| Do you know that East African wildlife has the | | | | fibres providing material for rope making,matting |
| variety of features like,mammals,reptiles,insects | | | | and house thatching. |
| ,trees & flowers that make it beauty and | | | | Jacaranda |
| greener?If not then you have the pleasure to | | | | An original native of Brazil this tree can now be |
| learn about trees & flowers found in East | | | | found in parks,gardens and city centre avenues |
| Africa both on the Coastal Region, The National | | | | over much of the region. They grow to aheight |
| Parks,in plantations ,Nyika Plateaus,on mountains,in | | | | of 10m or more and have fine fern-like leaves |
| semi-arid areas,on islands,lakes,rivers,marshy | | | | which they shed during the dry season. The |
| grounds,swamps,damps,rocky and hillsides .These | | | | flower after the short rains blossoming into a |
| flowers and trees are differentiated with their | | | | mass of delicate bell-shaped violet blue flowers, |
| appearance,size,and the areas ,that the | | | | which grow in clusters. |
| enviroment favours them. | | | | Bottlebrush Tree |
| There are different types of Trees & | | | | Originally from Australia these very ornament |
| Flowers found all over East Africa as below, | | | | trees have beeen extensively planted in parks and |
| BOobab | | | | gardens throughout the region. It derives its name |
| Almost unmistakable ,with its swollen trunk and | | | | from the numerous red flowers arranged around |
| thick root-like branches.Some specimens have | | | | a stem in the shape of a bottlebrush . They |
| trunks measuring 9m or more in diameter | | | | produce woody fruits that are disc shaped . They |
| reaching a height of up to 18m.During the dry | | | | can grow to heights in excess of 7m. |
| season they bear no leaves but at the onset of | | | | Candle Bush |
| the rains they develop a dense canopy.They bear | | | | A comparatively small shrub reaching a height of |
| white flowers about 15cm wide and develop | | | | around 3-4m at most. It has a rounded shape and |
| oblong, woody fruits up to 30cm in length. The | | | | bears very handsome erect spikes of yellow |
| structures of the trunk is fibrous andd holds a | | | | flowers giving the effect of a candelabra bearing |
| certain amount of water when no surface water | | | | numerous canddles, hence its common name. It is |
| is available. At these times Elephants often inflict | | | | commonly found along roadside verges and |
| considerable damage in search of moisture as | | | | woodland edges over much of the region. |
| relief from the drought conditions. | | | | Sisal |
| Yelllow Barked Acacia/Fever Tree | | | | A native plant of Mexico imported to East Africa |
| A reasonably common species easily recognised | | | | by early settlers and extensively cultivated for |
| by its yellow/green bark colour. It is usually to be | | | | the manufacture of twine and rope. Although not |
| found along the banks of rivers and streams and | | | | cultivated to gthe same extend today it can still |
| in areas of damp,marshy ground. Early explorers | | | | be found in parks and gardens and along roadside |
| of the region associated the tree with their | | | | verges. It has elongated leaves up to 1.5m in |
| developing 'fever' hence the name . Infact the | | | | length that have sharp spines at the tips and |
| 'fever' was due to malaria transmitted by | | | | grow in a circular formation at ground level. The |
| mosquitoes that principally inhabit the damp areas | | | | flowering spike,which erupts from the centre of |
| favoured by this tree. | | | | its cluster of leaves,grows to a height of 6m and |
| Flat Topped Acacia | | | | bears branches of yellow flowers. |
| There are some 1,200 species of acacia | | | | Aloe |
| distributed across the tropical and warm | | | | There are in the region of 60 Aloe species to be |
| temperature regions of the world. The Flat | | | | found in East Africa.Volkensii is tall, growing up to |
| Topped Acacia is afamiliar sight in grassland areas | | | | 6m in height. It has grey-green leaves forming a |
| of East Africa ,its spreading canopy providing | | | | rosette at the top from which branch spikes of |
| shade for many savannah animals. A native tree | | | | red flowers. They are found at altitudes upto |
| found over much of Africa and the Middle East, it | | | | 2,300m, usually on rocky ground. |
| produces profilic amounts of fruiting pods that | | | | Frangipani |
| provide much needed fodder for animals in dry | | | | Originating in the West Indies this familiar small |
| areas. A medium sized tree growing to a height | | | | tree is often found in parks and gardens |
| of around 15m in suitable areas.It is extremely | | | | throughout the tropics.It has a distinctive shape |
| drought resistant and can survive in dry semi | | | | with regular branching . The flowers are variable in |
| desert areas with low annual rainfall. Under these | | | | colour including pink,white and yellow and are |
| conditions it may only grow to a height of a | | | | strongly scented.The petals are arranged in an |
| metre or so.The flowers are white andd grow in | | | | overlapping fashion, reminiscent of an open fan. It |
| small clusters,they have a very aromatic smell. In | | | | is thought to have been named after the French |
| some regions of Africa the Flat Topped Acacia is | | | | botanist Charles Plumier who first described it |
| the main species collected by local people for | | | | during his travels in the Caribbean in the 17th |
| firewood and for charcoal production. In some | | | | century. |
| areas of Tanzania this species has been severely | | | | Desert Rose |
| reduced by Elephants that strip and eat the bark. | | | | An indigenous succulent scrub or small tree of dry |
| Whistling Acacia | | | | areas and rocky hillsides throughout much of the |
| An abundant small bush armed with long white | | | | region at low altitudes. The trunk and branches |
| spines and adorned with blackish galls the size of | | | | have a swollen and slunted apppearance and bear |
| small golf balls.The galls,each of which has several | | | | very attractive pink flowers about 5cm |
| small holes leading to its hollow centre,are | | | | across.The sap is very toxic and in the past was |
| inhabited by colonies of aggressive | | | | used by local people to impregnate arrowheads. |
| CREMATOGASTER ants, which form mutually | | | | Bourgainvillea |
| beneficial partnership with the acacia. The bush | | | | A very attractive and common native shrub of |
| offers housing for the ants by way of the galls | | | | Brazil found thoughout East Africa. It is thorny |
| and the ants provide protection for the acacia by | | | | shrub often forming dense hedges in parks and |
| swarming over any browsing animal and inflicting | | | | gardens and is amass of the most colourful |
| upleasant bites to the lips and tongue. Despite | | | | bracts which range from purple to |
| the presence of the ants and the sharp spines, | | | | crimson,pink,red,white and yellow. |
| Giraffes often browse unconcerned at least for a | | | | Pyjama Lily |
| few minutes until the ants begin to bite | | | | This very attractive plant has long tubular flowers |
| home,thereby encouraging the individual to move | | | | that are pink and white striped, giving rise to its |
| on elsewhere. | | | | popular name Pyjama Lily .The leaves are |
| Sausage Tree | | | | grey-green in colour. It is a reasonably common |
| A widely distributed tree in wet savannah areas | | | | plant of open grasslands at altitudes up to 2,700m. |
| and along water courses at altitudes below | | | | Fireball Lily |
| 1,850 m. A substantial tree growing to a height | | | | This superb lily appears soon after the first rains |
| of about 9m, the flowers are trumpet shaped , | | | | in areas of open grassland and savannah ,on |
| dull red in colour, about 12cm in length and posses | | | | rocky hillsides and forest edges at altitudes up to |
| a rather unpleasant smell. The flowers hang on | | | | 2,200m. The spectacular red flowers are carried |
| cord-like strings and bloom during the night,falling | | | | on a single stem and as many as 150 individual |
| to the ground during early morning. The fruits are | | | | flowers can be found in one spherical spike which |
| large and hang on the tree like long sausages , | | | | can be 20cm in diameter. Once the flowers have |
| hence its popular name. The fruits are not edible | | | | faded and died the thick upright leaves appear. |
| but are used for medicinal purposes in some | | | | Sodoms Apple |
| areas. They reach lengths of 60cm and can weigh | | | | There are around 50 species of solanum to be |
| up to 7kgs. | | | | found in East Africa :incanum is very common |
| Candelabra Tree | | | | along roadside verges and on areas of waste |
| A succulent tree common in some areas of the | | | | ground. It is quick to colonise recently excavated |
| Rift valley . A large forest of Candelabra Trees | | | | ground.It is a very tough shrub with fearsome |
| can be found in Lake Nakuru National Park. They | | | | spines on the stems and stalks. It bears flowers |
| grow to a height of 15m .The trunk is short and | | | | that are blue to mauve with yellow centres that |
| thick nd forms a solid base from which spread a | | | | measure around 15mm across. The fruits take |
| multitude of branches that resemble the shape of | | | | the form of hard yellow balls which although edible |
| candelabras. | | | | are rather bitter. |
| Flame Tree | | | | Leonotis Nepetifolia |
| Originally discovered in Madagascar in the early | | | | There are 9 species of leonotis to be found in |
| part of the 19th century , this beautiful tree has | | | | East Africa,L. nepetifolia is very common over |
| since been cultivated in tropical regions throughout | | | | most of the region, flourishing along roadside |
| the world. Growing to a height of around 15m | | | | verges. A plant growing to 1.5m with spherical |
| and flourishing at altitudes below 1,500 m , this | | | | clusters of orange flowers growing at intervals |
| tree creates a stunning sight when in full flower. | | | | along the plants woody stem. The individual |
| The flowers, which appear before the leaves | | | | flowers, of which there are many on each |
| develop, are rich scarlet red and grow in dense | | | | cluster,are about 25mm in length. |
| clusters . A decidous tree that sheds its fern-like | | | | All the mentioned species of Trees & |
| leaves at the onset of the dry season, having | | | | Flowers are found in East Africa for you to have |
| flowered andd developed long brown seedpods. | | | | a scenic safari you can use A Private Charter |
| Date Palm | | | | Fixed Wing Or Helicopter. East Africa inhabitants |
| Common throughout much of the region in the | | | | are farmers and they own big plantations of |
| hotter drier areas, usually to be found along the | | | | maize, sugarcanne,cassava,millet,finger |
| banks of streams and rivers. Arab traders first | | | | er which earns them foreign exchange when they |
| introduced the Date Palm to the region as | | | | export them.There are Major International |
| asource of food. Growing to a height of 20-50m , | | | | Airports to serve these purpose in Uganda, |
| the slender trunk iscrowned with 30-40 pinnate | | | | Entebbe International Airport,Tanzania, Daresaalam |
| leaves up to 4m in length. There are in the region | | | | International Airport ,Kilimanjaro International |
| of 40 different cultivated varieties of Date Palm | | | | Airport andd Mwanza while in Kenya Jomo |
| throughout the tropics, the fruits of which ripen at | | | | Kenyatta International Airport,Eldoret International |
| different times of the year . The leaves are used | | | | and Moi International Airport for cargo and freight |
| in the production of baskets and mats. | | | | flights all over the world.You can do aerial survey |
| Doum Palm | | | | and photography of The Great Rift Valley in |
| One of the easiest palms to identify, being the | | | | Kenya,Ngorongoro Crater and Oldonyo Lengai In |
| only one having branches which divide regularly | | | | Tanzania and Karuma Falls ,Kabalega in Uganda. |
| into two.They often reach heights in excess of | | | | You come as a visitor and you get to discover |
| 15m. The fruit is orange/brown in colour and | | | | area of investments with you bussiness and gives |
| about 8cm long. It is not edible by humans but is | | | | an opportunity to use you holiday as abussiness |
| eaten by elephants that are, to a great extend, | | | | venture, what a great deal!East Africa is |
| responsible for seed dispersal.The leaves of the | | | | comprised of many bussiness opportunities which |
| Doum Palm are used in weaving of baskets and | | | | when visiting can take advantage to learn more |
| mats. | | | | and even invest. There are mining sites in |
| Coconut Palm | | | | Tanzania ,Geita 85 miles North of Mwanza . |
| Some mystery still surrounds the original home of | | | | We have companies providing both commercial |
| this species, but it is assumed by many to have | | | | flights and private charters all over East Africa |
| drifted on ocean currents from South America to | | | | ranging from Bussiness Jets,Beechcrafts, |
| colonise the African shores . Growing to a height | | | | Caravans,Helicopters,Small piston engine |
| of around 30m ,the slender trunk is usually swollen | | | | aircrafts.Especially Kenya and Uganda is the |
| at the base and is crowned with 20-30 pinnate | | | | gateway for flights to the war troubled South |
| leaves reaching up to 6m in length.Restricted in | | | | sudan,Democratic Republic Of Congo and |
| distribution to coastal regions the Coconut Palm is | | | | Chad.United Nations and Ngos have their Regional |
| extremely salt tolerant and can live for up to 100 | | | | offices located in Kenya and Uganda for the |
| years , producing 50-80 fruits each year. The | | | | Eastern and Central Africa operations. |
| fruiting nut provides a valuable source of food and | | | | All you need, safaris,wildlife,flights,investments |
| drink in some areas as well as the outer husk | | | | are all available in East Africa. |