6 Fun Facts About The African Savanna
You’ve certainly heard a lot about Africa, but you probably don’t know many of the fun facts about the African savannah. Today, we want to talk a little more about this ecosystem that houses different species of plants and animals.
What is a savanna?
A savanna is an expanse of land with plains and very little or no vegetation. Most of them are found in Africa, although we can also find some in Australia, Asia and South America.
Its climate is generally hot, with temperatures between 20 and 30 degrees Celsius. Its reddish soil is rich in iron and, as its relief is flat, during rainy seasons, which are very frequent, swamps usually form.
There are several types of savannas: mountainous, temperate, intertropical and Mediterranean. Each of them differs in their characteristics. Interestingly, in temperate, there are very cold and dry winters. All of them can be found in Africa, each with its own particular charm.
Curiosities about the African savannah
your fauna
Perhaps when you hear about African savannah you think of lions, giraffes and elephants. Well, they do exist, but only in the Mediterranean savannah. This type of savannah stands out for its sparse vegetation, poor soil and semi-arid environment.
This does not mean that in the different non-Mediterranean savannas you cannot find animal species, far from it. Yes, there are animals, but they are different. So if you want to meet Africa’s most characteristic animals, the ones you see when you go on safaris, you should visit a Mediterranean savannah.
Depending on the flora, so will the species of animals that inhabit it. Well, given the sparse vegetation in them, it is the law of the strongest that reigns. All species that inhabit the African savanna are part of a pyramid of prey and predators.
Each animal will be able to get its food from another animal, in such a way that, just like in the wild, only the strongest survive. Or rather, the fastest ones.
Your location
Even though we can find savannas in many parts of the Earth, and they are different from each other, they all have one thing in common: their location.
This geographic phenomenon is not found anywhere on our planet, only in the southern hemisphere. Thinking about their warm climates, this makes sense, but there are some that also have cold winters… This is yet another enigma of nature.
your climate
Its climate is tropical and features dry and rainy seasons. None of them have a happy medium; either the climate is too dry to the point of fire, or it is too rainy until swamps form.
your landscapes
Despite not being areas of lush vegetation, with the exception of the mountain savannas, the African savanna offers a unique spectacle in the world when the sun goes down. The sunrise and sunset are the most wonderful in the world.
Surely, you’ve dreamed of being there without even knowing it. For example, when viewing an image on the Internet in which the shadow of a wild animal could be glimpsed near a nearly dead tree, with a blanket of orange light behind it. Yes, this is an African savannah!
your flora
The arid and dry soil does not favor the development of flora, but it is curious how the wisdom of the land plays an important role. Plants grow and elongate their roots until they reach a deeper point in order to obtain nutrients.
If this is not possible, they are able to store water and nutrients in the rainy seasons, which will be used during droughts. Who can deny the wisdom of nature?
If you are planning a trip to Africa, we recommend that you do not miss the opportunity to witness these fun facts about the African savannah live, as you will see landscapes never seen before.
