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Shipping to East Africa

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Shipping To Kenya

Kenya is a country on the eastern coast of Africa, lying on the Equator. Moving clockwise from the south, it is bordered by Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan, Ethiopia and Somalia. The country’s capital is Nairobi; located towards the south of the country, is one of the region’s main economic hubs. Kenya is perhaps most well-known for its range of natural attractions. It is home to Africa’s second largest mountain, Mount Kenya, which stands at 5,199 meters; additionally, from Kenya’s highlands to the west it is possible to see Africa’s largest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro, in the distance. The country also has large areas designated to wildlife. Perhaps the most famous of these is the Masai Mara National Reserve, in which all of the animals collectively described as Africa’s ‘Big Five’ reside. These are the buffalo, elephant, leopard, lion, and rhino. This Reserve attracts considerable tourism, particular at the time of the year in which the approximately 2 million wildebeest migrate. Politically, Kenya operates a democracy that appears free from corruption, and is generally pro-Western in terms of foreign relations. As well as the aforementioned tourism, agriculture remains significant to Kenya’s economy, contributing for just under a quarter of GDP. Kenya’s population is very young due to some fast population growth in the past few decades. English and Swahili are official languages of Kenya.

Country Flight Time from UK Currency Main Airports Shipping Ports
Kenya 8hrs 45mins Kenyan Shilling Eldoret, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nairobi Mombasa

Shipping To Uganda

Uganda is a land-locked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by South Sudan to the north, Kenya to the east, Rwanda and Tanzania to the south, and the Democratic Republic of Congo to the west. Much of Uganda’s south-eastern territory is covered by the vast Lake Victoria; its capital city, Kampala, is situated on the shoreline of the lake. The current President of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni, has been in power since 1986; the anti-homosexuality laws that he has introduced in recent years have led to international condemnation, and significant investors in the country have threatened to stop funding if they continue. Corruption is a big issue that is hindering the country’s development. Uganda’s main exports are coffee, tobacco, radio equipment, fish, and oil. However, the wealth this brings in does not appear to reach the poorest in the population, and as a result Uganda continues to have one of the world’s highest poverty rates, particularly in rural areas in which the vast majority of Ugandans live. 85% of Ugandan are Christian, with most of the remaining 15% comprising an Islamic minority. Interestingly, Uganda is attempting to develop a film industry, and is planning legislation to increase its exposure within the country, which could lead to a new source of income for the country as well as a new cultural export.

Country Flight Time from UK Currency Main Airports Main Shipping Ports
Uganda 8hrs 20mins Ugandan Shilling Entebbe No Major Ports

Shipping To Rwanda

Rwanda is landlocked country in central Africa. It is bordered by Uganda to the north, Tanzania to the east, Burundi to the south and the Democratic Republic of Congo to the west. The country has a relatively high average altitude; it is mountainous, and part of the African Great Lakes region with its own territory including much of the large Lake Kivu. The country has a population exceeding 11 million, and approximately 10% of these inhabitants reside within the centrally located capital city of Kigali. The country, in terms of area, is one of the smallest in Africa. The 1994 genocide that occurred is perhaps the most widely known event that has occurred in the country in recent years. Its economy is centred on subsistence agriculture, in which most of the country’s population are employed; the volcanic soil that is found in Rwanda’s mountainous rural areas proves ideal for crop growth. The tourism industry is an area that the Rwandan government is keen to expand; notably, the country has sponsored football club Arsenal in a bid to encourage this, in an agreement that will cost the country almost $40 million. Culturally, Rwanda shares many features of traditional African culture, such as music, dance, and folk story-telling.

Country Flight Time from UK Currency Main Airports Main Shipping Ports
Rwanda 11hrs Rwandan Franc Kigali No Major Ports

Shipping To Burundi

Situated in Eastern Africa, in the Great Lakes region, Burundi is a relatively small country with an area of 27,834 square kilometres and a population of 10.5 million. It is bordered by Rwanda, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Burundi’s history is characterised by instability; having been an independent country for around 200 years, it was colonised by Germany in the early 20th century. Following World War Two, it was handed to Belgium until it gained independence in 1962. A series of political instabilities saw it turn from a monarchy to a republic in 1966 but ethnic cleansing and genocide resulted in it becoming one of the world’s poorest countries. It is a largely rural society with only 13% of its population living in urban areas; this is reflected in its economy as a predominantly agricultural sector with 90% of the population employed and 50% of the GDP being due to agriculture. 34% of exports are coffee products, with tea also being exported. There are also large exportations of gold. Political corruption, weak infrastructure, the proliferation of HIV/AIDS and hunger have made Burundi the least happy nation in the world according to the World Happiness Report in 2016. The culture in Burundi, whilst diluted by civil unrest, is largely based on local traditions. Basket weaving, drumming and strong oral traditions characterise traditions within the region.

Country Flight Time from UK Currency Main Airports Main Shipping Ports
Burundi 12hrs 25mins Burundi Franc Bujumbura No Major Ports

Shipping To Sudan

Sudan is large country in north-eastern Africa. It has an eastern coastline adjacent to the Red Sea, and is bordered by Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Central African Republic, Chad and Libya. With an area of 728,215 square miles, it is the 15th largest country in the world. Sudan used to be governed by Egypt and the United Kingdom but became independent in 1956. However, so far Sudan has been marred by political instability. Most notably, civil war and military coups indirectly led to an area in southern Sudan, in which most of the country’s Christians live, declaring independence from the Islamic north; this southern region is now known as the state of South Sudan. Much of Sudan is desert, and this presents severe challenges for sustainable agriculture. Poaching is a constant threat to Sudan’s biodiversity. The country is legally based on Islamic sharia law, and as with other countries under these customs, Sudan’s human rights record is very poor. Child marriage is common, and women are treated as inferior to men, while homosexuality carries the death penalty. Sudan’s economy is rapidly growing due to oil exports, but corruption means that increased wealth does not reach those who require it most.

Country Flight Time from UK Currency Main Airports Main Shipping Ports
Sudan 9hrs Sudanese Pound Khartoum, Port Sudan Port Sudan

Shipping To Djibouti

Djibouti is a small nation on the Eastern coast of Africa, just below the Red Sea. Most of its inland border lies adjacent to Ethiopia to the west; Somalia is directly south, and Eritrea is north, with the east bordering the Gulf of Adan. The country’s capital city is also named Djibouti, and has a population of approximately 529,000, which comprises a significant proportion of the 942,000 residents that reside in the country as a whole. The country is ethnically diverse, with four official languages (Arabic, French, Somali and Afar); Islam is the only official religion. Politically, a democracy exists, though the leading party has been in office since elections began in 1979 and opposition parties are given limited freedom. As a result, in recent elections the main opposition has boycotted. The country’s location on the ‘Horn of Africa’ means that much of its economic activities are centred on international shipping through the Red Sea, and the Port of Djibouti is the central hub of this commerce. Overall however, there is 60% unemployment in urban areas, and the industrial is being focused on, with assistance from the World Bank, in an attempt to improve this. Tourism represents an opportunity for growth and Djibouti’s two great lakes, Abbe and Assal, are big attractions; however, visa issues exist, and currently the country remains a destination ‘off the beaten track’.

Country Flight Time from UK Currency Main Airports Main Shipping Ports
Djibouti 10hrs Djiboutan Franc Djibouti City Djibouti

Shipping To Eritrea

Eritrea is located in the north-east of Africa, with a long coastline running adjacent to the southern end of the Red Sea. It has three neighbouring countries; Sudan to the west, Ethiopia to the south, and also Djibouti on its short south-eastern border. The country has a population of approximately 4,950,000. Politically, the nation is subject to strong international disapproval. It is a one-party state which has never held national elections and has one of the World’s poorest human rights records. Additionally, freedom of press is essentially non-existent within the state. The country’s economy is largely based on mining. 57% of Eritrea’s exports comprise of gold, while a further 25% is copper ore. However, 4 of 5 Eritrean’s work in agriculture, which produces a wide range of different commodities. There is a commitment within the country towards sustainability in both these sectors. Additionally, Eritrea did succeed in meeting seven of the eight Millennium Development Goals created by the United Nations to improve life quality globally. The country is split fairly evenly between Islam and Christianity. Culturally, perhaps Eritrea’s most iconic feature is the coffee ceremony, which plays a role in the daily lives of Eritreans, as well as at festivals and special occasions. Cycling is popular in the country, and the Tour of Eritrea is an annual international event held throughout the nation.

Country Flight Time from UK Currency Main Airports Main Shipping Ports
Eritrea 9hrs Eritrean Nakfa Asmara Massawa

Shipping To Ethiopia

Situated in the Horn of Africa on the east of the continent, Ethiopia is landlocked; moving clockwise from the north, its neighbours are Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia, Kenya directly south, and then South Sudan and Sudan to the west. The country is the second largest in Africa by population, with over 102,400,000 residents. Ethiopia is of huge archaeological interest; it is the site of some of the oldest preserved remains of primates that would eventually evolve into humans and date back over 3 million years. In line with this, it is also the location for which earliest evidence of homo-sapiens has been found. Geologically, Ethiopia possesses a range of environments; it has some of the largest mountains in the continent, as well as deserts, rivers and tropical rainforests. The country’s climate is generally tropical. Economically, Ethiopia is experiencing some quite rapid growth. This is largely due to a growing service sector, although the vast majority of the workforce remains in agriculture. Perhaps helpful for country is a diverse range of exports; these include coffee, gold and oil. There are close to 100 languages spoken in Ethiopia, with the variety being a result of the unique heritages of Ethiopia’s regions and people.

Country Flight Time from UK Currency Main Airports Main Shipping Ports
Ethiopia 7hrs 35mins Ethiopian Birr Addis Ababa, Dire Dawa No Major Ports

Shipping To Somalia

Somalia is an East African nation located on the ‘Horn of Africa’ with a long coastline adjacent to the Indian Ocean. It lies next to three countries; Djibouti to the north-west, Ethiopia to the west, and Kenya to the south-west. It has a population of 14.3 million, and about 20% of these inhabitants reside in the capital city of Mogadishu, located towards the south of Somalia’s coastline. For the majority of the 1990s, Somalia was a lawless state, being in the middle of a large civil war. The 200s saw the beginnings of some form of order, and in 2012 a new government was finally formed, though many severe problems still remain, and Somalia overall is rather fragile. In particularly, the seas off the coast of Somalia are notorious for piracy, and this has manifested in various high-profile cases, usually when Western civilians were held hostage in an attempt to acquire vast sums of ransom money. Generally, Somalia’s climate is that of a desert, due to the nation being very close to the Equator; less than 2% of Somalia’s land is arable. Agriculture remains the principal industry for the country however, despite the challenge conditions, and this focuses mainly on livestock. Islam is basically on the only religion practiced in Somalia, and the country’s culture is reflective of this.

Country Flight Time from UK Currency Main Airports Main Shipping Ports
Somalia 9hrs Somali  Shilling Bosaso, Galkayo, Garowe, Hargeisa, Kismayo, Mogadishu Berbera, Kismayu, Mogadishu