Savannahs.

In the periodic rainfall regions further from the Equator there is less rain. Owing to the lengthy dry period the forests become thin­ner and finally give way to savannahs (tropical grasslands with scattered trees or bushes).
Africa is mainly a land of savannahs. These occupy enormous areas to the north and south of the rain forests. They are found, as well, on the plateaus of East Africa and in the western part of Madagascar.
African savannahs stand out for the thickness and height of their grass, where even big animals can hide. Amidst the grass stand only small clumps of trees. Especially notable is the gigantic baobab. This tree rises to a height of from 20 to 25 metres and has an excep­tionally thick trunk and enormous, spreading branches. Its fruit is edible. Very numerous is the umbellate acacia with its flat top, the mimosa and several sorts of palm (see the coloured picture of the savannah).

Fig. 140. An African family cultivating their plot of land.

In the dry period the grass turns yellow, and many of the trees drop their leaves. The dry grass is burned to fertilize the soil, which practice often gives rise to great fires. After a rain the grass comes
up again with surprising speed.  The trees are covered with fresh leaves, and everything around is green and blooming once more.
The savannahs, in places, give way to areas sparsely wooded with trees, which in the dry period shed their leaves. Along the river-banks grow gallery forests, narrow belts of densely growing trees roofed by an arch of green branches.
There are many big plant-eating animals in the African savan­nahs: the African elephant, two-horned, or black, rhinoceros, long-necked giraffe that can pluck the leaves off high trees, striped zebra and many different kinds of antelope. In the rivers and lakes are water-loving hippopotamuses and crocodiles. Flesh-eating animals, such as lions, leopards and hyenas, are also plentiful. There are myriads of white ants (termites), the mounds of their nests rising high above the grass.
The first European travellers were greatly impressed by the enor­mous amount of grass-eating animals in the African savannahs. Even today, despite their cruel extermination, there are still many left in regions that are more difficult to get to or in reserves, where hunting is not allowed.
Most of the inhabitants live in villages, in round huts enclosed by high fences. Their main occupation is cattle-breeding and agri­culture (Fig. 140).

Corn, pulse, ground-nuts and local sorts of millet are cultivated. In the higher and cooler places are the plantations of the European settlers, who have seized the richest land, forcing the natives to do the work.

Questions and Assignments.

• What is the difference between the climates of the forests of
  the torrid zone and the savannahs?
• Use your physical, climate and zonal maps to describe the
  natural   features  of  Madagascar.
• Mark the equatorial and tropical rain forest belts and the
  savannahs on the outline map of Africa.