East Africa is the easternmost region of the African continent which is variably defined by geography or geopolitics. "East Africa" usually refers to the countries of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, and sometimes Rwanda and Burundi. However "Eastern Africa", a scheme of geographic regions as designed by the United Nations, refers to nineteen territories throughout the eastern part of Africa. These include the following:
- Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda – also members of the East African Communities.
- Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia – commonly referred to as the Horn of Africa
- Mozambique and Madagascar – considered sometimes as part of Southern Africa
- Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe – sometimes included in Southern Africa and formerly of the Central African Federation
- Burundi and Rwanda – often considered part of Central Africa
- Comoros, Mauritius, and Seychelles – small island nations in the Indian Ocean
- Réunion and Mayotte – French overseas territories also in the Indian Ocean
Several countries which are variously considered to be part of East Africa or Eastern Africa' are also member states of the Southern African Development Community. These countries are Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Madagascar and Zambia. Geographically, Egypt and Sudan are sometimes included in this region.
Most of East Africa’s photography revolves around Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda. Within Africa there are seven distinct geographic regions. Kenya's regions make up two larger divisions of these. One of these regions consists of elevated lands forming the southwestern third of the country, the remaining two-thirds forming an arc of low plateaus and plains. Photographs illustrate the magnificent beauty of the land rising gradually westward from a narrow coastal plain in a series of plateaus, culminating in a highland area, bisected by the Great Rift Valley and including the country's highest point, Mount Kenya.
Images highlight the northern and northeastern regions of Tanzania to consist mainly of arid plains and are peopled by semi-nomadic pastoralists. The mainland of Tanzania boasts of distinct geographical divisions: the Coastal Plains, whose width varies from 16 to 64km and whose vegetation is luxuriant and tropical. For the most part photographers have continued to focus on the vast savannas that cover almost 50% of Tanzania's land.
Whilst on the other hand they prefer to present their international audience with pictures of Uganda’s health or lack thereof. Uganda's population is plagued by a large number of infectious diseases, including measles, pertussis, respiratory tract infections, anemia, tetanus, malaria, and tuberculosis. Photographers revel in presenting images of the victims of these diseases.
