AFROTROPICAL
Tropical & Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forest (Rainforest)


The rainforest of Africa spans from the lowland tropical rainforest on the west coast of the continent, across the swamp rainforest of the Congo in central Africa, climbing into mountain rainforest in eastern Africa, to patches of monsoon forest along the east coast, and small areas of more temperate forest in southern coastal Africa.

 The forest includes spectacular groups of birds such as the Turacos. Unlike the neighbouring savanna, there are not as many of the larger mammals to be seen in the African rainforests. However, there is a particularly rich range of primates, including iconic species such as chimpanzees and gorillas.

elaeis-african-oil-palm



Palms are typical of rainforest, and one of the most widely planted trees in the tropics is an infamous palm from the African forest: Elaeis guineensis, 'African Oil Palm'. Taken from tropical African forests and swamps, and planted throughout tropics of the world for it's oil.


Potamonautes is the most common, widespread and speciose genus of freshwater crab in Africa, with over 60 species. They are sometimes seen in rainforest creeks.

free-spirit-freshwater-crabs(Nature's Valley, South Africa)

The family Musophagidae (including 'Turacos') is one of the few families of birds endemic to Africa. They are large and often colourful birds. They eat fruit, with the family name meaning 'banana-eater'.

turaco-ross-entebbe'Ross's Turaco'. When it flies, the open wings underside reveal crimson. Found in woodlands, rainforest edge and in forest along rivers across tropical Africa, mostly in the east. 'Ross's Turaco' often have an on-again off-again relationship with 'Rachel's Turaco'. That last bit is not true.
the-garden-route-kynsna'Knysna Turaco'. Found in forests of southern Africa Knysna Turaco (Nature's Valley, South Africa).
turcao-great-blue-entebbe'Great Blue Turaco'. The largest of the Turacos. Found in rainforest in eastern and western Africa (Entebbe Botanical gardens, Uganda).

The family Bucerotidae, the Hornbills, are found in the 'old world' tropics of Africa and Asia. They are large birds with huge bills, the ecological and morphological equivalent to the new world tropical Toucans.

hornbill-black-white-casued-entebbe'Black and White Casqued Hornbill'. Found in rainforest and edge, including gardens, in eastern and western Africa (Entebbe Botanical Gardens).

Smaller songbirds of the African rainforest include:

isunga-wattleeye'Brown-throated Wattle-Eye', male (Isunga Lodge, Uganda).

One of the most spectacular of bird groups in the African forest are the sunbirds, of the family Nectariniidae.

isunga-sunbird-orange-'(Greater?) Double-collared Sunbird'. Found on forest edge, and also in coastal scrub and fynbos, in South Africa (Isunga Lodge, Uganda).
isunga-sunbird-regal-'Regal Sunbird' (Isunga Lodge, Uganda).

The mammals of the rainforest of Africa include a high diversity of primates... 

bigodi-red-colobus'Ugandan Red Colobus' (Bigodi Swamp, Uganda).
bigodi-black-white-colobus'Mantled Guereza', 'Eastern Black and White Colobus', 'Abyssinian Black and White Colobus'. This is the subspecies Colobus guereza occidentalis, 'Western Guereza'.

There are smaller mammals in the rainforest, such as rodents and bats.

mozambique-bats'Straw-coloured Fruit Bats' in a colony high up in a tree. Don't look up in awe with your mouth open, or you might find yourself eating some 'second hand' fruit! (Mozambique)

Places to enjoy the African rainforest

Being Africa, there are lots of national parks and lodges to enjoy. One of the most famous is Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda where you can track gorillas through the rainforest. Isunga Lodge, Kibale, Uganda is a beautiful lodge to stay at right on the edge of the national park, with great views and birding right in the gardens. Further south into the subtropical area and you can enjoy the cooler rainforest of South Africa along the Garden Route.

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