The upland vegetation reflects the influences of altitude and rainfall, equatorial rain forest with a undergrowth, epiphytes and lianas, open woodlands of drier parts and grasses at higher elevation exist as in east African highlands.
At even higher elevation evergreen forests, alpine grasslands and even ice caps exist. Vegetation in the deserts is limited. On the slopes of Atlas Mountain, cedar, pine and Oak are found and thorny scrubs are found on the margins. Date palms thrive in the oases. The chief animal, the camel, is adapted to withstand the arid conditions.
The hoofed animals, like antilopes, giraffe and zebra can move swiftly in search of food or when pursued by lion, hyenas and other carnivores.
(3) Towards the north and south, as the dry season grows longer the savannas pass into the deserts, whose monotonous stretches of rocks, ridges, and wave-like dunes spread to the horizon. Poor steppe and thorny scrub are found on the margin. Date Palm thrives the oases. The chief animal, the camel is adopted to withstand the arid condition.
(4) Temperate Grasslands cover much of the High Veld of South Africa.
(5) The warm temperate forest of the southeast coastal region is almost tropical in character and contains numerous useful form of timber producing trees. The palm belt of Natal and wooded Kenyas are the other forest areas in Africa. Warm Temperate Rain Forests clothe the lower slopes of the uplands along the coast of Natal.
(6) Mediterranean Vegetation, of a drought-resisting type, is found in the northwest and southwest of the continent. The high Veld is a monotonous grassland. Mangrove swamps occur extensively along the moist parts of the coasts of inter-tropical Africa.
On the land ward side, Mangroves often merge into fresh water swamps, especially in Niger delta.
Since Africa extends roughly equal length to the North and South of the equator, the climate reflects this factor. The large size of the continent, altitude of the Plateau and Ocean currents control the climate of this continents. The equatorial climate reaches over the north central part of the Zaire basin, though, it does just reach into West Africa. Temperature is constantly high, above 27°C and annual range is small. There is no dry season. Two maxima occur. The tropical savanna climates occur in broad zone to the north and south of Africa.
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