Africa Physical Vocabulary
Tropical Rain Forest – Equatorial forests (jungle) from warm temperatures and heavy rain (80-80
rule)
Desert – a dry and usually barren region (less than 10’ of rain per year) SAHARA, KALAHARI
Savanna – a tropical or subtropical grassland with grasslands and a few trees (wet and dry seasons)
Steppe – a semi-arid region (usually between a savanna and a desert) SAHEL
Oasis- a place in the desert where there is a well or a spring
Delta – a deposit of land at the mouth of a river (NILE DELTA)
Mediterranean – a mild climate that gets about 20’ of rain per year (Mediterranean coast, South
Africa)
Horn of Africa – East coastal countries of Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya
Political and Cultural Vocabulary
Desertification - the destruction of the savanna-turning it into a desert
Drought – a period of unexpected low rainfall
Irrigation – watering the land to grow crops
Subsistence Farming – farming that feeds very few people (a family or village)
Nomadic Herding – people who move with their animals from place to place in search of good grazing
Famine - a severe shortage of food
Refugee - a person who flees his country for safety and from harm
Caravan - a large group of merchants that travel together in safety
Coup - the sudden overthrow of a ruler or government
Sanctions – penalties given to countries for harsh ruling
Apartheid - South Africa’s policy of racial segregation
AIDS - a serious disease of the immune system (very severe problem in sub-Saharan Africa)