We know about hot dessert and found rainfall in the Sahara is usually below 25 cm per year. As we move southwards towards the Equator, rainfall increase and so there is greater vegetation too. On the edge of the desert the vegetation is poor and scanty consisting of thorny bushes and coarse grass usually. With the increase of rainfall, grass grows more plentiful though only in patches. After the rainy season the grass shoots up higher than a human being. Father south towards the Equator, trees begins to be seen either in a scattered way or as clumps in some place. The trees are umbrella-shaped, exposing only narrow edge to the strong winds.

These areas are called tropical grasslands known as savannas in Africa. Antelopes, giraffes, zebras are to be found here, together with lions, hyenas and jackals prey on them.

It is hot throughout the year. North of the equator, the hot rainy season lasts from May to September and the warm, dry season from October to April. Sometimes during the hot season the temperature rises to 43 degree cilices. During this season the rains make the atmosphere unpleasant and sticky. Later in the year the temperature drops to about 23 degrees cilices. The rainfall for the year is about 70 cm. the savannas of Africa are found in the North and South of the equator.

Vegetation of the savanna

Grass grows well in the savanna. It is short and sparse in the dry region, but grows up to a great height (elephant grass) in the selva (equator forests). Fires are common in the dry seasons and there fore forests are less widespread now.

Some trees and bushes also survive. The trees are often thorny. Some have small leaves top avoid loss of moisture, while others have huge trunks for water storage.

Soils of the savanna

Savanna soils are usually very poor. The soil becomes basked in the dry season and it is used for making bricks. When plants and grass are destroyed by forests fires, soil erosion occurs.

Wild life of the savanna

The African savannas have the largest number of animas in the world. Like the vegetation here, the animals are also specially adapted for survival. The antelope runs or leaps with great speed. The giraffe’s long neck enables it to eat leaves from trees which are too high for other animals. The zebra has stripes to9 enable it o hide in the long grass. The lion and the tiger depend for survival on their speed. The world dogs hunt in packs while the hyenas, jackals and vultures act as scavengers.

People in the savanna

Here it is the environment that decides the activities of people. At first the hunter of animals, humans then became the herder of animals. Wandering from one pasture to another for cattle –grazing, they then settled down and started practicing agriculture and trade. Various tribes have partially cleared the grasslands for cultivation.