Euphorbia tree in the grasslands of the central plain, Virunga National Park, Congo (Democratic Republic)

"Virunga National Park (809,000 ha.) was the first national park created in Africa (Albert National Park, 1925); located at the border between several biogeographical zones, the park protects both tropical rain forest and eastern steppe species, and its range of altitudes adds to the habitat variety. The diversity includes: bamboo and Hagenia forest on the mountains; equatorial forest along the Semiliki; wooded savanna of the Rwindi; steppes of Carissa, Capparis, Maerua and Euphorbia calycina; various low savannas; swamps and transitional habitats; dry thick forest of Euphorbia dawei; forest on the lava plains; wet thick forest; white heath; alpine forests; and sparse vegetation above 4,300m comprising mainly lichens and spermatophyta, although Graminae have been found growing at over 5,000m. Some of the largest wild animal concentrations in Africa occur along the rivers of the park. Mammals in the savanna of the Rwindi area include: elephant, in the southern part of the park, hippopotamus, buffalo, numerous antelope including kob Kobus kob, defassa waterbuck and topi, warthog, lion, and various monkeys." This photograph was taken when Eliot Elisofon traveled to Africa from early March 1951 to July 1951.