In yesterday’s piece, I took a look at the wild and wacky hippopotamus. I mentioned that they are mostly limited to living in East African countries. I have never been to Africa, and I can’t say that I am readily inclined to go. There are a lot of other places on Earth that I’d like to visit first. Way, way, first.
But I did get to wondering about the region. Specifically, I this question came to mind. “What are considered the East African countries?”
Different sources give different numbers of countries, but generally, they are:
Burundi
Comoros
Djibouti
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Kenya
Rwanda
South Sudan
Tanzania
Uganda
And the following are sometimes included, as it is part of the East African Community:
Madagascar
Malawi
Mauritius
Mozambique
Seychelles
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Africa has about 1.36 billion people living there. In comparison, the United States has only about 331 million. Big freaking difference.
The most populated country in Africa is Nigeria. Nigeria is located in West Africa and has over 200 million people. It is followed by Ethiopia, with a population of over 120 million people. Yeah. That’s some density.
As far as wealth, or lack thereof, the country often cited as the poorest in Africa is Burundi. It has faced significant economic challenges and has a high poverty rate. And the richest? According to several sources, it is Nigeria. Nigeria has the largest economy on the continent and is a major producer of oil, which has contributed significantly to its wealth. If I had been on Jeopardy, I probably would have said South Africa. It is also regarded as one of the wealthiest African countries due to its diverse economy, including mining, manufacturing, and financial services. So, it is kind of a toss-up. But neither is on the east side where the hippos roam.
The east is full of other interesting tidbits. Like,
• Burundi is known as “The Land of a Thousand Hills” due to its hilly landscape and stunning scenery. It always reminds me of a name of a dog, probably the Basenji.
• Eritrea is home to the Danakil Depression, one of the hottest and most inhospitable places on Earth, with temperatures that can soar above 50°C (122°F). I bet it gets tiresome for the 3.5 million people living there.
• Ethiopia is known for being the origin of coffee, and it has a rich coffee culture that dates back centuries.
• Kenya is famous for its diverse wildlife and hosts the Great Wildebeest Migration, one of the most spectacular wildlife events on the planet. And who doesn’t love a Wildebeest?
• Mauritius is a popular tourist destination known for its stunning beaches, turquoise waters, and luxurious resorts. I’ve never heard of it, but it sounds like paradise.
• Rwanda has made remarkable progress in conservation and is known for its successful efforts to protect endangered mountain gorillas in the Volcanoes National Park. Of course, it is also known for its horrible war past in 1994, where a genocide resulted in the deaths of approximately 800,000 people within a span of about 100 days. The genocide targeted primarily the Tutsi ethnic group.
• Seychelles is an island paradise with breathtaking beaches, turquoise waters, and a thriving ecotourism industry. Again, another paradise I haven’t been aware of.
• Zambia is home to the mighty Victoria Falls, one of the world’s largest waterfalls, shared with neighboring Zimbabwe.
I would say this part of the world is about as diverse as they come. It is hard for me to imagine life there, no matter how much I look from afar.
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“Africa has her mysteries and even a wise man cannot understand them. But a wise man respects them.”
— Miriam Makeba
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“One cannot resist the lure of Africa.”
— Rudyard Kipling (English writer)
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“In the jungle, the mighty jungle, the lion sleeps tonight.”
— Solomon Linda (South African musician, singer and composer)
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On the east edge of things
