, reaching to over 40° F. The minimum temperature rarely falls below 38° F, but has fallen in places, e.g., the Eldoma ravine to 30° F. Rainfall in the high lands is heavy, varying from 4o to ioo or more inches a year. There are two rainy seasons : April–June and Oct.–Dec., the driest months being January and July–September. In general, the atmos phere is bracing, with cool breezes, but thick, wet fogs may be experienced in the dry seasons. At Nairobi the mean maximum temperature is 79° F, the mean minimum 56° F. The rainfall is about 32 in. a year. The highlands intercept the rain, thus account ing for the dryness of the country to the north. In the lake region—that is the country bordering Victoria Nyanza, the climate is typically tropical, and resembles that of Uganda (q.v.).
and forest patches in which are found giant euphorbia , baobab and a flat topped acacia. Rubber vines are found both in the coast and lowland regions. The country from about 3,00o to 9,000 ft. is either grassland or parkland, with acacia forest along the water courses, and papyrus swamps in places. The grassy belt often extends right up to the dense forest, with no transitional phase. The forests, which clothe the mountains between 6,000 and Io,000 ft. are of two kinds : the "rain forest," generally on the eastern and south-eastern slopes, and the "dry forest," usually on the western slopes of the mountains. The rain forests contain the great camphor tree, hard wood trees and yellow wood. The highest zone of these wet forests is marked frequently by a growth of giant bamboos. The characteristic tree of the (relatively) dry forest is the African cedar. The moorland or alpine zone covers regions from i i,000 ft. up to 14,500 feet. Tree-heaths, giant senecious and lobelias characterize this zone.
As to fauna, Kenya is noted for its big game, especially its great herds of antelope and zebra, which roam the plains. Forest and bush animals also abound. The mammals include the lion, leopard, cheetah, giraffe, buffalo and rhinoceros; hartebeest, eland, oryx, bongo, roan, greater and lesser kudu, sable and other antelope and gazelle; the bush pig and the hippopotamus. The elephant is reported to be becoming scarce. The baboon, colobus monkey, squirrels and dormice live in the forests. Other animals found are the ant-bear, the white-tailed mongoose, wild dogs, jackals and the spotted hyena. Domestic animals are the horse, cattle, sheep, goats and, in the northern regions, the camel. Croco diles, some of them 3o ft. long, are common in the larger rivers and in Victoria Nyanza. There are 4o species of snakes, including the deadly mamba, the Uganda tree-cobra, two kinds of "spitting" cobra and the puff-adder. Centipedes and scorpions, as well as mosquitoes and other insects abound in the coast region and low lands. The tsetse fly is absent from the highlands. In many dis tricts bees are exceedingly numerous. The birds include the ostrich, stork, bustard and secretary-bird, the tawny eagle, five kinds of vultures, the francolin, guinea fowl, various kinds of spur fowl, and the lesser bustard, the wild pigeon, weaver and hornbill. By the banks of lakes and rivers are to be seen thousands of cranes, pelicans and flamingoes as well as herons, the sacred ibis, and the cormorant. Over 6o species of birds that are migrants to England are found in Kenya.