Introduction
When you think of Africa what often comes to mind are the wide open savannahs and the amazing animals that are found there. The African savannah is a grassland with scattered short trees that extends from the southern portion of the Sahara Desert to the northern border of South Africa, but does not include the tropical rainforest found in central Africa. The savannah has a long dry season and a short rainy season. Numerous types of animals inhabit the savannah and have become well adapted to survival there. On this page we list many of these animals along with interesting facts about many of them. In this information, written for kids and adults, you will learn what animals live on the savannah, how they survive, and where they find food and water.Click here for a great selection of Amazon.com books about African Savannah Animals.
List of Savannah Predators
- African Lions - are amazing predators that are at the top of the savannah food chain. They live in groups called prides and play an important role in the food chain.
- Cheetahs - are the fastest land animals on earth. These predators can reach a speed of up to 70 mph (110 kph) for a short distance. Its speed and maneuverability make it one of the most dangerous predators roaming the savannah.
- Spotted Hyenas - are common scavengers found on the African savanna, often feeding off of the scraps of animals killed by larger predators. Spotted Hyenas are also predators usually killing smaller prey than larger predators such as the African Lion.
- African Wild Dogs - are highly intelligent predators that roam the savannah hunting in packs.
- Black Mambas - are one of the most dangerous snakes in the world. Its bite injects enough venom to kill twelve people within 1 hour. They have a wide range of habitats including the African savannah. They can be found in Central, East, and Southern Africa.
- Leopards - are formidable predators that live in numerous regions around the world including the African savannah. These cats are much smaller than lions and will avoid competing with lions for prey.
List of Other African Savannah Animals
- African Elephants - are the largest living land animals on earth. Male African elephants can reach a weight of 7.5 tons (6.8 metric tons). These huge animals can be found roaming the savannah in eastern and southern Africa.
- Zebras - are an easily recognizable animal of the savannah. Black and white stripes serve as camouflage for these animals that resemble small horses.
- Thomson's gazelles - are found in great numbers on the African savannah. Their great speed and agility make them a hard catch for the numerous predators of the savannah.
- Double-horned rhinoceros - also called black rhinoceros inhabit the savannahs of Africa. Adult males can reach a weight of 4000 pounds (1,800 kg). These plant eating animals are extremely strong and their bodies are covered with thick tough skin; few predators dare attack this animal.
- Wildebeests - are one of the most common animals found roaming the savannah. These animals travel in herds of thousands and are an important food source for many of the savannah's predators.
- Giraffes - are one of the best known animals of the African savannah. This animals height, including its long neck, enables it to reach and eat leaves high on top of trees.
- African white-backed vultures - can typically be seen soaring over the savannah looking for scarps of meat from kills of such animals as lions and wild dogs. These birds are easily recognizable due to their whitish back which is in contrast to their dark bodies.