Kenya
Kenya is home to over 50 national parks and reserves, each preserving a variety of ecosystems and wildlife.
Flora and Fauna
Kenya is known for its incredible diversity of wildlife and plant life. The country’s savannas, forests, and wetlands are home to iconic species such as the African elephant, giraffe, and lion. Other prominent animals include cheetahs, zebras, hippopotamuses, and various species of baboons and antelopes.
Kenya’s plant life includes acacia trees, which are common in savannas, and the flame lily (Gloriosa superba), known for its striking red flowers. Baobab trees thrive in the coastal and dry regions, while the sacred fig (Ficus thonningii) holds cultural and spiritual significance.
Lake Nakuru National Park in the Great Rift Valley is famous for its large flocks of flamingos that gather along the shallow soda lake of Lake Nakuru. The park is also home to black and white rhinoceroses, as well as waterbucks, zebras, and pelicans. It remains one of Kenya’s most important protected areas for endangered species.
The Masai Mara National Reserve, one of Kenya’s most famous wildlife areas, is known for the Great Migration, when over a million wildebeest and zebra cross the plains between Kenya and Tanzania each year. The reserve is home to all of the “Big Five”: lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhinoceros. It also has cheetahs, hyenas, and many bird species. Its open grasslands and acacia-dotted landscapes make it one of Africa’s most spectacular natural regions.
National Flora and Fauna
- The African lion (Panthera leo) is the national animal.
- The flame lily (Gloriosa superba) is the national flower.
Issued 1966: Definitive Series – 15 cent, Aardvark (Ant Bear) (Orycteropus afer).
Issued 1966: Definitive Series – 20 cent, Lesser Bush-baby (Galago senegalensis).
Issued 1966: Definitive Series – 30 cent, Desert Warthog (Phacochoerus aethiopicus).
Issued 1966: Definitive Series – 50 cent, African Buffalo (Syncerus caffer).
Issued 1966: Definitive Series – 1 shilling, Greater Kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros).
Issued 1966: Definitive Series – 1.30 shilling, African Elephant (Loxodonta africana).
Issued 1966: Definitive Series – 20 shilling, Lion (Panthera leo).
Issued 1971: Sea Shells Definitive Series – 10 cents, Episcopal Miter (Mitra episcopalis).
Issued 1971: Sea Shells Definitive Series – 1 shilling, Branched Murex (Chicoreus ramosus).
Issued 1971: Sea Shells Definitive Series – 1.5 shilling, Triton's Trumpet (Charonia tritonis).
Issued 1983: Flower Definitive Series – 70 cents, Aspilia mossambicensis.
Issued 1983: Flower Definitive Series – 1.5 shilling, Lantana trifolia.
Issued 1983: Flower Definitive Series – 2 shilling, Desert Rose (Adenium obesum).
Issued 1983: Flower Definitive Series – 3 shilling, Sodom apple (Calotropis procera).
Issued 1983: Flower Definitive Series – 10 shilling, Pentanisia ouranogyne.
Issued 1988: Butterfly Definitive Series – 2 shilling, Regal Swallowtail (Papilio rex).
Issued 1988: Butterfly Definitive Series – 5 shilling, Silver-barred Charaxes (Charaxes druceanus).
Issued 1988: Butterfly Definitive Series – 7 shilling, Glider Butterfly (Cymothae teita).
Issued 1988: Butterfly Definitive Series – 10 shilling, Club-tailed Charaxes (Charaxes zoolina).
Issued 1993-96: Bird Definitive Series – 5 shilling, African Fish Eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer).
Issued 1993-96: Bird Definitive Series – 50 shilling, Yellow-billed Hornbill (Tockus flavirostris).
Issued 1993-96: Bird Definitive Series – 80 shilling, Lesser Flamingo (Phoenicopterus minor).
Issued 1993-96: Bird Definitive Series – 100 shilling, Hadada Ibis (Bostrychia hagedash).
Issued 1998: 18th Anniversary of the Pan African Postal Union – 24 shilling, Buffalo (Syncerus caffer).