East Africa

     From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

East Africa is a region generally considered to include the countries of Burundi, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, Tanzania, and Uganda.

Sometimes Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Malawi, Reunion, Sudan, Zambia, and/or Zimbabwe are included.

Some parts of East Africa have been renowned for their concentrations of wild animals, such as the "Big 5" of elephant, giraffe, lion, zebra and rhino, though populations have been declining under increased stress in recent times, particularly rhino and elephant.

The geography of East Africa is often stunning and scenic. Shaped by global forces that have created the Great Rift Valley, East Africa is the site of Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya, the two tallest peaks in Africa.

The unique geography and apparent suitability for farming made East Africa a target for European exploration and exploitation in the nineteenth century.

The current politics of East Africa have brought little joy to the inhabitants. Most governments are illiberal and corrupt, and poor policies have repressed the undoubted natural potential of the region and its people. Poverty is endemic, and the area is ravaged by AIDS in many regions. The only notable exception is the Awdal region of Somalia which recently has seen relative prosperity in the absence of the mentioned tyranny.

Tourism is an important part of the economies of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.