Through our involvement in the creation of local fishing associations, fishermen are recruited to monitor bycatch of turtles and dugongs and provide us with important data on population trends. Its a beautiful part of the world this blue desert with its hidden abundance of life. [24] Temperatures in East Africa, except on the hot and generally humid coastal belt, are moderate, with maxima of around 25C (77F) and minima of 15C (59F) at an altitude of 1,500 metres (4,921ft). We work with farmers to adopt practices that conserve resources and use less space, ensuring forest remains intact for wildlife. All rights reserved. The Periplus describes in some detail the shore of what was to become northern Somalia. The east coast of Africa holds a bounty of life that rivals the land. Some of the island's historical buildings could be seen from the ocean, especially the House of . All travel bookings booked via Trust my Travel are financially protected by them. Several countries border the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. After traditional land routes to India had been closed by the Ottoman Turks, Portugal hoped to use the sea route pioneered by da Gama to break the once Venetian trading monopoly. Most of the peoples of Eritrea and Ethiopiaand some of those in Tanzania and Kenyaspeak languages belonging to the Cushitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic languages. 1250 24th Street, N.W. Scientific consensus states the region of East Africa is where anatomically modern humans first evolved circa 200,000 years ago before migrating northwards and eastwards out of Africa. Africa is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Red Sea to the northeast, Indian Ocean to the east, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. Off the coast of East Africa is the Indian Ocean. The Western Hemisphere includes about half of Antarctica and all of North and South America which includes the Caribbean and Central America as well as Greenland. Generally the Eastern Hemisphere includes most of Africa, about half of Antarctica, all of Asia and Australia/Oceania, and most of Europe. We also provide tools to reduce conflict with wildlife. Popular Destinations Tanzania In: The Spice Trade of the Roman Empire. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Photo Galleries, Photographer of the Year, TRAVEL & CONSERVATION COMPANY In fact, a 2015 study published in Geophysical Research Letters showed that by closely watching these tropical disturbances off the coast of western Africa, researchers . Area 1,420,236 square miles (3,678,394 square km). When we think "Africa," we think of the "Big Five"lions, elephants, leopards, buffalo and rhinosthat crisscross the African Savannah. Portugal had first established a strong presence in southern Mozambique and the Indian Ocean since the 15th century, while during this period their possessions increasingly grew including parts from the present northern Mozambique country, up to Mombasa in present-day Kenya. Though there is little evidence to suggest that its inhabitants had any buildings to begin with, wattle-and-daub dwellings appeared in due course, and by the 10th century short lengths of coral masonry wall were being built. The Omani presence continued in Zanzibar and Pemba until the Zanzibar Revolution in 1964. The spread of ironworking and the Bantu migrations, The chieftainships of the southern savanna, https://www.britannica.com/place/eastern-Africa. WWF works with communities to identify vulnerabilities to climate change, and help them develop strategies to adapt and increase their resilience. . June 25, 2020. Join us as we take a glimpse into the underwater world of our African oceans and seas through the eyes of photographers who submitted their photos into ourPhotographer of the Year2016, 2017 and 2018 competitions. However, all is not lost as marine reserves around the globe have proven what a remarkable recovery the marine ecosystem can make if given full protection. During the period of the Scramble for Africa, almost every country in the larger region to varying degrees became part of a European colonial empire. At altitudes of above 2,500 metres (8,202ft), frosts are common during the dry season and maxima typically about 21C (70F) or less. Over several centuries countless East Africans were sold as slaves by Muslim Arabs to the Middle East and other places via the Sahara desert and Indian Ocean. East Africa is a subregion of the continent of Africa, according to the United Nations Geoscheme. Eastern Africa has a diverse climate change that consist of hot, dry desert regions, cooler, and highlands. As the island is ring-fenced by one of the largest unbroken barrier reefs in the world, scuba diving here is a magical experience. WWF supports the rangers who patrol protected areas in Tanzania and Mozambique. On the east coast of Africaat the western edge of the Indian Oceanlies a narrow strip of land that has hosted travelers for thousands of years. "Africa South of the Equator," in Africa Since 1800. The easternmost point of the continent, that is Ras Hafun in Somalia, is of archaeological, historical and economical importance. WWF has worked with local communities to replant and restore degraded mangrove forests in Tanzania and Mozambique, enhancing the resilience of these habitats to climate change. We also work towards MSC certification for the deep water shrimp fishery in Mozambique. [citation needed] As cattle terminology in use amongst the few modern Bantu pastoralist groups suggests, the Bantu migrants would acquire cattle from their new Cushitic neighbors. 1: The Swahili Coast of East Africa | From 1000 to 1500 CE, numerous Swahili states emerged along this 1,000 mile stretch from Mogadishu in the north (present-day Somalia) to Sofala in the south (present-day Mozambique). Prevailing climatic conditions and the regions' geomorphology allowed the establishment of flourishing European style settlements like Nairobi, Vila Pery, Vila Junqueiro, Porto Amlia, Loureno Marques and Entebbe.[68]. WMAs create opportunities for wildlife tourism, which directly benefits local communities through jobs and revenue. The red stood for the English, blue stood for the French, and the beige stood for Germany during the period of colonialism. Eastern Africa consists largely of plateaus and has most of the highest elevations in the continent. Kilwa Kisiwani, located on the southern coast of modern-day Tanzania, is a prime example of how city-states in Africa developed and became wealthy while maintaining autonomous rule. The unique geography and apparent suitability for farming made East Africa a target for European exploration, exploitation and colonialization in the nineteenth century. South Sudanese independence was nearly derailed by the South Kordofan conflict, particularly a dispute over the status of the Abyei Area, and both Abyei and South Kordofan's Nuba Hills remained a source of tension between Juba and Khartoum as of 2011[update]. Ancient Africa's east coast was home to trading cities, a region that subsists primarily on international import and export. The Indian Ocean trade was conducted through the barter system but later coins were used as a medium of exchange. The waters of the Western Indian Ocean also support globally important shrimp and tuna industries. Princeton, Princeton University Press. We also introduced a new program of raising goats and offered improved husbandry techniques to reduce the animals impact on vegetation and crops. A much more vigorous resistance was offered by the Moors of Mombasa. Rwanda and Uganda continue to be involved in related conflicts outside the region. The coast of East Africa provides many excellent natural harbours formed by submerged former river estuaries. A gasflame nudibranch in False Bay, Cape Peninsula, South Africa Peet J. van Eeden (Photographer of the Year 2018 Entrant), ? East Africa Discover East Africa & the Indian Ocean Islands - Enjoy Breathtaking Scenery, Wonderful Plants & Trees, Countless Varieties of Birds & Abundant Wildlife East Africa is home to some of the continent's most famous sights, but also some of its least explored corners. We assist local communities in securing management rights to their local wildlife and fisheries. Few would imagine that there could be more natural beauty on offer. The Portuguese were the first Europeans to explore the region of current-day Kenya, Tanzania, and Mozambique by sea. (1999). 293,654,000. Lamu is one of the oldest Swahili settlements in East Africa. People here depend on the regions natural resourcesclean freshwater, healthy forests and mangroves, and abundant fish and wildlife. ceo@africageographic.com, Travel & conservation company, since 1991, , Photographer of the Year 2023 Weekly Selection: Week 3, Photographer of the Year 2023 Weekly Selection: Week 2. Foreigners operate large-scale industrial fisheries along the coast, exporting most of the catch. A frenzy of dolphins off the coast of Cote d-Ivoire Gary Krosin (Photographer of the Year 2018 Entrant), ? Map Directions Satellite Photo Map Wikivoyage Wikipedia Photo: Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 3.0. [44] The old kingdom's first mention dates to the 25th century BCE. Due to the historical Omani Empire and colonial territories of the British East Africa Protectorate and German East Africa, the term East Africa is often (especially in the English language) used to specifically refer to the area now comprising the three countries of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. 82 Likes, 0 Comments - skhathisomusa dumani mthembu (@skhathisomusa) on Instagram: "African East coast | tropics #eastafrica #mombasa #coast #ocean #tropicalparadise #beach #film" Some are sovereign nations in their own right, while others are little-known secrets that harbor fantastic cultural and natural treasures. It's more than 41 million square miles, the second . In March 1505, having received from Manuel I of Portugal the appointment of viceroy of the newly conquered territory in India, he set sail from Lisbon in command of a large and powerful fleet, and arrived in July at Quiloa (Kilwa), which yielded to him almost without a struggle. At this stage, the Portuguese presence in East Africa served the purposes of controlling trade within the Indian Ocean and securing the sea routes linking Europe to Asia. It imported large quantities of Islamic pottery and, in the 9th and 10th centuries, Chinese porcelain. You really can walk across the Red Sea at Sharm el-Sheik. It was last seen in British general knowledge crossword. To comment on this story: Download our app here - it's a troll-free safe place . Evidence was found in 2018, dating to about 320,000 years ago, at the Kenyan site of Olorgesailie, of the early emergence of modern behaviors associated with Homo sapiens, including: long-distance trade networks (involving goods such as obsidian), the use of pigments, and the possible making of projectile points. The subregion stretches from Eritrea in the north to Mozambique in the south. The child here is unidentified except that he is beind held for sale as a slave. During barter, the foreigners bartered their goods with gold, ivory and slaves. A blacktip shark cruises the lagoon as a storm approaches in Aldabra atoll, Seychelles Adam Mitchell (Photographer of the Year 2017 Top 101), TheAldabra atollhas one of the highest shark densities of anywhere in the western Indian Ocean. The British Museum. It is narrow, swift and strong. In southwest Africa, the plains and plateaus of Namibia are found . In fact, on the coast of Somalia, many years can go by without any rain whatsoever. The main ethnic groups of Eritrea, the Tigray and the Tigre, are speakers of Semitic languages. WWF seeks to halt the illegal logging in Mozambique and Tanzania that is destroying vital coastal forests. Illegal small-mesh seine net fishing in Tanzania. WWF strives to develop practical solutions to address the conflict that frequently occurs between people and wildlife. Chami, Felix A. Zanzibar is a semi-autonomous state in the United Republic of Tanzania. app@africageographic.com (RSA) +27 (87) 551-8105 [40][41], The migration route of the "Out of Africa" theory probably occurred in East Africa however through Bab el Mandeb. Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. Precipitation also is affected by varying elevation: Uganda, Tanzania, and western Kenya receive plentiful rainfall, while Somalia, eastern Ethiopia, and northeastern Kenya receive far less. This region already suffers from unpredictable rainfall and frequent drought, along with intense rains and flooding. Sadly, when it comes to the ocean, the out of sight out of mind way of thinking often applies. Overfishing, coastal development, pollution, the unknown consequences of climate change, and more immediate effects of shark finning and manta ray poaching are some of the most threatening concerns. To the west, Africa has its longest coastline with the Atlantic Ocean. The Southern African coast line is 5500 km long and extends from Angola (Cunene River mouth)in the west to the Zambezi delta in the east, the border of Tanzania. WWF helped Mozambique establish the Quirimbas marine reserve in 2002. The Omani Arabs posed the most direct challenge to Portuguese influence in the African Great Lakes region.By this time, the Portuguese Empire had already lost its interest on the spice trade sea route due to the decreasing profitability of that business. Coastal East Africa encompasses a beautiful tapestry of land and seafrom mountains and grasslands to mangroves and fringing coral reefs. Between the 14th and 15th centuries, large African Great Lakes kingdoms and states emerged, such as the Buganda[65] and Karagwe[65] kingdoms of Uganda and Tanzania. The coastline of South Africa, stretching 1,740 miles (2,800 kilometers) From Mozambique to Namibia, is presided over by two great oceanic systems: a powerful current on one side of the continent . The ethnic fabric in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda is much more fragmented, with many smaller peoples intermingled or occupying discrete territories. A blue shark just below the surface about 40km off Cape Point, South Africa Geo Cloete (Photographer of the Year 2018 Top 101), Sail southwest from Cape Point and eventually you will be surrounded by the blue horizon in all directions. Out here in the deep blue waters, the fin indeed belongs to a blue shark, swimming just below the surface. With millions of humans also sharing the land, frequent encounters occur and often lead to conflict. 11. The east coast of Africa holds a bounty of life that rivals the land. 1: The volcanic ridge offshore Mayotte. The ocean's name, derived from Greek mythology, means the "Sea of Atlas." 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