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The savannah acts as a transitional zone between the Sahara desert and the tropical forest of central Africa. The region covers a little less than half of the total surface area of the continent. The climatic region is also called the tropical wet-and-dry region. One of the characteristics of the savannah climate is the division of seasons in two. The rainy season whose length depends on the nearness to the equator. (The continent is cut almost equally in two by the equator), and the dry season which in countries such as Senegal and Mauritania, starts from November to May. Temperatures turn. Senegal's lowest temperature is 62? F (17? C) Plants and animals A vegetation type that grows under hot, seasonally dry climatic conditions and is characterized by scattered trees (open tree canopy). The trees are usually thorny and small-leaved; many belong to the acacia species. However, the most popular tree in this region is certainly the Baobab (gigantic tree exceeded in trunk diameter only by the sequoia.) It has longevity of more than one thousand years. Perhaps, the most famous predatory animal living in the savannah area is the lion. The only truly social cat species. The basic units of lion society are prides of related females; each pride comprises 5 to 37 individuals closely related. Lions spend 20 hours out of 24 conserving energy, and usually hunt in late afternoons. |
