What is a liver sausage tree?

The semi-desert makes up a large part of Kenya. There is almost no precipitation here and only plants that can cope with it can survive here. Acacias and various thorn bushes succeed in this. The flute acacia in particular is known for the semi-desert. In central and southern Kenya you will mainly find umbrella and flute acacias.

A very special tree is also the baobab tree, which can reach a height of 20 meters and live for several hundred years. It can store huge amounts of water in order to survive in dry seasons. Another special tree is the liver sausage tree. It’s called that because its fruits actually look like liver sausages.

Harsh conditions for plants

Not that much grows in the natural landscape of Kenya because there is often a lack of water here. Plants that wanted to survive here had to adapt to the harsh conditions. Often the sun burns down on them for days and the drought troubles them.

That is why they shed their leaves so that they do not need so much water. They develop thick, waxy leaves to store water, protect themselves with spines so that no one can nibble on them, and are often much more inconspicuous than their counterparts, the flowers. So they may not shine as brightly and colorfully, but are nature’s survival miracles.

Mangroves and coconut on the coast

Since Kenya has a long coastline, mangroves grow in the swamps on the coast and form large forests. There are also coconut palms, which are again very useful because you can get all sorts of things from their nuts.

Rainforest

The rainforest in Kenya has declined significantly. These forests, which are always humid, show a great abundance of plants and trees. The rainforest trees, which form an almost closed roof and hardly allow any sunlight to penetrate, are particularly fascinating. Here trees grow up to 60 meters in height. But here too the flowers are reduced and the other plants that grow here usually remain slightly pale and fairly colorless. Orchids, ferns and mosses are among them.

Mountain forest

Mountain forests are more common because Kenya has some high mountains. In the Mount Kenya Mountains, for example, the mountain bamboo can be found. It needs a lot of rainfall to reach its height of up to 15 meters. You will find moorland above the tree line, i.e. where trees can no longer grow. Plants such as bluebells and composites and many different grasses still grow above 4500 meters.

Lots of plants – from all over the world

The flora of Kenya is extremely diverse. More than 11,000 types of plants have already been counted, including huge trees and tiny flowers. So everything grows in Kenya, but only where there is enough water. In the parks and also in the large hotel complexes in the country there is artificial irrigation.

Many of the flowering plants do not originally come from Kenya, but were imported from other countries. This also includes the pink blooming bougainvilleas, which are native to South America. Roses and daisies come from Europe and the hibiscus from China.

Economy

The economy in Kenya

Economically, Kenya is doing much better than other countries in the southern Sahara. “Only” 34 out of 100 people live below the poverty line. The Kenyan economy is growing. Kenya has very little natural resources. Crude oil was discovered some time ago, but there is no certainty that it would be worthwhile in the long term. And in Kenya, too, the gap between rich and poor people is widening and the gap is growing.

Flowers, coffee and tea

Most people work in agriculture, 70 out of 100. Tea and coffee are primarily used for export. In addition, there is the export of flowers, which is also important for the Kenyan economy.

But only a small part of the country – around 20 percent – can be used for agriculture at all. Much is not produced for export, but for own use. These include corn, wheat, sugar cane, beans, bananas, pineapples, and cotton. Cattle breeding also plays a certain role in Kenya. Meat and skins as well as butter are also exported. Overall, Kenya’s economy, which is based on agriculture, is heavily dependent on the climate.

Beautiful beaches, wild animals and (almost) untouched nature

According to ejinhua, the tourism in Kenya is of great importance. Because of the beautiful landscapes, the coasts, the protected national parks and the fascinating wildlife of the country, many people come to get to know Kenya. Many Kenyans live on it. There are large hotel complexes along the coast and many people believe that Kenya’s beaches are among the most beautiful in the world. Others also go on safaris, spend the night in tents or lodges and want to get to know nature as freely as possible. As a travel destination, Kenya is far more geared towards tourists than other African countries.