The northern half of Africa is mainly a huge desert region. Here, before a rainfall, dark grey clouds roll across the sky, making shadows on the dry land. Then the rain comes. Great drops of water beat down upon the dusty soil. Where there was once only hard ground, brightly coloured flowering plants spring up.
New grasses grow and shrubs sprout.
The plants waited as seeds in the ground for the rain to come. When the new plants grow, they will produce more seeds. They may have to wait for months, or even years for the next rainfall. Rain Forest Forests stretch across Africa, from Mozambique to Sierra Leon, with an exciting variety of trees. Many of the tallest ones have strong roots sticking out from their trunks to help support them.