55353484 National Geographic Africa Adventure Atlas ISBN 9781597751469

7/31/2019 55353484 National Geographic Africa Adventure Atlas ISBN 9781597751469

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Contents

Exploring Africa...................................

How To Navigate Through This A

Countries of Africa by Region......THE MAGHREB............................................................

THE SAHARA.................................................................

THE NILE VALLEY...........................................................

THE TAOUDENNI BASIN.............................................

THE IVORY COAST.........................................................

THE EQUATORIAL INTERIOR......................................

THE HORN OF AFRICA.................................................

THE CONGO BASIN......................................................

THE GREAT LAKES.........................................................

THE GREAT RIFT VALLEY.............................................

THE GREAT ZAMBEZI...................................................

THE MOZAMBIQUE COAST........................................

THE INDIAN OCEAN ISLANDS..................................

THE SKELETON COAST.................................................

SOUTHERN AFRICA......................................................

National Parks Contents..................

National Parks Overview.................

National Parks by Region................

National Park & Key Tourist Map

Adventure Activities Contents......

Adventure Activities Overview.....

Adventure Activities Maps by Re

Touring Maps Contents....................

Touring Maps Route Planner.........

Touring Maps.........................................


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The Horn of Africa56


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EritreaConsidering that the State of Eritrea is no more than a decade old andis still struggling to counter years of famine, drought, poverty and

political dissension, it is little wonder that this semiarid country hascast no more than a cursory glance at the issues of environmentalconservation. Its tourism industry, although growing, remains but afledgling enterprise that is still to prove its potential for governmentcoffers. The dry landscape has no permanent river systems and noinland water sources of any consequence, so it should come as no sur-prise that Eritrea has only three wildlife sanctuaries and no nationalparks. State officials have shown little enthusiasm for the few butgenerally promising ecological programmes established by non-governmental organizations and international environmental agencies.Priority, it seems, is given to economic development within or aroundexisting urban settlements and, to some degree, to the mostly impov-erished rural areas that depend on agriculture. Although these

elements of Eritreas sociopolitical development do indeed demanddedicated attention and resources, it would do the national govern-ment well to consider the potential of the nations unexplored wilder-ness and the wealth of endemic wildlife it harbours.

EthiopiaAlthough Ethiopia must be one of the most ravaged of all Africannations, still suffering from drought and famine, poverty and politicaluncertainty, its conservation efforts meagre as they are are themost commendable in the entire region, with the state having setaside more than 18 million hectares (45 million acres) as protectedsanctuaries for the nations flora and fauna. No less than20,756km2 (8,014 sq. miles) of the country has been allocated

for national parks and, in addition, Ethiopia has a remarkablyrich bird life, yet the country is not particularly well knownfor the abundance and diversity of its wildlife. The small ani-mal population is primarily restricted to out-of-the-wayplaces further inland.

Much of Ethiopias faunal resources are today threat-ened by a series of environmental concerns, rangingfrom the rapidly growing human population and thesteady decline of its existing forests and woodlands tothe day-to-day demands of agriculture and a mas-sive foreign debt. This debt burden has driven thenation to grow and export flowers while, tragical-ly, huge numbers of people are starving becausenot enough food is grown for domestic use. Atthe same time, thousands and thousands ofindigenous trees are being systematically cutdown for domestic fuel as well as to accommo-date the timber requirements of both the agricul-tural sector and the construction industry. Statisticsshow that more than two-thirds of Ethiopias trees havebeen felled in less than 30 years.

Government departments and the Ethiopian WildlifeConservation Organization have at least taken some responsi-bility for the countrys wildlife resources. However, the preserva-tion and maintenance of Ethiopias natural ecosystems, the conserva-

tion of the indigenous vegetation and wild animal species they har-bour, and the education of the masses including farmers, studentsand other non-governmental organizations is left largely to special-ized organizations such as the Ethiopian Wildlife & Natural HistorySociety. The Societys volunteers continue to green a countryside thatis now considerably damaged by alien species such as the Australianeucalyptus. Other wildlife organizations have now also taken up theplight of the Ethiopian wolf, a fox-like mammal previously known asthe Simien wolf that, although once fairly common, is now one of themost endangered canine predators in the world. Flag-bearer of this

although its once impressive reduced to little more than 40single most important nationa

tial, but many of the smaller may only be accessible to visiprotected areas have been up

SomaliaLike Eritrea, Somalia has no nare restricted to the Alifuuto Bushbush Game Reserve, bothern reaches of the country. Coto the broader region, this sliv once teemed with an extraoSadly, forces of nature and thhave taken their toll on Soma

Desertification is as prolific hbated by escalating deforestadotted with acacia species haof charcoal production, whichalbeit unofficially with vastcountries where wood fuels a

Despite the ecological imporonment off Somalias shores,

equally important to the coast are extraordin

ened by the existinevertheless aff

vesting of mar

Diving and fsharks for

waterstrib

d

THE REG ION

With the exception of Ethiopia, which hasnine national parks, 10 wildlife sanctuariesand no fewer than 13 controlled huntingareas, plus the Simien World Heritage Site covering a total of nearly 19 millionhectares (7 million acres) the nationsthat make up the Horn of Africa are largely

devoid of national parks. Tracts of conser-vation land here are few and are restrictedto smaller wildlife sanctuaries and reserves.

ER I TREA K e y

Gash-Setit Wildlife Reserve 3

Nakfa Wildlife Reserve 2

Yob Wildlife Reserve 1

E T H I O P I A

Abijatta-Shalla Lakes National Park FAwash National Park G

Bale Mountains National Park I

Gambella National Park B

Mago National Park D

Nechisar National Park E

Omo National Park C

Simien Mountains National Park A

Yangudi Rassa National Park H

Babile Elephant Sanctuary 15

Yabelo Sanctuary 9

Afdem-Gewane Controlled Hunting Area 17

Akobo Controlled Hunting Area 4

Arsi Controlled Hunting Area 10

Awash West Controlled Hunting Area G

Bale Controlled Hunting Area I

Borana Controlled Hunting Area 8Chercher & Arba Gugu

Controlled Hunting Area 16

Dabus Valley Controlled Hunting Area 2

Eastern Hararghe (Harar-Wabi Shebelle)

Hunting Controlled Area 18

Erer-Gota Controlled Hunting Area 14

Jikao Controlled Hunting Area 3

Murle Controlled Hunting Area 6

Omo West Controlled Hunting Area 5

Tedo Controlled Hunting Area 4

Alledeghi Wildlife Reserve 11

Bale Wildlife Reserve I

Chew Bahr Wildlife Reserve 7

Gewane Wildlife Reserve 12

Mille-Sardo Wildlife Reserve 13

Shire Wildlife Reserve 1Tama Wildlife Reserve 7

Simien Mountains World Heritage Site A

S O M A L I A

Alifuuto (Arbowerow) Nature Reserve 2

Bushbush Game Reserve 1

D J I B O U T I

Fret du Day 1

ERITREA ETHIOPIA SOMALIA DJIBOUTI


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The Congo Basin58


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GabonOf the nations that fall within the equatorial band of Central Africa,Gabon is perhaps the shining light, largely because it is blessed with a

growing economy, an abundance of indigenous resources and a rela-tively sophisticated infrastructure. With the burgeoning economy, how-ever, come the responsibilities of a developing nation and Gabon is stillstruggling to maintain an adequate balance, the timber industry andthe accompanying logging activities taking its toll on the fragileecosystems. The thickly wooded forests see as much as 3,000mm(118in) of rain in a year, giving rise to a diversity of plant and animallife. Because its human population remains relatively low, species suchas gorillas, chimps, leopard, mandrills, monkeys, buffalo, antelope andelephant thrive here. Gabon once enjoyed extensive protection fromgovernment and non-profit conservation bodies, but the activity on thelogging concessions in the interior remains a concern, as does thetrade in bush meat. Logging is nevertheless one of the nations most

vital income-producers and its importance has grown with the declinein the oil price. Whereas tree-felling was once limited to land withineasy reach of industry, the Trans-Gabon Express has meant that moreareas are now accessible, with an increasing number of roads manyexclusively for logging vehicles crisscrossing areas that were oncevirtually uninhabited. Timber concessions show signs of making consid-erable profits in the foreseeable future, and the alarming growth in theindustry affects not only Gabons woodlands, but also animal popula-tions. The expanding road network has, in turn, meant an increase inpoaching of hitherto unaffected areas, and nearly 50 per cent of theLop Faunal Reserve has fallen victim to the chain saws as a result ofits negotiations and land-swap agreements with logging companies.Environmental custodians of the Wildlife Conservation Society

arranged in 2000 for a logging operation to worksome 650km2 (250 sq. miles) of Lop and, inreturn, about 400km2 (155 sq. miles)reserved for the timber industry wereincorporated into the reserve.

This has meant that some areasremain untouched by bulldozers, and thegovernment has proclaimed certain areasinviolate. The concession areas have, however,not been favourably received by all parties. Someconservationists have expressed concern that thecompromise is too lenient, others have rejected itoutright, while others have been spurred on toestablish formal programmes. One such operation isthe ECOFAC (the Programme for Conservation andRational Utilization of Forest Ecosystems in CentralAfrica), founded largely as a result of a grant fromthe European Union in the early 1990s. Operatingin at least five other countries in Central Africa,ECOFAC has a research station in Lop, whichnot only keeps an eye over the wildlife sanctuary,but also promotes sustainable development.

CongoThe Congo River boasts a watershed of more than 4 million square

kilometres (15,5 million square miles) and comprises a series of tribu-taries with no less than 12,500km (7,750 miles) of navigable inlandwaters. Flanked by forested mountain slopes, the river remains rela-tively unblemished by the human population on its banks. Althoughthere is evidence of some degradation sited here is the massive IngaDam and hydroelectricity scheme, and certain regions do suffer as aresult of isolated pollution issues a more serious problem in Congo isthe growing reliance on the trade in bush meat. A distressing numberof families, most notably in and around the Nouabl-Ndoki NationalPark, depend on bush meat for daily sustenance and even income. For

Democratic Republic ofMuch maligned and one of ththat Africa is dark, dangerous

temperament, the DemocraticZare is nevertheless a magntreasures, not the least of whthe mainstays of the nationalDRC, which falls largely withifrom which it takes its name, roams its grass plains and vastaken its toll here and in earlylooks the town of Goma, erupfering but also catastrophic ethe Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund resulted in a crisis of tremendfor the rehabilitation program

former glory. Despite the magwould be foolish to disregard situation, which has been resinflicted upon the environmen

Whereas the stable tourist ensured that the biodiversity unscathed by either developmtensions and resultant civil unbeyond meant that this soon environmental concerns have

The th

than four Wone of the m

among these National Park a

park established some 80 yeawildlife sanctuaries and conseduring the civil war, and very

wildlife populations of lion, eantelope. Although some areavisitors such as the breathtathe time of writing, the militamatters remain somewhat tenextensive enquiries before ven

AngolaAlthough some two-thirds of cent plateau, and much of the

T H E R E G I O N

Both in its varied history and in its ratherprecarious present, Central Africa has beenthe centre of much turmoil that has seenits people suffer at the hands of civil waralong with the rape of large tracts of landconsidered by many to be some of the

most remarkable on the continent. Whilesome 8 million hectares of Angolas acacia-dotted plains have now been set aside asprotected land, less than 2 million hectaresof Congos equatorial rainforest is underofficial protection.

G A BO N K e y

Ipassa-Makokou Strict Nature Reserve 1

Lop Faunal Reserve 3

Moukalaba-Dougoua Faunal Reserve 5

Ouanga Plain Faunal Reserve 6

Petit Loango Faunal Reserve 5

Iguela Hunting Reserve 4

Moukalaba Hunting Reserve 5

Ngov-Ndogo Hunting Reserve 4

Sett-Cama Hunting Reserve 6

Wonga-Wongu Presidential Reserve 2

Ipassa-Makokou B iosphere Reserve 1

Petit Loango Ramsar Wetland 5

Sett-Cama Ramsar Wetland 6

Wonga-Wongu Rams ar Wetland 2

C O N G O

Nouabal-Ndoki National Park A

Odzala National Park B

Conkouati Faunal Reserve 4

Lefini Faunal Reserve 2Lekoli-Pandaka Faunal Reserve B

Mont Fouari Faunal Reserve 5

Tsoulou Faunal Reserve 3

Mboko Hunting Reserve B

Mont Mavoumbou Hunting Reserve 5

Nyanga Sud Hunting Reserve 5

Dimonika-Mayombe Biosphere Reserve 1

Odzala Biosphere Reserve B

D E M O C R A T I C R E P U B L I C

O F T H E C O N G O ( D R C )

Garamba National Park F

Kahuzi-Biega National Park C

Kundelungu National Park A

Maiko National Park D

Okapi National Park HSalonga National Park G

Upemba National Park B

Virunga National Park E

Bili-Uere Hunting Reserve 2

Bombo-Lumene Hunting Res erve 4

Bushimaie Hunting Reserve 5

Luama Hunting Reserve 1

Maika-Penge Hunting Reserve G

Mangai Hunting Reserve 6

Mondo Missa Hunting Reserve F

Rutshuru Hunting Reserve 7

Swa-Kibula Hunting Reserve 8

Valle De La Lufira Biosphere Reserve 9

Luki Forest Reserve 10

Yangambi Forest Floral Reserve 11

Garamba World Heritage Site F

Kahuzi-Biega World Heritage Site C

Salonga World Heritage Site 3

Virunga World Heritage Site E

A N G O L A

Bikuar National Park C

Cangandala National Park E

Iona National Park A

Kameia National Park F

Quiama National Park D

GABON CONGO DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO A


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The Great Lakes60


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RwandaFor a nation that has only in recent years emerged from one of themost sickening genocides in living history, Rwanda is slowly but most

assuredly rebuilding itself and is today as safe as anywhere else inAfrica. Following years of carnage, crime levels are gratifyingly low, thesociopolitical situation relatively stable, and the all-important tourismsteadily re-establishing itself as a cornerstone of the national economy.In fact, the contribution of the hospitality industry may prove to be thegreat saviour of a country intent on reconstruction and developmentas it emerges in the 21st century. In the years that preceded the inter-nal conflict in which more than a million Rwandans lost their lives,Rwanda was hailed as one of the continents favoured destinations,not the least of which was for the attraction of its mountain gorillas.Today, the forested mountain slopes, which occupy the 26,500km2

(10,000 sq. miles) of the country, are one of the last remaining sanctu-aries of gorillas and, as a result, tourists on a quest to see these pri-

mates once formed Rwandas third-largest source of foreign capital.Today, following the stability that has settled since the mid-1990s, it isnot difficult to trek to see at least two of the five significant familygroups thriving here. In fact, given the recent history of the place, it isremarkable that it is the breathtaking landscape of forest, mountain,lakes and savanna and an impressive array of wildlife that are nowdrawing the visitors back if not in droves then, certainly, in fargreater numbers than seen towards the end of the 1900s.

In the new era of economic growth and reconstruction, the import-ance of the countrys parks and reserves is slowly re-establishing itsfoothold, and parks such as Akagera, Nyungwe and Volcans NationalPark are enjoying a higher priority than ever before.

As Rwandas only savanna reserve, gazetted in 1932, Akagera

National Park a wide stretch of savanna punctuated with lakes andswamps is best known for its mammal and bird life, the latter num-bering nearly 700 species, including great flocks of storks and pelicansand other water-based avifauna. Although some 60 per cent of theplains that formed part of the original national park were reclaimed inorder to settle refugees returning after the genocide (a trend that putpaid to Gishwati Forest Reserve, which was once acclaimed as thesecond-largest rainforest in Rwanda), the breeding herds of the biggame that remained now form the nucleus of the park, and Akagera isthe setting for some of the countrys best wildlife experiences. Greatherds of buffalo, zebra, eland and duiker graze the grasslands, andpods of hippo have re-established themselves in local waters, whilesitatunga, giant forest hogs, spotted hyena and side-striped jackal, and

even Masai giraffe and leopard, have made their home here.Equally impressive are the 270-plus bird species and equal number

of tree species, a prolific insect life and the apes of Nyungwe Forest,which is said to harbour no fewer than 500, and possibly as many as1,000, of the of the nearly 200,000 wild primates of Central Africa,and boasts more than a dozen species of monkey, many of whichare considered endangered. Consequently, the forest reserve, whichat 970km2 (375 sq. miles) is one of the largest mountain rainforestprotectorates on the continent, is Rwandas top wildlife draw-card. It was, however, also the centre of an important conserva-tion effort, established here in 1988 to help preserve the foresthabitat. Known as the Nyungwe Forest Conservation Projectand supported financially by the Rwandan government aswell as by both the US Peace Corps and the New YorkZoological Society, the future of the project is uncertain,but there are still tours to see Nyungwes colobus monkeys.

Once acknowledged as the best of Rwandas protected parksand the centre of the gorilla-spotting industry, the slopes ofVolcans National Park covered with rainforest are home tofour of the surviving troops of mountain gorilla and the parkwas re-opened to the public at the turn of the new millennium.Conservationists based here still, however, face an ongoing

UgandaOnce hailed as one of the finereeled under the scourge of d

wildlife experience and consedegree that vast populations with them tracts of indigenouverdant plains. Fortunately, hofact that some 25 per cent ofcover is considered arable Uscenic glory and along with itmay still prove to be long andsporadic) that at last somethiannoyance from the tsetse choking the life out of Lake Vcess story, no matter how app

Today, Uganda boasts no fe

from national parks and reserhunting areas. In fact, despitetionists, there are a number otheory, at least regulated btourist market. The country seed the controversy, and leanerather than the casual holidaythe environment and even indneeds of the tourism industry

Although some of Ugandaslegacy of recent years, many htions, most noticeably the mawork some of the roads that s

Park, yet despite this it remaiits largest (at 3,900km2 / 1,50

the latter hato reserves

during these yeinstability Mu

such as the 34km2 ((770-sq.-mile) Queen Eli

declining tourist numbers, an

THE REG ION

Considered by many to be the most volatile

region in all of Africa, the central area ofthe continent that includes Rwanda,Burundi and Uganda is also one of the mostpicturesque, an extraordinary landscape oflush forest and fertile savanna that isslowly re-emerging as one of Africas greattreasures. Today, the three nations together

boast no less than five million hectares ofofficially protected land, a promising indi-cation for the economic stability of thebroader region.

RWAN DA Ke y

Akagera National Park B

Volcans National Park A

Mukura Hunting Reserve 1

Volcans Biosphere Reserve A

Nyungwe Forest Reserve 2

B U R U N D I

Kibira National Park A

Rusizi National Park B

Ruvubu National Park C

Gisagara Nature Reserve 1

Makamba Nature Reserve 2

Rusizi Ramsar Wetland B

U G A N D A

Bwindi Impenetrable Nat ional Park H

Gori ll a (Mgah inga ) Nati onal Pa rk E

Kibale National Park F

Kidepo Valley National Park A

Lake Mburo National Park CMgahinga Gorilla National Park E

Mount Elgon National Park G

Murchison Falls National Park B

Queen Elizabeth National Park D

Ruwenzori Mountains National Park I

Kasagala Nature Reserve 16

Ajai Game Reserve 14

Bokora Game Reserve 5

Bugungu Game Reserve 17

Karuma Game Reserve 15

Katonga Game Reserve 22

Kigezi Game Reserve 1

Kyambura Game Reserve 22

Matheniko Game Reserve 7

Pian Upe Game Reserve 3

Toro Game Reserve 19Mount Kei White Rhino Sanctuary 11

Otze Forest White Rhino Sanctuary 10

Zoka Nature Reserve 23

Central Karamoja Controlled Hunting Area 4

East Madi Controlled Hunting Area 13

Kaiso Tonya Controlled Hunting Area 18

Ka ruma Cont ro ll ed Hunt ing Ar ea 15

Katonga Control led Hunting Area 21

Lipan Controlled Hunting Area 9

North Karamoja Controlled Hunting Area 8

Sebei Controlled Hunting Area 2

Seml iki Cont ro ll ed Hunt ing Ar ea 20

South Karamoja Controlled Hunting Area 6

North Teso Controlled Hunting Area 24

West Madi Controlled Hunting Area 12

Queen Elizabeth / Ruwenzori

Biosphere Reserve D

Lake George Ramsar Wetland D

RWANDA BURUNDI UGANDA


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82 Nile Delta & pyramids at Giza EGYPT


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Nile Valley, Luxor & Thebes EGYPT


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TAMB

ARGA

CLIFF

S

84 Central African Parks NIGER/BENIN/BURKINA


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Como National Park CTE DIVOIRE


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DamongoTO BOLE TO KUMASI

86 Mole & Kakum National Parks GHANA


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MB

E

MTS

SONK

WALA M

TS

OtakOgoja

Eastern Nigerian Highlands NIGERIA


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Documents

55353484 National Geographic Africa Adventure Atlas ISBN 9781597751469