Present Characteristics

Today, the African savannah is an ecosystem with dense patches of tree groves and spread-out woodlands and copses.  The majority of the vegetation is comprised of grasses interspersed sporadically with Acacia trees.  These trees, like the vast majority of savannah plants have adapted to the predators and environmental factors present in this ecosystem. For example, Acacia trees bear thorns to protect against hungry herbivores; while other trees, bushes, and grasses have adapted to fires that annually occur in the savannah. In other areas of the African savannah, there grows dense gallery forests along permanent water sources; because of constant water availability, the vegetation remains lush year round.  Today, the African savannah supports a wide variety of mammals and birds including hippos, zebras, wildebeests, giraffes, gazelles, cheetahs, and elephants, each perform important ecological roles that help maintain the landscape characteristics of the African savannah

A lioness and her adorable cubs lounging in their natural habitat