The Savanna Biome is the largest Biome in southern Africa, occupying 46% of its area, and over

one-third the area of South Africa. It is well developed over the lowveld and Kalahari region of South
Africa and is also the dominant vegetation in Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe. It is characterized
by a grassy ground layer and a distinct upper layer of woody plants. Where this upper layer is near
the ground the vegetation may be referred to as Shrubveld, where it is dense as Woodland, and the
intermediate stages are locally known as Bushveld.
Altitude ranges from sea level to 2 000 m; rainfall varies from 235 to 1 000 mm per year; frost may
occur from 0 to 120 days per year; and almost every major geological and soil type occurs within the
biome. A major factor delimiting the biome is the lack of sufficient rainfall which prevents the upper
layer from dominating, coupled with fires and grazing, which keep the grass layer dominant. Summer
rainfall is essential for the grass dominance, which, with its fine material, fuels near-annual fires.
Almost all species are adapted to survive fires, usually with less than 10% of plants, both in the
grass and tree layer, killed by fire. Even with severe burning, most species can re-sprout from the
stem bases.
The shrub-tree layer may vary from 1 to 20 m in height, but in Bushveld typically varies from 3 to 7
m. The shrub-tree element may come to dominate the vegetation in areas which are being
overgrazed.
Most of the savanna vegetation types are used for grazing, mainly by cattle or game. In the
southernmost savanna types, goats are the major stock. In some types crops and subtropical fruit
are cultivated. Urbanization is not a problem, perhaps because the hot, moist climate and diseases
(sleeping sickness, malaria) hindered urban development.
Conservation of savanna is good in principle, mainly due to the presence of the Kruger and Kalahari
Gemsbok National Parks within the biome. Similarly, in neighbouring countries, large reserves occur,
such as Etosha, Gemsbok, Chobe and Hwange National Parks and the Central Kalahari Game
Reserve. However, this high area conserved in South Africa, belies the fact that half of savanna
vegetation types are inadequately conserved, in having less than 5% of their area in reserves.
However, much of the area is used for game-farming and can thus be considered effectively
preserved, provided that sustainable stocking levels are maintained. The importance of tourism and
big game hunting in the conservation of the area must not be underestimated.
The savanna is a grassland ecosystem characterized wildly spaced trees with an open
canopy covering approximately 20% or the earth surface area. The open canopy allows
plenty light to reach the ground to support the lower vegetation strata consisting primarily of
grasses. Savannas are also characterized by seasonal water availability, with the majority
of rainfall confined to one season. The presence of large grazing animals and high diversity
of bird life is characteristic to this biome. This biome produces high biomass to sustain large
numbers of grazing animals. High diversity of pod and fruit producing trees. The Bushmen
lived in the savanna and they had extensive knowledge of the land. The where peaceful
hunters and gatherers and had great respect for the land. They used a variety of animal and
plant species for medicinal and recreational uses.

Lion (panther leo), Kudu, Aaardvark, red-billed hornbill, lappet-faced vulture, bushman
arrow-poison beetle, African honey bee, African rock python, black mamba, leopard tortoise

Flagship species of savanna biome

  Ground Hornbill
 Cape Vulture
 Wild Dog
 White Rhino
 532 bird species
 167 mammal species
 161 reptile species
 5700 plant species

 SAVANNA BIOME DESCRIPTION

 When we think of the Savanna Biome, we think of hot and dry areas.
However, there is a very wet season and then a very dry season in the
Savanna. They are found in the lower latitudes. This particular biome falls in
between a grassland and a forest region. They often border the rainforests
and can overlap with other types of biomes.
 SAVANNA BIOME CHARACTERISTICS
 There are only a few scattered trees found in the savanna biome. There is
both a dry and a rainy season that occur in the savannah biome. These each
last for extended periods of time. As a result the supply of food can be very
high at some times of the year. Then they are very low at others.
 The plants and animals living in the savanna biome have had to adapt to
such issues. Many of the animals have to migrate around the biome in order
to find enough food and water for survival during these changing seasons.
The annual rainfall in a savanna biome is 59 inches. During the dry season
the average daily temperature is 93 degrees. During the rainy season it
drops to a more comfortable average of 61 degrees.
 The soil types are very diverse. Experts have found just about every type of
soil in such biomes. Factors that will influence the soil include the climate,
the terrain, and the amount of precipitation that the area receives annually.
 Fire is very common in the savanna biome at various times of the year.
However, the plants and animals here are adaptable to it. Even in areas that
get severely burned, less than 10% of the plants will die from it. The stems
and the roots of these plants seem to be able to thrive due to how thick they
 are. Some of the plants are made from materials that is highly flammable
which is why a fire can spread so rapidly in these areas.

 SAVANNA BIOME FAUNA
 Invertebrates including beetles, grasshoppers, and termites

 There are also many larger animals that are found in the savanna biome.
They include lions, leopards, deer, elephants, zebra, and
the kangaroo. The meat eating animals depend on there being enough
herds out there eating the grass and shrubs that they can all survive. There
is a huge interdependence among animals and plants in the savanna biome.

 SAVANNA BIOME FLORA

 Wild grass is the biggest type of plant life that grows in the savanna biome. It
is also one of the most important. It provides food for plenty of types of
animals. Without it, they would starve. That would in turn make it very hard
for larger meat eating animals to survive. That is because they hunt down
those wild grass eating animals.
 Various types of trees grow in particular areas of a savanna biome. They
include pine trees, palm trees, and acacia trees. They can grow in clumps
and that offers some shade to the various animals that live in this type of
environment.
 Out of all the biomes in the world, the savanna has something unique. Here
you will find the most diverse population of herbivores and large mammals.
Without one the other would not be able to continue to survive here.

 SAVANNA THREATS
 As global warming continues the animals and plants would not be able to
survive with more heat and less rain. Some of them would be able to adapt
but overall the diversity of such areas won’t be eliminated.
 Tourism seems to be a huge economic boost for many savanna biomes,
especially in Africa. However, the introduction of vehicles, humans, and their
pollutants to such an environment can be very hazardous to both the plants
and animals that live in such areas.

 There are also guided hunts in the savanna biome of Africa. Many of them
are done illegally too such a those for lions or for elephants.
 However, many of these animals are very low in numbers and by hunting
them it jeopardizes the future of that savanna biome. There has to be a
balance there of predators and animals for them to consume. Lions are top
predators and when they are being wiped out of a region there can end up
being too many deer, zebra, and other grass eating animals.

 That is turn can result in overgrazing which makes it harder for the grasses
to be replenished. It can also lead to many animals starving to death instead
of the natural balance being part of what keeps the numbers regulated.

Endangered Species in the

African Savanna

The African savanna is a home to many species of birds and mammals, the savanna is
also used by humans for cattle grazing and hunting. Human interference and the
destruction of animal habitats have resulted in several of the native animals of this area
becoming endangered.

Grevy’s Zebra
The Grevy’s zebra has been much reduced in population thanks to the disintegration of
its natural habitat and hunting by humans. Disease and competition with other animals
has added to the Grevy’s zebras' woes.

African Elephant
This reduction is largely a result of humans hunting the elephant for its ivory, and a
subsequent ban on this form of hunting has helped matters a little. The loss of
grassland across Africa to human farming has also decreased African elephant
numbers, forcing the animals to live mainly in nature reserves.

African Wild Dog

The African wild dog /Cape hunting dog, is a pack-living carnivore with similarities to
both other breeds of dog and the wolf. The African wild dog is treated by humans like a
wolf, and has been hunted and driven away for years by farmers and until the late 20th
century, even game rangers, resulting in this animal becoming the most endangered
carnivore on the continent.

Black Rhino
Thanks largely to poaching by humans; the animal is mainly confined to four countries
that include Kenya and Zimbabwe. South Africa has the largest population of black
rhino, and programs designed to stabilize populations of black rhino in the country have
meant that 40 percent of the animals are now found in South Africa. One of the sub-
species of the black rhino, the south-western variety, has disappeared entirely

Cheetah
The African population of this animal has been reduced due largely in part to habitat
loss as a result of humans taking over the cheetah’s hunting land for farming. Cheetahs
also suffer from competition with other predators, such as hyenas, which attack cheetah
cubs or eat the cheetahs' prey.

-Grasslands and savannas require periodic fires to keep out forest

species, but land managers often suppress fires to promote the
growth of more trees leading to forestation.
-climate change efforts will help conserve the vegetation in the
savanna biome
Savannas are characterized by the coexistence of two major life forms: grasses and trees.
Grass–tree coexistence is possible because of the separation of the rooting niche, with trees
having sole access to water in deeper soil horizons and grasses having preferential access
to, and being superior competitors for, water in the surface soil horizons.

The scarcity of water constrains woody cover, and allows trees and grasses to coexist. In
these arid and semi-arid systems, fire, nutrients and herbivory can interact to reduce woody
cover below the upper bound that is determined by rainfall.