Geography

The Regions of Africa

Africa's five regions are each home to unique ecosystems, wildlife, and conservation challenges. Explore what makes each region extraordinary โ€” and how we protect it.

High Threat

East Africa

Home to the Great Serengeti, the Maasai Mara, Mount Kilimanjaro, and the Great Rift Valley. East Africa hosts the largest terrestrial mammal migration on Earth and extraordinary biodiversity across savannahs, highlands, and coastal forests.

Key Habitats

SavannahHighland ForestWetlandsCoastal ForestGreat Rift Valley

Countries (5)

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ชKenyaยท Savannah
๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ฟTanzaniaยท Savannah
๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฌUgandaยท Forest
๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡นEthiopiaยท Highland
๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡ผRwandaยท Montane Forest
Moderate Threat

Southern Africa

A region of stunning diversity, from the Namib and Kalahari deserts to the lush forests of the Cape. Southern Africa is home to the iconic "Big Five" and some of the continent's most successful conservation stories.

Key Habitats

SavannahDesertFynbosCoastalWetlands

Countries (5)

๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฆSouth Africaยท Savannah
๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ผBotswanaยท Savannah
๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ผZimbabweยท Savannah
๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฆNamibiaยท Desert
๐Ÿ‡ฟ๐Ÿ‡ฒZambiaยท Savannah
Critical Threat

Central Africa

The Congo Basin contains the world's second-largest tropical rainforest, a staggering reservoir of biodiversity. Central Africa is home to great apes, forest elephants, and thousands of endemic species found nowhere else on Earth.

Key Habitats

Tropical RainforestRiver SystemsWetlandsMontane Forest

Countries (5)

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฉDR Congoยท Rainforest
๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฒCameroonยท Rainforest
๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ฆGabonยท Rainforest
๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฌRepublic of Congoยท Rainforest
๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡ผRwandaยท Montane Forest
Critical Threat

West Africa

Stretching from Senegal to Nigeria, West Africa holds diverse ecosystems from the Sahel to coastal rainforests. Rapid population growth and agriculture expansion have put enormous pressure on the region's remaining wildlife corridors.

Key Habitats

Coastal ForestSahelMangrovesWetlandsSavannah

Featured Wildlife

Countries (5)

๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฌNigeriaยท Forest
๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ญGhanaยท Forest
๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ณSenegalยท Sahel
๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฎIvory Coastยท Rainforest
๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ณGuineaยท Forest
High Threat

North Africa

Dominated by the Sahara Desert, North Africa is nonetheless rich in unique wildlife adapted to extreme conditions. Mediterranean coastal habitats, oasis ecosystems, and the Atlas Mountains support remarkable endemic species.

Key Habitats

Sahara DesertMediterranean CoastAtlas MountainsOasisWetlands

Featured Wildlife

Countries (5)

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฆMoroccoยท Mountain
๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ฌEgyptยท Desert
๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ฟAlgeriaยท Desert
๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ณTunisiaยท Desert
๐Ÿ‡ฑ๐Ÿ‡พLibyaยท Desert