Kenya and Africa Chapter Notes | IGCSE Oxford Geography Foundations for Year 6 - Class 6 PDF Download

What are Africa's main physical features? 

• Africa is a huge continent with all kinds of amazing physical features. 
• It has the world's largest hot desert - the Sahara which covers a massive area. 
• But it also has lush, green rainforests like the Congo, which is the second biggest after the Amazon. 
• Africa's landscape is incredibly diverse, with towering mountain ranges, deep river valleys, and breathtaking natural wonders like the Victoria Falls. 
• The famous Great Rift Valley is a massive trench cutting through the continent. 
• Major rivers like the Nile, Congo, and Zambezi flow across Africa, bringing water and life to the land.

What are Africa's main human features?

• Africa is the second most populated continent, with over a billion people calling it home. And the population is growing rapidly because of high birth rates. 
• Families here are often large, with about half the population under 15 years old. 
• While most Africans live in rural areas, more and more are moving to the bustling cities and towns.  
• Africa is the poorest inhabited continent, with many living in extreme poverty and lacking basic necessities. 
• However, some countries are making progress, with improving economies and living conditions. 
• The most densely populated areas are in North Africa, and along major rivers like the Nile, Niger, and Congo.

What are Kenya's main features?

• Kenya is considered a developing country, which means life can be very difficult for many people there. 
• Despite being poor, Kenya is incredibly rich in natural beauty and attracts many tourists. 
• People visit to see the country's stunning wildlife on safari trips, explore the majestic mountains and lakes, and relax on the beautiful sandy beaches. 
• Kenya has an interesting mix of people from different ethnic tribes like the Maasai and Kikuyu. 
• The capital city is Nairobi, while Mombasa is a major coastal city.

What are Kenya's main physical features? 

• In the heart of Kenya lies the Central Highlands region, shaped long ago by intense volcanic activity. 
• The famous Great Rift Valley, a massive trench, runs right through Kenya. 
• Mount Kenya, an ancient volcano, is the highest peak at over 5,000 meters and has glaciers near the top! As you move towards the coast, the landscape transitions to wide grassy plains, with a strip of lush, tropical rainforest hugging the shoreline. 
• Kenya is right on the Equator, so temperatures are quite hot year-round, with a distinct rainy season each year. 
• The northern and eastern parts are dry and arid, with desert conditions.

Why is Kenya's population unevenly spread?

• The way people are distributed across Kenya is very uneven. This is mainly because of migration patterns from the past, and the country's diverse physical landscapes. 
• Most modern Kenyans descended from tribes that migrated in from the south, so the southern regions are more densely populated. 
• Areas that get good rainfall and have fertile soils can support more people. 
• The cool, rainy Highlands with volcanic soil are great for agriculture and attract more settlers. 
• The hot, humid coastal strip also has higher populations. But the dry north and east have very few inhabitants due to the desert conditions.

Present-day movements of population

• These days, there is a lot of movement from rural areas to the major cities, especially Nairobi. 
• This is called rural-to-urban migration. 
• Many from the Kikuyu tribe are making this transition, looking for job opportunities and a better life in the capital. 
• Having family connections in Nairobi makes the shift easier. 
• Lack of jobs and limited farmland in rural areas are major drivers of this migration.

What is it like living in Nairobi? 

• Nairobi, the capital, shows a real contrast between modern and slum life. 
• The city center has impressive skyscrapers and tree-lined streets. 
• But many rural migrants end up in shanty towns or slums on the outskirts like Kibera. Here, people live in cramped mud homes lacking utilities, sanitation or proper sewers. 
• Poverty, disease and malnutrition are widespread in these settlements. 
• Many residents get by doing informal jobs like street vending. With high birth rates the slum populations keep growing rapidly.

What is the Maasai way of life?

• The Maasai are a well-known nomadic pastoral tribe in Kenya. 
• Their lives revolve around herding cattle and livestock. 
• The Maasai frequently move with their herds to find grazing lands and water sources. 
• They live in temporary villages called enkangs made up of small mud huts with grassy roofs. 
• The men take care of the animals while women fetch water and firewood. Rather than growing crops, the Maasai get most of their diet from cattle milk and blood. 
• They have bright, colorful traditional dress featuring beadwork. 
• The Maasai have a deep respect for the land and don't even bury their dead.

What is a developing country?

• Kenya is considered a developing or poor country, very different from developed, rich nations like the UK. 
• People in developing countries often face low standards of living, lack of industry and limited services. 
• Challenges like poverty, low literacy and malnutrition are widespread. 
• However, developing countries can be tremendously rich in natural resources like the incredible wildlife found in Kenya. But harnessing those resources sustainably remains an issue.