East Africa

Overview

• East Africa consists of 10 countries:

  Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan.

• Stunning and picturesque

  East Africa is home to Africa’s tallest peaks, Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Kenya. Lake Victoria, the second largest freshwater lake in the world, and Lake Tanganyika, the second deepest lake in the world, are both found here as well.

• The unique geography here has helped make the land good for farming.

  The excellent weather—with moderate temperatures hovering around 25°C/77°F—has helped tourism thrive and play a major role in certain economies. In parts of East Africa, high altitude and a dry climate can mean going many years without any rain. But, toward the south and west, rainfall can be as much as 63 inches.

Challenges

As population increases, so does deforestation and conflict with wildlife.

The majority of the population in East Africa relies on subsistence agriculture, growing just enough food to feed their families. Unfortunately, a booming population has led to deforestation, as communities live off the land to survive. Whether they exploit the forests for timber or cut trees for fuel, the deforestation rate is increasing at an alarming pace.

Habitat loss isn’t the only threat to wildlife. Human population growth and infrastructure development has led to human encroachment on historical wildlife areas, leading to human-wildlife conflict. Wildlife populations have diminished over the years in some parts of East Africa because of this very issue.

Projects

Will you show East Africa your support?

African Wildlife Foundation is making a real difference in East Africa. Our efforts include training rangers to protect the endangered mountain gorilla from poachers, enterprise building projects that help communities sustain their livelihoods, and more. Donate for a cause that will help people, land, and wildlife conservation across East Africa.