List of Regions of Africa - Directional Approach

Directional Approach

One common approach categorises Africa directionally, e.g., by cardinal direction (compass direction):

• North Africa lies north of the Sahara and runs along the Mediterranean coast.
• West Africa is the portion roughly west of 10° east longitude, excluding Northern Africa and the Maghreb. West Africa contains large portions of the Sahara Desert and the Adamawa Mountains.
• East Africa stretches from the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa to Mozambique, including Madagascar
• Central Africa is the large mass at the center of Africa which either does not fall squarely into any other region or only partially does so.
• Southern Africa consists of the portion generally south of -10° latitude and the great rainforests of Congo.